The same people, without losing the profits.

What do you mean by "without losing the profits"?

A tax-funded electric firm would surely not share its profits with anyone, and even if it did it would still be at a net loss to the tax payers. (Since _all_ the funding would come from the tax bill - so its entire turnover is socialised.)

A private firm would actually contribute _more_ to our common because it would be a net tax payer.

The profits in this case is any value that goes into infrastructure instead of investor pockets.

Yes, it would not be a net tax payer (on paper), but it would be less of a community drain, and not siphon money out of the common.

Exactly!