Comment on Easy-to-use solar panels are coming, but utilities are trying to delay them
MalReynolds@slrpnk.net 1 week agoMay I introduce you to the concept of ‘natural monopoly’.
Basically most natural monopolies (power, phone lines, roads etc) in most places were historically run by governments (because it’s bloody sensible) until the neoliberal movement in the 80s privatized them because ‘private enterprise is more efficient’ (at extracting tax dollars as it turned out) and to balance a few budgets.
Should definitely be ruled a failed experiment and rolled back.
The “natural monopoly” of electrical power is only on the distribution, not the generation of that power. It is reasonable for various generators to compete against each other to meet grid demand.
You should be able to push power back onto the grid. You should not be limited only to taking it off the grid. If you can put more on than you remove, you should be compensated for your generation at the market rate.
dovahking@lemmy.world 1 week ago
Hold on! You’re telling me every common utility is run by corpos in America? I thought it was limited to only telecom.
JcbAzPx@lemmy.world 1 week ago
It varies by state, but a large majority are.
TronBronson@lemmy.world 1 week ago
So you have a government organization that regulates a private company in most cases. Usually there is a layer of government in there, but profits are private.