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Is it not for our own good? The whole grid collapsing and needing a lengthy, expensive restart process while everyone goes without electricity sure doesn't soun
by EliRivers 4y ago
Is it not for our own good? The whole grid collapsing and needing a lengthy, expensive restart process while everyone goes without electricity sure doesn't sound like a better option. Even Texas bit the bullet to prevent that happening. We already have the power to do this by just imposing rolling brownouts and blackouts; this is the same thing but not nearly so bad as outright power cutoff.
- contravariant 4y agoIf you start down this line then there are lots of rights that should be taken away from people. If these people cannot be trusted to pick a sensible temperature for their own homes I don't see why you'd let them vote who gets to run the country.
- throwawaysleep 4y agoIt is not about what is sensible for your home. It is about what energy is actually available.
- butlerm 4y agoThis is not an emergency program, it is planned for years in advance. If people sign up for demand management programs like this, utilities do not need as much power during peak periods, and that results in the construction of less power generation and storage. If no one wants to pay the price in inconvenience, the utilities simply have to build more capacity to cover these shortages and charge somewhat higher prices accordingly.
- carlivar 4y agoIf the utilities are allowed to build more capacity or charge higher prices. I think both of these require government permission.
- butlerm 4y agoWholesale rates are set in a free market for a variety of reasons, but it is true it is ultimately up to governments whether to let residents suffer in the heat or freeze in the dark, either by discouraging new, adequate generation or refusing to allow retail rates to rise to pay for it.
- nathanaldensr 4y agoBecause someone likes it cooler or warmer than you, they should lose their right to vote. Got it.
- carlivar 4y agoIt's for our own good within a flawed system. I believe America should have more nuclear power. Politicians need pressure for this, especially where I am in California. Pressure on the electrical grid is political pressure. If that translates to action, it's the long term greater good.
- throw827474737 4y agoYeahyeah, nuclear is endless, just give me my resources for my lazy life forever, nuclear will save us all!
- mistrial9 4y agoindustrial and (gasp) uniformed services energy use is very large compared to residental; pointless, wasteful energy use by commercial small business and local government is rampant. Controlling individuals in their "pen" is simply exerting control against the group that has the least ability to push back / most helpless.
- otherme123 4y agoI get what you say, but I always keep in mind that usually very large companies or business doesn't spend for the sake of it: they spent to sell to us, the small individuals. I know some people that spend their sundays in the mart just because they have the thermostate set to 20ºC (70ºF) for free, something they can't afford in their homes. And the very energy thirsty aluminum sector is working to keep our freezers filled with beer cans. But of course, when the municipality spends in watering the flowers in the highway, it's a bit more dubious who is benefiting.
- sp332 4y agoI don't feel like I have that much control over companies that I buy from. If I would prefer that they ramp down energy use during peak times, how would I accomplish that?
- butlerm 4y agoOn a prospective basis the alternative to this kind of demand management is to build more natural gas or nuclear power plants or grid scale batteries. There is no requirement to maintain an infrastructure that cannot handle a relatively ordinary hot afternoon during the the summer.