Why does the power system slash wages?

Monopoly industries, wages are inexplicably high. A meter reader (who reads electricity meters every month) spends 10,000 yuan a month (this is exposed in the media), and a small section chief can buy a villa independently in a fairly good section of Shanghai (this is someone my father knows). Shouldn't this be reduced? Their income is out of proportion to their contribution, and the money is re-supplied by American citizens.