Beeliner... Well, OK, Bernard, I'm sure electricity is a considerable expense for a small business too.

Why not just shunt around the meter, or tap into the supply of the building next door?

A rather lame argument deliberately avoiding the point.

If someone is using someone else's efforts in order to make money (mobile DJ, for example), then the PRS have a case. However, when someone is using their own, or public domain sound sources, then they are merely parasites going for the easy target.

To take your unfortunate parallel with electricity, a business has a choice - they can cut down their consumption, and therefore their expenditure. They can even choose a cheaper supplier.

Just supposing your electricity bill was based on some arbitrary figure dreamed up by the electricity company. Would that be fair? But that is how the PRS work, and the people who matter rarely receive a fair 'cut' of the earnings - a seriously high proportion simply goes to administration.

Sorry, I don't wish to continue with this pointless argument... I'm out.