Evan,

>>If a governmental agency is able to produce power at a lower cost than private industry - more power to them (no pun intended). I'd bet that when someone posts an example if we were to do a little digging we'd find that they a) didn't pay taxes when private companies do (unfair competition right?) or the land they own doesn't pay taxes or they spread the actual expenses around to cover or mask the real costs.
>
>Not having to create a profit can drop cost dramatically.

Ahhhh!! You've put your finger right on the heart of the matter.

Having to create a profit (when your competitors can get the same raw materials for the same basic price causes a competitive outfit to cut in the only other area - costs - which force the prices down.

You make money in only two ways:

1) Charge more
2) Save costs

When your competitor is able to charge the same as you can the only way to expand the profit margin is to figure out a way to make the same product but for less, which is where the downward pressures come from. Governments don't have any competitive pressures to find a lower cost metohod for creating a product. That's why they always end up spending more $$ and costing more. In private business if you don't find a way to lower costs you will shortly go out of business. How many governmental workers fear that? <g>

Your presumotion presumes that people are actually interested in working harder for less (like the business owner is) when they are demonstrably not. Ever work for a governmental agecy? How much overtime do people volunteer? <g>