Consume or pay!
There’s something wrong with this. I can’t quite put my finger on it…
Peoples Energy Corp., its profits lagging as more Chicagoans conserve, thinks customers should pay more for using less natural gas. The Chicago natural gas utility, which serves about 1 million customers in the city and northern suburbs, blames this year’s mild winter and customers’ conservation for a decline in gas consumption. […] “We’ve got to have some kind of (revenue) floor for the effects of conservation.”
If our current political climate were around in the 19th century, we'd still have slavery, since it would have been considered unreasonable to expect slave ships and slave traders to have to find different work, methinks.
Posted by Legomancer on July 24 2004 13:02
I turned my gas stove off about a month ago, which discontinues my gas use altogether. I simply don't use the stove, and the pilots do nothing but fight the air conditioning -- a silly way to spend $10/month.
Next visit, the meter reader demanded to examine the appliances and the meter to see why it wasn't advancing. He even went so far as to suggest they might impose a penalty if I'm not using any gas.
Posted by McGroarty on July 24 2004 14:59
the 'it' on which you're finger cannot be put...
conceptual incompatibility between capitalism and maximal societal benefit. Bottom line on a company accountant's spreadsheet is not conceptually equivalent to the ultimate bottomline of all-inclusive material/physical spreadsheet. Their vision is too small, and thus the people perish.
"impose a penalty if I'm not using any"
This is similiar to the attempted maneuver of California electric companies who want to CHARGE you if you go OFF the grid by making your house totally solar . Somehow they fell they should be paid for suppling capacity even if you don't use it. (Reference: somewhere in my memory; can't dig it out right now. Something in Enron period.)
About that gas stove. Yes, pilot lights are evil regardless of the price, but in your case,
$10/month? That's incredible waste of money.
Ahh... You don't cook? Just curious. (Gas is better that electric for cooking, energy- and practicality-wise. )
Posted by c on July 31 2004 16:37