They just give us a tiny bit of our money back to win our custom. In the old days the system did have some 'socialist' features - and it worked. At any time some areas will have spare capacity in energy while others are working flat out to meet demand. So the generators shared capacity through the national grid. In this country the grid was introduced in the late 1920s and early 1930s, and led to huge economies throughout the system.
Energy consumption is pretty predictable and therefore plannable.
The experts do know exactly how many people will put the kettle on for a brew after the F.A. Cup whistle blows for half time. Something had to give. There was a ruling class offensive against the working class spearheaded internationally by Reagan and Thatcher. Corresponding to this, there was an ideological offensive using neoliberal economic theories and programmes. Privatisation and deregulation were much in the air.