I would guess that the Australian/N.Z. systems of the PMG were modeled on Britain.
The phone network has become a mess here since it was privatized in the 1980s (similar problems to those that followed the breakup of AT&T in the States). Installation costs aren't too bad though: British Telecom, still the most common provider of the local loop, charge a flat installation rate. Last time I checked it was about £130.
Power companies are another matter. There aren't that many places in England that are far from lines, but every so often we still hear a story of somebody having to pay thousands to get a new service run to a a new house in a remote location. (Remote in England could mean new lines for just a few hundred yards).
David in Scotland would probably have more experience of this with the much lower population density up there.
[This message has been edited by pauluk (edited 11-24-2002).]
