>I saw a guy from one of the Texas power companies in a news clip. When told that it sure looked like they were gouging the consumers he curtly replied (paraphrasing) 'We definitely are not gouging. People are still buying from us, aren't they?'. Like people can just stop using electricity, or have a choice as to who they buy it from (on a day-by-day basis)!?!?!?
>

Hello Jim,

The end-users don't have a choice on a day-by-day basis, but the utility companies *do* have a choice. The gouging allegedly occured between producers and the utility companies. The utility companies have the freedom to decide who they are going to buy power from. But if there is not enough supply to go around, the prices will be high.

BTW, my understanding is that power produced in Texas has never been sold in California. The Texas power grid is very loosely connected to the rest of the country. Some of the producers are based in Houston, but the power plants themselves are in other states.

2 more cents from a Texan (if you gouge me, I'll give you 4 cents *grin).

Take care,