I think there's some examples of a split model that work well, i.e. the grid is publicly owned but the retail functions such as metering, billing, and service connections are private and have competitive providers.

> retail functions such as metering, billing, and service connections are private and have competitive providers

I.e., socialize the costs and privatize the profits.

What value can private companies bring to end consumers when they're buying from the same public producer at the same base cost? This is nothing more than a disguised handout.