Redpossum, I think you are wrong on this one. You probably will find a lot of applause here in Argentina as many people believe there is only a choice between what they call Peronism or the completely unrestricted capitalism (even though that does not exist in any country in the world...).
It's easier to split the question into 2 parts:
1. Do we want that poorer people should have access to electricity and water as part of the basic needs? I think the overwhelming majority would agree here - including people with a more liberal point of view on the economy.
2. Are subsidies in the current form the right mean to reach that goal? And here we will find probably split opinions....
If you would have no direct subsidies on energy/water and would spend the money saved here to directly support the people you want to support, you will end up in a win-win situation: the poorer people would have access to their basic needs, but can also decide how to spend their increased budges, while the state subsidies only the people that should get supported.