Consequently, Prices Systemically Higher
Quote from another site —
In regards to painfully increased electricity fees, “PEPCO is not the problem. Lawmakers are fighting the problem that lies with PJM, the grid operators who runs the auction for the power from different power generation companies. See my detailed comments in different posts on the same issue. Major culprit seems to be the crazy demand for power from all the data centers. For the next year the entire capacity of the Northeast grid was sold out. Transmission capacity needs to go up, new power sources need to be connected to the grid – complex picture of who pays for these upgrades. The whole issue is much bigger than the State of Maryland. 13 Governors need to band together – Youngkin, Shapiro, and Moore are already fighting with PJM. They don’t have any authority over this entity, which is non-profit organization regulated by a federal entity FERC. Bills will continue to rise for foreseeable future – get the home audit done by PEPCO. Make all the changes needed to get your home more efficient.”
“TVA [Tennessee Valley Authority] raised rates ~4.5% in 2023 and 5.25% in 2024; projections show over 10% increase possible soon. xAI, Elon Musk’s venture has a huge data center in Memphis. TVA is the sole provider and has real old infrastructure and grid. They want to add natural gas generation plant, someone will have to pay for it.”
This was historically true of Comcast cable, for at least ten years approximately back in 1995 – 2005, until Verizon FiOS became available as viable alternative. Now it seems as if two competitors are not enough as collusion is not so difficult when those in-charge possibly even likely golf, barbecue and vacation together. Competition drives down price and nothing else.
It’s said that MoCo has among the highest population of Ph.D.s in the USA. Pretty smart and yet so stupid to allow monopolies to exist and overcharge.