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Ask HN: Why is electricity so expensive in California?
I just got my latest PGE bill, and I'm paying $0.29/kwH. That's the highest rate in the continental US by more than 30%, and only $0.03 cheaper than Hawaii, where the entire grid is powered by burning imported oil. What on earth is going on here?
- notjtrig 8y agoI'm paying $0.26/kwH in MA after I caculate the bill myself. ($140 no AC) They advertise $0.15/kwh and add distribution charges. I imagine the cost of maintance has risen quite a bit, but compared to the cable or internet bill it's reasonable. A solar contractor told me you can buy warehouse, put panels on the roof and they will pay the mortgage. That's incredible I think
- masonic 8y agoIt's going to get worse if PGE succeeds in its efforts to push the costs of the 2017 fires onto ratepayers.
- dragonwriter 8y agoDistribution is covered by the per-kWh, and net-metered consumer production (mostly solar) has high adoption, which lowers the number of billed kWh across which distribution charges are spread.
- joeblow9999 8y agothis is not a mystery: it's Sacramento.
- itshacker 8y agofuckk youu,suck my dick
- sloaken 8y agoI would assume that it has to do with the states desire to promote renewable energy. If the price of commercial electricity is too low, it would not be cost effective to use other methods. How much of your bill is taxes? I assume it gives a breakdown of costs.