IN the 1970s, utility companies rightfully invested and provided the necessary capital expenditure to install the requisite infrastructure to serve their customers.
In the 1980s, the utility companies discovered the power of their natural monopolies and started to impose on developers to build the necessary infrastructure as a condition for the utility companies to deliver their service.
For electricity supply, it started with laying cables and lamp posts but eventually having to build and pay for the sub-station buildings, the transformers and equipment. Levies in the form of application and connection fees were then introduced to the consumers.
