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submitted 3 months ago by ByteOnBikes@slrpnk.net to c/energy@slrpnk.net

Louisiana’s major electric utilities are still pushing state regulators to allow them to charge customers for the costs of a new statewide energy efficiency program and for the electricity customers will no longer need because of that program.

While the idea might seem like a straightforward solution to cut back on waste, utility company executives aren’t very happy with it. In general, utility companies earn more profit when homes and businesses waste electricity. Less waste leads to lower electric bills, which could mean lower profits for the utilities.

Entergy Louisiana and Cleco vehemently opposed the idea and successfully delayed its adoption for years. A consultant the commission hired to write the basic guidelines for the program spent 13 years and over a half-million dollars trying to appease utility companies with agreeable rules.

Fed up with the delays, Commissioner Craig Greene, R-Baton Rouge, ended the stalemate in January and joined with the two Democrats on the commission in adopting what they say is a more consumer-friendly program than the one the utilities wanted.

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[-] Coskii 110 points 3 months ago

That's not how any of this works.

Fuck them and fuck anyone who thinks this makes sense. Paying for energy you don't use because 'boo-hoo company profits' is probably the most blatant late stage capitalism bullshit I've seen all month, and probably up there with a handful for the year.

[-] grue@lemmy.world 31 points 3 months ago

Paying for energy you don't use because 'boo-hoo company profits' is probably the most blatant late stage capitalism bullshit I've seen all month, and probably up there with a handful for the year.

I agree, and considering some of the other contenders (like Musk suing an ad industry group for choosing not to buy ad space from Twitter), that's saying a lot!

[-] Randelung@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

My lamp oil business has the same problem, ever since that darn Edison came along my deserved profits have been dwindling! And my cousin has a limestone tablet store, you can't imagine what it's like!

It's what happens when you calculate with infinite growth. Eventually you'll be surprised by the fact that it isn't. The only reason why they're thinking they're OWED that money is because someone wrote down a number.

Brb, making a company, projecting 10b revenue in 2 years, complain how sales are being suppressed, maybe sue the government for one thing or another. No I don't have a product yet. That's how it works, right?

[-] primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

its not how it works, but is how it's happening.

you can have courts or you can have justice. not both.

[-] theacharnian@lemmy.ca 47 points 3 months ago

"Lower profits for the utilities" is a nonsensical phrase.

[-] primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

should be. isn't. needs fixing.

[-] solsangraal@lemmy.zip 41 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

i'm happy to pay for some things i don't directly benefit from: public school, school meals, abortions, etc. but if someone thinks i'm going to pay for a product i never received, for no other reason than their for-profit 'line always go up' corporate bottom lines, then they can go fuck themselves

[-] primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world 6 points 3 months ago

corporate profits should be made an example of. like, deliberately ruined whenever possible, because if this is what happens when they're up...

[-] themeatbridge@lemmy.world 26 points 3 months ago

So, if the corporation can't be profitable, it's probably time for the state to take over.

[-] Rolive@discuss.tchncs.de 19 points 3 months ago

Tell me it's an Onion article.

[-] countrypunk@slrpnk.net 15 points 3 months ago

That's insane that they have so much power to begin with

[-] RvTV95XBeo@sh.itjust.works 13 points 3 months ago

Fed up with the delays, Commissioner Craig Greene, R-Baton Rouge, ended the stalemate in January and joined with the two Democrats on the commission in adopting what they say is a more consumer-friendly program than the one the utilities wanted.

That's what happens when one party's entire purpose in life is to just be bought and paid for. The reason they got to drag their feet for years to come up with nothing meaningful is because 3/5 members of the commission let them. I'm just glad Commissioner Greene finally came around, even if it's only because he's not running for reelection

Friendly reminder that those tiny elections down ballot are still inedibly important.

[-] primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world 1 points 3 months ago

only ones that are.

[-] Moah 3 points 3 months ago

They literally MAKE power

[-] driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br 15 points 3 months ago

Capitalism is the most efficient economic system 😎👌

[-] iAvicenna@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago

how dare you steal money from the billionaires, they are hardly making ends meet

[-] WHARRGARBL@beehaw.org 13 points 3 months ago

Power companies need the welfare now?

[-] Bongo_Stryker@lemmy.ca 12 points 3 months ago

Woke liberal transgender marxists who hate America try to destroy Entergy Louisiana and put hapless shareholders into the poorhouse!

[-] countrypunk@slrpnk.net 8 points 3 months ago

Won't somebody help the poor poor shareholders crying in their yachts?

[-] primrosepathspeedrun@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

they won't. everybody's been bought by big orphan. cowards.

this post was submitted on 12 Aug 2024
170 points (100.0% liked)

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