Utility Companies: Private vs Public

I've got a rant about public vs privately owned utilities.  Here in Australia we have the National Broadband Network brewing.  Plus I've have current first experience as a customer in how a certain telco is creating a new monopoly.

But my rant could be contorted to be about the industry that I administer the safety legislation for, as a public servant employed by the state.  And I wouldn't want to break any of the numerous policies I agreed to when going the public service.

I need to think about how to separate my telco rant from my work before going further...