Solar panels could destroy U.S. utilities, according to U.S. utilities

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Sometimes yes. Sometimes no.

Take deregulation of the airline industry - sure, airfares have gotten cheaper, but so haven't the standards of customer service. Air travel has not gotten better at all, only cheaper.

You can fly business class today at the fares that you used to pay prior to air travel being opened up to competition. I would argue that at that price point, service today is no worse than it was then. So what you have is a bit of a trade-off. I know that I fly across the pond for less today than what I used to pay 20 years ago. Much less. My flight to Germany last month was excellent - the return flight was so good that I actually took the time to send an email to Lufthansa to commend the cabin crew. I fly quite frequently and can't complain at all. Some airlines do better than others so I try to fly the ones I know will provide good service. I might pay a little extra for that but it's worth it to me. That's what competition is all about, isn't it?

Did you just say something nice about Texas? A little early in the morning to be hittin the sauce, don't you think?

I did say something nice about Texas. It's not all bad there. They do a thing or two right.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

No, electricity is not necessary. This is why electric service is allowed to be disconnected for nonpayment (allowing for certain circumstances such as medical need, etc. where utilities are not allowed to shutoff power).

Well, living in the sunshine state, you need electricity. I cannot live in a house with temperatures above 100F during the summer months. If you don't think it's necessary, then get cut off. All that aside, to argue that it's okay for utility monopolies to rip customers off because one can just disconnect if one does not like it is ludicrous.

Edited April 11, 2013 by Mr. Big Dog

[lostinblue 1,989]

Well, living in the sunshine state, you need electricity. I cannot live in a house with temperatures above 100F during the summer months. If you don't think it's necessary, then get cut off. All that aside, to argue that it's okay for utility monopolies to rip customers off because one can just disconnect if one does not like it is ludicrous.

How much do you save from your own solar panels over buying it from the evil electric companies.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

$0.132 for PG&E Power Mix. The county is taking bids from other power companies to supply the standard power mix. PG&E will still maintain the county's power transmission network and provide billing. Very interesting, as PG&E just completed converting the whole are to "Smart" meters.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20130409/COMMUNITY/130409536?p=1&tc=pg

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

How much do you save from your own solar panels over buying it from the evil electric companies.

How is that relevant to the discussion on utility monopolies? Right, it isn't.

[del-2-5-2014 1,339]

Folks, you don't need electricity. Sure it's convenient but you can make yours if you want.

The Indians seemed to have managed somehow.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Folks, you don't need electricity. Sure it's convenient but you can make yours if you want.

The Indians seemed to have managed somehow.

Back to caves! Yay!

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

How much do you save from your own solar panels over buying it from the evil electric companies.

The power company can install a different kind of meter - one that measures power going both ways. When you are producing solar power, the power company "buys" the excess power from you. When you are not producing enough to meet your needs, the power company "sells" you the power you need. Those systems are becoming very popular around here. Homeowners can recoup their investment in ten to twenty years.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

The power company can install a different kind of meter - one that measures power going both ways. When you are producing solar power, the power company "buys" the excess power from you. When you are not producing enough to meet your needs, the power company "sells" you the power you need. Those systems are becoming very popular around here. Homeowners can recoup their investment in ten to twenty years.

This is how you promote renewable energy production. But it's not happening fast enough around here. Surely, the sunshine state has enough sunlight to make a significant contribution to our energy production needs. Utilities need to be pushed down that path. They're not going there on their own. Here, they rather make money by charging customers advance fees for a nuclear plant they don't even have a permission to build and that - given the abundance and price collapse of natural gas - is not even economically viable to build anymore. They keep charging them fees, though.

[erynaught 43]

You can fly business class today at the fares that you used to pay prior to air travel being opened up to competition. I would argue that at that price point, service today is no worse than it was then. So what you have is a bit of a trade-off. I know that I fly across the pond for less today than what I used to pay 20 years ago. Much less. My flight to Germany last month was excellent - the return flight was so good that I actually took the time to send an email to Lufthansa to commend the cabin crew. I fly quite frequently and can't complain at all. Some airlines do better than others so I try to fly the ones I know will provide good service. I might pay a little extra for that but it's worth it to me. That's what competition is all about, isn't it?

I've been flying international business class since 1973 and service is most definitely worse now than before deregulation in 1978. Technology improvements aside, in-flight comfort and service is just abysmal. There are fewer airlines offering international service now than prior to deregulation, so much less competition in those markets. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of laid of workers, overcrowded airports, atrocious ground delays and increasingly ridiculous petty fees and requirements. Sure, air fares are much lower, but I preferred air travel when it was less accessible. Unfortunately, for overseas travel there are few alternatives to flight.

[erynaught 43]

All that aside, to argue that it's okay for utility monopolies to rip customers off because one can just disconnect if one does not like it is ludicrous.

In most States, the utility companies do not set the rates - State/county commisions/boards do.

Just because you have little or no choice doesn't mean you're being ripped off. Indeed, your kw/h is lower than the national average.

I live in a State where we can select from more than one provider - there is a pass-through charge to the utility who maintains the infrastructure - and the kw/h rates aren't that significantly different. The only way to realize any savings is to 1) take advantage of switching offers every 6-9months, which is really more work than it's worth; 2) bet right in the seasonal lock-in rate schemes (which I believe over the long term you're going to be paying more anyway).

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I've been flying international business class since 1973 and service is most definitely worse now than before deregulation in 1978. Technology improvements aside, in-flight comfort and service is just abysmal. There are fewer airlines offering international service now than prior to deregulation, so much less competition in those markets. Not to mention hundreds of thousands of laid of workers, overcrowded airports, atrocious ground delays and increasingly ridiculous petty fees and requirements. Sure, air fares are much lower, but I preferred air travel when it was less accessible. Unfortunately, for overseas travel there are few alternatives to flight.

Well, I suppose traveling the highways before they became congested was more fun, too. Sorry that you're bothered so much by common folk traveling by air these days.

As for the number of carriers, I queried a trip to Europe just now and get 15 different carriers to chose from. Seeing that that is apparently not enough, I wonder what minimum number of carriers would be acceptable to you?

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

In most States, the utility companies do not set the rates - State/county commisions/boards do.

Yeah, a fully bought and paid for PSC in the case of the sunshine state.

[erynaught 43]

Well, I suppose traveling the highways before they became congested was more fun, too.

Absolutely!

As for the number of carriers, I queried a trip to Europe just now and get 15 different carriers to chose from. Seeing that that is apparently not enough, I wonder what minimum number of carriers would be acceptable to you?

(1) carrier would be my minimum.

The point was, deregulation reduced the number of options available. There was plenty of choice/competition before. Deregulation drove competition in a different direction which has not resulted in a better product/service, just a cheaper one.

[erynaught 43]

Yeah, a fully bought and paid for PSC in the case of the sunshine state.

Ah, yes, it's all a rigged consipiracy.

I'd point out that you're free to live where you want in this country, to a place where you feel less manipulated and ripped off, but you're likely to moan and complain wherever you go.