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In reply to the discussion: Wow, Stephanie Ruhle on MSNBC just said ... [View all]BobTheSubgenius
(11,563 posts)That's what happens when I try to operate heavy machinery before my first coffee is in me. It's almost like drunk driving.
Anyway, what I was going to say was that the "regulatory" board in Texas (read "price fixer" mandated an increase from 12 cents per kwh to $9 per kwh. This is an increase of SEVENTY-FIVE times the "normal" rate. How can that possibly be justified???
Abbot's got the backs of the consumers, though; he says the power companies can't pass the costs of rebuilding whatever parts of the infrastructure need rebuilding. While obviously a step in the right direction, the word "obvious" applies to the idea behind that decision.
Perhaps it's "Beyond Obvious" that customers shouldn't be levied to pay for their negligence, lack of maintenance and greed - running the system so close to 100% capacity so as to not have to add more power generation.
That customers should not be getting billed up to $5000 (highest I've seen - there could be higher) for 19 days of power use is about at the level of "Power companies have been forbidden to pump the carbon monoxide they produce into the homes of consumers."
One of those things you would think never needs to be written down. Apparently, you'd be wrong.
Here, in the most liberal part (SW Coast of BC) of Canada, every appliance and fixture I have is electric. My bill is set at $110 per month. Our electrical system was "nationalized" (by the province) in 1962, and we often have enough surplus to export it.
Here, on Vancouver Island, our grid used to be vulnerable to weather. BC Hydro laid a new undersea cable and attached it to a brand new distribution center in the early 80's and we haven't had a blackout, barring downed trees, and similar, more or less unpredictable events.
I'm not trying to lord it over the unfortunate, gouged Texans. I want them to see what is possible. Everything and everyone in this world is dependent to some degree on everything and everyone else. Why not join us?