Is this the desired outcome? Once power production falls below demand, which it did, heavily, then all power deliveries have opportunity costs. Heating a privat

Is this the desired outcome? Once power production falls below demand, which it did, heavily, then all power deliveries have opportunity costs. Heating a private home during an ice storm meant that amount of electricity was unable to be delivered to a more urgent (like a hospital) or more efficient (an emergency shelter, or apartment building) usage. I can empathize with the Griddy customers, largely because they likely did not realize they were essentially participating in an auction (as you stated, "unwittingly participated"), and probably would have chosen to lose power temporarily, rather than rack up 5-figure bills, but that's between them and Griddy to sort out. However, in general, it is unhealthy to refund -- i.e. subsidize -- private consumers who insist on receiving power when the large majority of others are going without. When a resource gets extremely scarce, it needs to become extremely expensive to help ensure it gets allocated efficiently. (just a sidenote, but yes I'd be in favor of state/local regulations that prioritize hospitals, shelters, emergency vehicles, etc to receive power at below-market rates)