Remember the current regulatory scheme allows just enough pollution that won’t kill everyone but just a few.

When it comes to energy costs, history shows that what goes down will go back up. The EIA rightfully notes that “temporarily” low NG prices are already on the rebound. Wait until more stringent controls are placed on NG production and distribution, more utilities covert from coal to NG, trucking fleets begin using more CNG, and any exporting of NG takes place.

I have been continually astounded that when gasoline prices drop, big SUV sales go up. What person with any common sense would expect low gas prices not to go back up over the ownership period of a motor vehicle? But lets get back to home energy use.

So, national electric prices have fallen 0.7%, which means my average monthly electric bill ~$100-125 will go down about $1.00 – – not even enough to upgrade a Starbuck’s beverage. Of course, if I had a $400 monthly electric bill, I would be saving almost $3.00 – – barely enough to buy a fancy Starbuck’s drink. Sorry for the cynacism, but WOW!

OTOH: A new Super Energy Efficient home can easily use at least 75% less energy for heating and cooling than a new home built to minimum codes. They usually cost 10% more to build, but they can cut a $400 energy bill to $100. A $300 dollar a month saving can very easily cover the additional 10% financing costs – – on average saving you almost a non-taxable $200 per month. Energy prices ever double and you will have an additional $600 in your wallet over your neighbor with what was a new minimum code home. Existing homes can also achieve similar energy savings, but at somewhat higher financing costs, but along with more equity in the homes.

Home and building owners need to be educated on these issues.

“What’s in your wallet?” $200+ more per month with a more comfortable home to return to or ….

BTW: The power companies that continue to fight the inevitable future, as is being done in NV, will eventually be the big losers. They need to be educated as to how to change their business models and take advantage of the future.

Privatize profits and socialize costs – when Capitalism begins feeding on itself. Private companies polluting the air for free are profiting from unpriced externalities of their harm that then become a socialized cost. It creates in balance in intersection of the supply and demand curves, unfair advantage.

Will you do an article on the attempts to fix Economic perversities by groups like Citizens Climate Lobby, and about how a revenue neutral border adjustable Carbon Fee and Dividend would be great for Energy Efficiency, Environment, and the Economy through progressive redistribution?

That’ll be a challenging one to write.

It is going to be a disruptive time. Utilities that don’t actively put their client interests first. They’ll need to be explicit about it.

Utilities like the one in Nevada may find themselves in the water next to lifeboats occupied by folks who are entertained by watching them drown rather than concerned about pulling them to safety.

Building client loyalty and trust is the key to success in the 21st century. Look at Amazon, their success is focusing on the customer experience and building trust…

Last evening I attended a forum sponsored by Bring Back Solar, an organization working to change the national embarrassment of Nevada’s PUC first dramatically raising costs for owners of rooftop solar, then, under heavy consumer and political pressure, grandfathering in 32,000 rooftop customers at the original rate. In December of 2015, rooftop solar owners saw their payback periods extend to 20+ years 😱.

Installation companies fled the state, talking thousands of jobs (thanks, Warren Buffet, owner of the parent company of NV Energy) and installation permit requests dropped dramatically. Why they did not go to zero is a puzzlement.

Two of the 3 PUC members are new in the last week and the organization is starting with a clean sheet to resolve the “rooftop solar is good/bad for all rate payers” conundrum. Conflicting reports from recent years (ignoring externalities) have been contradictory.

Where was I?

NV Energy continues to taut falling costs/kWh while basic connection charges have crept upward.

Film at 11 as this situation plays out in probably the sunniest state in the Republic.