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Part of being a distribution monopoly is delivering power to everyone, not just places where it's profitable. People in rural areas are able to afford grid elec

Part of being a distribution monopoly is delivering power to everyone, not just places where it's profitable. People in rural areas are able to afford grid electricity because the disproportionate cost of delivering power to them is subsidized by people living in cities paying the same rates. Rooftop solar being cheaper overall than a grid connection for some people isn't that surprising. There are lots of other costs and externalities associated with running a grid that don't need to be contemplated for off grid home solar.

e63f67dd-065b 3y ago
Rural electrification subsidies distort the cost of living in the middle of nowhere. This is the same problem as low-density suburban housing: the cost of their infrastructure far exceeds their taxes, so they're subsidised by urban core where infrastructure costs are low. This is an even better argument against delivering power to everyone, all the time.
- yummypaint 3y ago
  Electricity should be delivered to everyone, just like mail. It's not just a product, it's an essential public good.
  - raggles 3y ago
    In my country there is no obligation for power distributors to connect new customers to the grid if it is uneconomical. Those people are expected to sort their own off-grid installation. Stringing 5km+ of conductor for one customer makes no sense at all. In fact, many distributors are actively paying a small number of (willing) customers to install off-grid installations so their grid connection can be decommissioned as it saves everyone money.
  - _aavaa_ 3y ago
    Around here if you live in the middle of nowhere you’re on a septic tank system and not connected to a sewage system It is unrealistic to expect the same amenities regardless of where you live.
    - yummypaint 3y ago
      A septic tank provides for safe and sanitary disposal of waste. The purpose of such sanitation is to prevent cholera outbreaks etc. That requirement is satisfied.
      - _aavaa_ 3y ago
        But it is not the same as being hooked up to a sewage system. Nor are the houses always hooked up to a water main. And instead rely on wells. The point is that they don’t have the same services, and it would incredibly expensive to provide them. The same for electricity.
  - robocat 3y ago
    They argument makes less sense now that rural people can install their own solar/wind power supply.

e63f67dd-065b 3y ago

Rural electrification subsidies distort the cost of living in the middle of nowhere. This is the same problem as low-density suburban housing: the cost of their infrastructure far exceeds their taxes, so they're subsidised by urban core where infrastructure costs are low. This is an even better argument against delivering power to everyone, all the time.

yummypaint 3y ago
Electricity should be delivered to everyone, just like mail. It's not just a product, it's an essential public good.
- raggles 3y ago
  In my country there is no obligation for power distributors to connect new customers to the grid if it is uneconomical. Those people are expected to sort their own off-grid installation. Stringing 5km+ of conductor for one customer makes no sense at all. In fact, many distributors are actively paying a small number of (willing) customers to install off-grid installations so their grid connection can be decommissioned as it saves everyone money.
- _aavaa_ 3y ago
  Around here if you live in the middle of nowhere you’re on a septic tank system and not connected to a sewage system It is unrealistic to expect the same amenities regardless of where you live.
  - yummypaint 3y ago
    A septic tank provides for safe and sanitary disposal of waste. The purpose of such sanitation is to prevent cholera outbreaks etc. That requirement is satisfied.
    - _aavaa_ 3y ago
      But it is not the same as being hooked up to a sewage system. Nor are the houses always hooked up to a water main. And instead rely on wells. The point is that they don’t have the same services, and it would incredibly expensive to provide them. The same for electricity.
- robocat 3y ago
  They argument makes less sense now that rural people can install their own solar/wind power supply.