Accelerando

User "graykat777" posted the image above to Reddit last night (click here for larger version). The user's local utility company is raising rates due to too many people practicing good energy conservation. While this seems psychotic, think of it this way: if it costs X dollars to run a power plant, plus Y dollars per kW/h to burn coal, then you can only cut out Y as usage drops. X is a constant (paying power plant workers, maintaining equipment, servicing power lines, etc). So when earth-friendly folks cut their utility bills, the power company can scale down Y but is stuck paying X no matter what.
On Reddit there was the usual outcry against utility company monopolies, and gnashing of teeth that we can't leave one electricity provider for another when rates go up.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this is a good thing.

Here's my logic: everyone starts behaving more energy efficiently by turning lights off, switching to CFL bulbs, using smarter thermostats (and dealing with cooler houses in winter and warmer houses in summer), adding insulation to their attics, etc. and that decreases their electrical bills. Then the utility company raises rates to recoup the lost revenue. This pushes people to do more things that are even more energy efficient to recoup their efficiency savings. The electrical company raises rates again, repeat repeat repeat until you end up with super efficient houses and apartments and utility companies that have their backs against the wall and have no choice but to shut down coal plants.
Far-fetched? Maybe. But the higher they raise their rates, the more cost-effective it gets to do energy efficient upgrades to your dwelling.


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