That must really suck to not have choice.

#7 | POSTED BY BLUEWAFFLES

I had a choice. And still do. And one of the choices I made was to install solar.

I live where electricity is abundant and very stable.

But if the price of electricity goes up my bill still stays the same. Why?

Because I produce more electricity than I use and I am paid back what they are charging. It's called Net-Zero. And then the state sends me a check for any excess.

Enjoy your unregulated state where they can charge you more if there is sudden increase in costs.

I heard some Texans on "variable-rate electricity plans" faced ridiculously by high bills during power outages, particularly during the February 2021 winter storm.

Re 15

Oh noes! The power went out briefly in LA once years ago!

But I bet no one died because of it.

The Texas 2021 ice storm resulted in at least 246 deaths, with some estimates suggesting the number could be significantly higher. While the official count is 246, reports indicate that the true toll, including indirect deaths related to power outages, could be closer to 700 or even higher

Enjoy your "unregulated" power grid bro.

Also FYI

PG&E does not provide electric power to LA.

One California electricity crisis has it's own wiki page.

#19 | POSTED BY EBERLY

Yup. We had a crisis during the "dot-com" bubble recession. And we solved it.

caused by market manipulations (by companies like ENRON) and capped retail electricity prices

And I bet California has a lot of wiki pages..

What happens when your grid goes down? You still have power or not?

My local grid is very stable. More stable than ever. But if the grid does go down I have a generator and a fireplace for heat and natural gas for cooking. We don't require AC here. We have the Pacific Ocean for that. Batteries were too expensive and require too much maintenance.

And the difference in what that solar system cost you and what it saved you.

That's an 20 year cycle and I am still on track to zero costs for electricity for my lifetime (and as long as the sun exists).

Any maint. and repairs figured in also.

That's 3 questions. But mainly zero maint costs as this system under contract until I pay it off. The company does any maintenance and pays for any failed parts or under performing panels (except for cleaning which I do myself).

Honestly I could have gotten a much better deal if I had waited. The deals are out there. But that's what happens when you are an early adopter of new tech. You pay premium prices. Regardless I still pay basically nothing for electricity and will continue to do so into the foreseeable future.

In fact due to global warming we have more sunshine than ever and right but I am making a profit (tho I don't expect to forever and I am not counting on it) as I get a check for any excess electricity fed back to the grid. And I am generating enough excess for a nice fat check from the redwood coast energy authority every year now after what pg&e calls "true up". But again I am not counting on that as all I really wanted was a true net zero which I am currently getting.

As to the topic of the thread and data centers.

Data centers that require huge amounts of energy should be required to build micro grids. Micro grids are great for the community and for taking pressure off the grid. Or at least the bare minimum show ahead of time where the electricity they will need is coming from and how much they intend on consuming.

Just like when folks want to connect to the water system. You cannot keep adding water consumers without doing the math or you will end up like Los Angeles, Houston, Phoenix, San Antonio, and Atlanta who are all facing significant water "challenges".