>>>Back to power plants. :-)
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>>Get the stupid state government out of business they do not understand! <g>
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>Do you not believe the information in this article?
>http://www.disinfo.com/pages/dossier/id825/pg2/
>
>Everything I read(aside from information from the power companies) says that the power companies are purposely reducing output to drive up the price, and then speculating on the wholesale price of power, so that it gets purchased over and over again... further driving up the price. Really electricity isn't a commodity that can be run by business, since we have no choice over who we buy it from and no real choice whether we use it. Sounds like a perfect commodity for a goverment-esque corporation to run.
>

Electricity is treated as a commodity in the United States market place. Many different companies as well as governmental agencies, produce electricity and sell it on the open market. Depending upon time of day as well as available supply and requests will determine the "price" of electricity.

>In BC, the power company is a "crown corporation" which means that it is a company owned by the government. They are mandated to supply power, something which the California power utilities don't have to do. As well, if BC Hydro (electricity, not water) makes too much money, they give back the excess to customers in the form of credits on bills. Granted, they don't always do this without some pressure. Another benefit of government sold power is that it is more pro conservation. A private business will try to sell as much power as it can make, while a government system will have as an interest or as a mandate to try to conserve power (selling less). Private companies exist to make a profit, which fundamentally is at odds with the power production and conservation.

Any "excess" electricity generated by a United States governmental agency is sold to the "grid" and can make a profit. We have Federal Laws that require that to be done. The history of governmental run power plants in the United States has encouraged use of electricity and not conservation. In some cases this is good - our farmers make good use of electricity and produce a great deal and get good rates for their efforts. Everyone benifits from this. Less than 4% of the work force of the United States is engaged in farming. Then we have Las Vegas - the City of Lights. Cheap power thanks to the federal govenment - so light up the sky in the middle of the desert.

Tom