Comment by animal_spirits

I think one problem is that most people confuse private ownership with "the market". Just because a utility company is owned and operated by a private entity does not mean it is influenced by market forces. Utilities fall under a natural or technological monopoly. Due to space constraints it is not desirable or efficient to have multiple companies run pipes, cables, or other infrastructure alongside each other to compete. There are no competitive forces; there is no market. Publicly run institutions or privately run+ publicly regulated institutions better serve the needs of the people in these conditions.