I live in TN and one of the few things we've got right here is the TVA. It's far from perfect, but all our electricity is generated by a publicly owned organization. In addition, there are multiple member owned co-ops that provide the local utilities. My electricity provider is member owned. So it's not for profit, members actually get to vote on the board, and the organization is focused on serving the members. TN isn't the only place with electric co-ops, and not every utility here is one, but there are multiple in the state. It keeps electricity costs as low as they can because they're focused on serving the members instead of providing dividends to a bunch of rich leeches.
I actually work for a different electrical co-op and it is a fantastic place to work. We have excellent benefits and many of the co-ops around the country still have pension plans, in addition to a 401k. Because it's about the members and having excellent employees who are free to do their jobs, not feeding a bottom line so a rich leech can have a few more millions. When they do employee appreciation activities, I believe they actually mean it. Work is work of course and nothing is perfect, but I wish every job was like this.
I also bank at a credit union, and those are member owned. I think it should be federal law that all utilities and banking should be member owned co-ops/credit unions. It would be FAR better for the consumer. But the rich will fight tooth and nail to keep that from happening. It's why they keep trying to privatize every government service. There's money there that they can steal and their greedy asses want it, despite already having more money than god. Greedy leeches, one and all.
(And since I mentioned my employer, just in case, all my opinions are my own and are not those of my employer. I am a leftist and I speak for myself alone. I am not speaking on behalf of my employer. They wouldn't sue me or anything, but I wouldn't want them to get bad press in some insane world where someone connected this to me IRL. I actually like my employer and wouldn't want them dragged into anything about my personal activities.)
The TVA is one of the BEST programs in the country! People needed electricity. So they built it. No capitalist, no profiteering, no exploitation. ACTUAL democracy!
I'm honestly jealous of your situation. Sounds like you're in a little island of cooperative ownership. I would love to work for a cooperative. It's my dream job, and I don't much care what the industry is.
Lol I have to use PG&E and *Absolutely Love* paying for their mistakes. Old gas line blows up and they have to update infrastructure? Increase. Causing one of the most expensive and harmful fires in CA history? Increase. I figured out recently that they charge me $2.38 if I turn on my stove for like 2 minutes (could also be the hot water heater). That cup of coffee I made would have been cheaper at 🌟 💵. I don't say much stuff is morally wrong, but this feels like it is! I'm forced to use a service that sets its own pricing so that it can still profit even though they have caused so much harm. Capitalist love to use the free market idea but this certainly is not free
What you're hitting on is the difference between what we're told about capitalism and what it actually is. There is no free market, especially for utilities. You cannot "decide" to not use electricity, you are FORCED to pay those prices if you want to live.
This isn't anything new. Lower night time rates for electricity have always existed. The private utility where I lived asked for a base service rate of $45 saying it would "save consumers money."
I lived in California when there was a ballot initiative to allow consumers to pick their electric provider with the promise it would lower rates by 40%. I voted against it, but we know how ignorant voters are. It passed and rates skyrocketed because ENRON!
There should be NO privately owned utilities, especially electricity producers. It should be PUD or MUD.
Finally, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has sent a letter to Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of Kroger, decrying the company’s “decision to roll out surge pricing using facial recognition technology.” Specifically, Tlaib cites concerns about price manipulation based on external factors like supply as well as discrimination based on race, gender, and other criteria determined through facial recognition. Tlaib ends this letter with six key questions, including “Will Kroger use…facial recognition to display targeted advertisements…?…What safeguards will be in pace?…[and] Are there plans to sell data collected in the store?” among others. Grocery prices continue to be a source of everyday economic hardship for working Americans and corporations are increasingly interested in surge pricing for essential goods. There is some comfort in knowing at least one member of Congress is concerned about this dangerous combination.
I live in TN and one of the few things we've got right here is the TVA. It's far from perfect, but all our electricity is generated by a publicly owned organization. In addition, there are multiple member owned co-ops that provide the local utilities. My electricity provider is member owned. So it's not for profit, members actually get to vote on the board, and the organization is focused on serving the members. TN isn't the only place with electric co-ops, and not every utility here is one, but there are multiple in the state. It keeps electricity costs as low as they can because they're focused on serving the members instead of providing dividends to a bunch of rich leeches.
I actually work for a different electrical co-op and it is a fantastic place to work. We have excellent benefits and many of the co-ops around the country still have pension plans, in addition to a 401k. Because it's about the members and having excellent employees who are free to do their jobs, not feeding a bottom line so a rich leech can have a few more millions. When they do employee appreciation activities, I believe they actually mean it. Work is work of course and nothing is perfect, but I wish every job was like this.
I also bank at a credit union, and those are member owned. I think it should be federal law that all utilities and banking should be member owned co-ops/credit unions. It would be FAR better for the consumer. But the rich will fight tooth and nail to keep that from happening. It's why they keep trying to privatize every government service. There's money there that they can steal and their greedy asses want it, despite already having more money than god. Greedy leeches, one and all.
(And since I mentioned my employer, just in case, all my opinions are my own and are not those of my employer. I am a leftist and I speak for myself alone. I am not speaking on behalf of my employer. They wouldn't sue me or anything, but I wouldn't want them to get bad press in some insane world where someone connected this to me IRL. I actually like my employer and wouldn't want them dragged into anything about my personal activities.)
The TVA is one of the BEST programs in the country! People needed electricity. So they built it. No capitalist, no profiteering, no exploitation. ACTUAL democracy!
I'm honestly jealous of your situation. Sounds like you're in a little island of cooperative ownership. I would love to work for a cooperative. It's my dream job, and I don't much care what the industry is.
Congrats!
Lol I have to use PG&E and *Absolutely Love* paying for their mistakes. Old gas line blows up and they have to update infrastructure? Increase. Causing one of the most expensive and harmful fires in CA history? Increase. I figured out recently that they charge me $2.38 if I turn on my stove for like 2 minutes (could also be the hot water heater). That cup of coffee I made would have been cheaper at 🌟 💵. I don't say much stuff is morally wrong, but this feels like it is! I'm forced to use a service that sets its own pricing so that it can still profit even though they have caused so much harm. Capitalist love to use the free market idea but this certainly is not free
What you're hitting on is the difference between what we're told about capitalism and what it actually is. There is no free market, especially for utilities. You cannot "decide" to not use electricity, you are FORCED to pay those prices if you want to live.
This isn't anything new. Lower night time rates for electricity have always existed. The private utility where I lived asked for a base service rate of $45 saying it would "save consumers money."
https://mynews4.com/news/local/pucn-rejects-nv-energys-45-base-service-rate-instead-approves-2-increase
I lived in California when there was a ballot initiative to allow consumers to pick their electric provider with the promise it would lower rates by 40%. I voted against it, but we know how ignorant voters are. It passed and rates skyrocketed because ENRON!
There should be NO privately owned utilities, especially electricity producers. It should be PUD or MUD.
The lower nighttime rates don't surprise me, but the 1 pm to 6 pm hike is novel. At least to me. Who knows, maybe it's elsewhere.
But you're spot on about utilities. It's insane they're privatized.
From Ralph Nader's Substack.
Finally, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib has sent a letter to Rodney McMullen, Chairman and CEO of Kroger, decrying the company’s “decision to roll out surge pricing using facial recognition technology.” Specifically, Tlaib cites concerns about price manipulation based on external factors like supply as well as discrimination based on race, gender, and other criteria determined through facial recognition. Tlaib ends this letter with six key questions, including “Will Kroger use…facial recognition to display targeted advertisements…?…What safeguards will be in pace?…[and] Are there plans to sell data collected in the store?” among others. Grocery prices continue to be a source of everyday economic hardship for working Americans and corporations are increasingly interested in surge pricing for essential goods. There is some comfort in knowing at least one member of Congress is concerned about this dangerous combination.