Louisiana’s major electric utilities are still pushing state regulators to allow them to charge customers for the costs of a new statewide energy efficiency program and for the electricity customers will no longer need because of that program.
While the idea might seem like a straightforward solution to cut back on waste, utility company executives aren’t very happy with it. In general, utility companies earn more profit when homes and businesses waste electricity. Less waste leads to lower electric bills, which could mean lower profits for the utilities.
Entergy Louisiana and Cleco vehemently opposed the idea and successfully delayed its adoption for years. A consultant the commission hired to write the basic guidelines for the program spent 13 years and over a half-million dollars trying to appease utility companies with agreeable rules.
Fed up with the delays, Commissioner Craig Greene, R-Baton Rouge, ended the stalemate in January and joined with the two Democrats on the commission in adopting what they say is a more consumer-friendly program than the one the utilities wanted.
- Coskii ( @Coskii@lemmy.blahaj.zone ) 64•1 month ago
That’s not how any of this works.
Fuck them and fuck anyone who thinks this makes sense. Paying for energy you don’t use because ‘boo-hoo company profits’ is probably the most blatant late stage capitalism bullshit I’ve seen all month, and probably up there with a handful for the year.
- ryannathans ( @ryannathans@aussie.zone ) 3•1 month ago
I’m struggling to understand why utility companies can’t just put up energy prices? Why chase individual customers for this difference in power saving?
- higgsboson ( @higgsboson@dubvee.org ) English1•1 month ago
The rates are limited by the state…
- ryannathans ( @ryannathans@aussie.zone ) 3•1 month ago
Wow, really? Louisiana has some of the cheapest electricity in the US and the world. No wonder this problem exists when the Government forces unprofitable pricing without socialising the utility
Got a source?
- acargitz ( @theacharnian@lemmy.ca ) 23•1 month ago
“Lower profits for the utilities” is a nonsensical phrase.
- solsangraal ( @solsangraal@lemmy.zip ) English22•1 month ago
i’m happy to pay for some things i don’t directly benefit from: public school, school meals, abortions, etc. but if someone thinks i’m going to pay for a product i never received, for no other reason than their for-profit ‘line always go up’ corporate bottom lines, then they can go fuck themselves
- WHARRGARBL ( @WHARRGARBL@beehaw.org ) 13•1 month ago
Power companies need the welfare now?
- Dr. Wesker ( @wesker@lemmy.sdf.org ) English13•1 month ago
Absolutely shameless.
- driving_crooner ( @driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br ) 9•1 month ago
Capitalism is the most efficient economic system 😎👌
- Bongo_Stryker ( @Bongo_Stryker@lemmy.ca ) 7•1 month ago
Woke liberal transgender marxists who hate America try to destroy Entergy Louisiana and put hapless shareholders into the poorhouse!
- countrypunk ( @countrypunk@slrpnk.net ) 6•1 month ago
Won’t somebody help the poor poor shareholders crying in their yachts?
- countrypunk ( @countrypunk@slrpnk.net ) 7•1 month ago
That’s insane that they have so much power to begin with
- Moah ( @Moah@lemmy.blahaj.zone ) 3•1 month ago
They literally MAKE power
- YourPrivatHater ( @YourPrivatHater@ani.social ) 7•1 month ago
At that point id recommend burning down their stuff, you already pay for the damages, might as well do them.
- Rolivers ( @Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de ) English7•1 month ago
Tell me it’s an Onion article.
- phoenixz ( @phoenixz@lemmy.ca ) 3•1 month ago
See this is where we should apply tar and feathers. If your argument literally nis that you want to earn more money, so you want to just force people to pay you, you’re just a mob boss wannabe. Tar and feathers, publicly.