(China Daily)
Updated: 2008-03-15 10:46

The International Day for Protecting Consumers' Rights is an occasion for shining the spotlight on shoddy commodities and black-hearted businesses whose stock in trade is deception.

That is as true today as ever, as the media unveils sensational new lists of misdeeds. No matter how the annual theme changes, the occasion would not be complete without warnings about individual goods and acts that have threatened consumer wellbeing.

But it is important that everyone knows that shady factories and merchants are not the only forces throwing us consumers into harm's way. And the harm inflicted is not limited to the physical and visible.

The China Consumers' Association (CCA) has revealed a new threat to consumers' rights - from State-owned public utilities. This is probably not news to most people, but never before has the topic been so pressing.

A CCA-sponsored public opinion survey about public utilities revealed strong dissatisfaction with the services provided by the heating, water, gas and power .

The problems vary by industry, but the core remains money - as their monopoly status makes it easier for them to earn extra profits from end-users.

The CCA makes clear that some of these outfits are hardly consumer-friendly than the most fraudulent of private firms. Sometimes they are even more brazen than such companies in their pursuit of lucre. The only distinction is that they sell services that people need and cannot get anywhere else. The average consumer is helpless in the face of their abuse. We face the devil's dilemma of accepting their conditions or being deprived of a needed service.

If family does not want to forego heating on a cold day, they must pay as much as they are told to.

The matter is always simple and clear.

The CCA offered a list of problems in each of the industries, as well as proposals for improvements. And we have heard talk from the State Development and Reform Commission how to address consumer concerns.

Such problems call out for attention. We hope they will get it.

It remains to be seen whether such undesirable practices will surface using different names and assuming forms after the promised changes have been effected. This is possible unless the public utilities authorities truly come to terms with their primary obligation to serve the public good.