Why are SGI essential for consumers ?

Consumers spend an important, and growing, part of their income on these services and rely heavily on these services to provide an acceptable standard of living.

SGI’s are essential for consumers as they are:

• Essential to life and health - lack of access to essential water, electricity or gas supplies can result, not only, in discomfort and inconvenience but also in a threat to health or life itself.

• Essential to social participation – these services are vital for social inclusion, for example: a telecommunication services acts as a lifeline for those who are in vulnerable situations, and transport services are essential both for those in remote areas and for all living, working and moving around in a community.