| e UK the home utility market has been | | | | This allowed a competitive market for customers |
| deregulated. This allows home and business | | | | requiring 1MW or more. In 1994 the 100KW |
| consumers to choose their energy, home phone | | | | market was deregulated. In 1997 compulsory |
| and broadband provider. | | | | metering was introduced. In 1998 the domestic |
| Gas | | | | supply market was deregulated. In 2000 domestic |
| In 1986 British Gas, the only company providing | | | | metering was open to competition. Today there |
| gas to homes in the UK, was privatised. This | | | | are many services that allow energy and |
| included the transporting of gas around the | | | | electricity prices to be compared to save money |
| UK’s network, as well as delivering gas via | | | | on household bills. |
| pipelines to domestic properties. This however | | | | Home phone |
| was a monopoly and was considered | | | | The UK home phone market was deregulated in |
| uncompetitive. Over the following years changes | | | | the 1990s. This has left more than 170 providers |
| where made to change the system. In 1990 large | | | | of home telephone services. Customers are able |
| I&C customers where allowed to choose | | | | to choose their provider. Almost all services are |
| their gas supplier. In 1992 All I&C customers | | | | provided over the British Telecom network, who |
| can select their gas supplier. In 1996 a pilot | | | | still have a duty to provide a telephone line to |
| scheme is launched to allow domestic gas | | | | every home within the UK. It is not necessary to |
| customers in South West England to choose their | | | | use BT as the service provider. There are many |
| gas supplier. In 1997 British Gas became the BG | | | | services that allow one to find cheaper home |
| Group and Centrica. Transco is part of the BG | | | | phone calls. |
| Group. In 1998 a pilot scheme was launched that | | | | Broadband |
| allowed all domestic customers to choose their | | | | Since the introduction of broadband to the UK |
| gas supplier. In 2000 the BG Group further split | | | | market many broadband service providers have |
| into Lattice. In 2002 Lattice merges with the | | | | appeared. Currently there are hundreds to choose |
| National Grid. Today there are many services that | | | | from. Most of the broadband network is installed |
| allow gas prices to be compared, to allow | | | | and controlled by BT. This is necessary as BT is |
| customers to get cheap gas. | | | | responsible for providing telephone lines to UK |
| Electricity | | | | homes. There are many services that allow one |
| In 1990 the UK Electricity board was privatised. | | | | to find the best broadband internet provider. |