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I’m in Europe and I can pick on Texas all day on energy. The separate grid is a self-inflicted gunshot wound in both feet.

by baq 2y ago

spacedcowboy 2y ago
Well, they do like their guns in Texas
bravetraveler 2y ago
I live in Texas and support your message. We get cheap power and have cheap results [under stress] to show for it, repeatedly
Dma54rhs 2y ago
Then you should also know the way they run their energy network is similar to our euro free energy markets. Many many people in Europe pay spot price, the kind that people on HN freaked out when the pricing went crazy is pretty normal in EU.
msandford 2y ago
How so? Would the Federal regulators have done a better job of making CenterPoint invest the right amount of money into tree trimming and placing lines underground? California is under Federal regulation and has significant problems where PG&E hasn't invested enough in reliability. If California just breezed through every natural disaster with no power outages and lower than Texas energy prices it would truly be a no brainer. But Texas has retail power rates in the $0.10-$0.20/kwh range. From what I understand $0.20 would be an absolute bargain in California and that $0.30-$0.50 per kwh is more what folks out there pay. It's not so compelling in that case. Of course I could have missed something. Please do let me know if I have.
- nine_k 2y ago
  Hitting a company with fines for not doing maintenance required by regulation, when the fines cost more than compliance, works well. Given sensible regulations, of course. Look at airlines: rather strict and reasonably good safety regulations made flying the safest form of transportation, safer than driving and maybe even walking. Nevertheless, we don't see exorbitant prices either; if anything, the cost of air travel is surprisingly low, often competitive with rail, even in EU. Of course, unreasonable regulations are a bane, see the leaded fuel situation in general aviation, or the whole nuclear industry.
- schmookeeg 2y ago
  Hello from Alameda, CA. 15.5c per kwh here except for M-F 5pm-9pm, where it is 50c.
  - msandford 2y ago
    Oh wow! Thanks for the info. I'm glad to hear it's not crazy everywhere out there.

I’m in Europe and I can pick on Texas all day on energy. The separate grid is a self-inflicted gunshot wound in both feet.

by baq 2y ago

I’m in Europe and I can pick on Texas all day on energy. The separate grid is a self-inflicted gunshot wound in both feet.

spacedcowboy 2y ago

Well, they do like their guns in Texas

bravetraveler 2y ago

I live in Texas and support your message. We get cheap power and have cheap results [under stress] to show for it, repeatedly

Dma54rhs 2y ago

Then you should also know the way they run their energy network is similar to our euro free energy markets. Many many people in Europe pay spot price, the kind that people on HN freaked out when the pricing went crazy is pretty normal in EU.

msandford 2y ago

How so? Would the Federal regulators have done a better job of making CenterPoint invest the right amount of money into tree trimming and placing lines underground? California is under Federal regulation and has significant problems where PG&E hasn't invested enough in reliability. If California just breezed through every natural disaster with no power outages and lower than Texas energy prices it would truly be a no brainer. But Texas has retail power rates in the $0.10-$0.20/kwh range. From what I understand $0.20 would be an absolute bargain in California and that $0.30-$0.50 per kwh is more what folks out there pay. It's not so compelling in that case. Of course I could have missed something. Please do let me know if I have.

nine_k 2y ago
Hitting a company with fines for not doing maintenance required by regulation, when the fines cost more than compliance, works well. Given sensible regulations, of course. Look at airlines: rather strict and reasonably good safety regulations made flying the safest form of transportation, safer than driving and maybe even walking. Nevertheless, we don't see exorbitant prices either; if anything, the cost of air travel is surprisingly low, often competitive with rail, even in EU. Of course, unreasonable regulations are a bane, see the leaded fuel situation in general aviation, or the whole nuclear industry.
schmookeeg 2y ago
Hello from Alameda, CA. 15.5c per kwh here except for M-F 5pm-9pm, where it is 50c.
- msandford 2y ago
  Oh wow! Thanks for the info. I'm glad to hear it's not crazy everywhere out there.