The power grid scam

I am familiar with both the rotating devices and the digital ones, but in other countries there may be types I am not aware of.
Both measure current and voltage, but are calibrated in kW.
If you raise the grid voltage, the current increases linearly for resistive loads, for inductive loads the current also increases but in a more complex way that depends on the type and size of the core. Near saturation the current rises steeply until the device burns out.

It is like the butcher who always cuts off more than you order, but at least he has the decency to ask you if it is OK. The electricity company doesn't ask anything but supplies energy you do not need and bills you for it.

 

ENRON was a energy company, right?
They screw big deal California and make billion, which they spent very fast.
Energy is a joke.
It is in the hand of a minority new Enron style companies.
We are the sucker.
It's modern life.
Daniel

 

gradually ban incandescent light bulbs,
Thats Not a very Brite Idea.


I do have a workable soultion for you Europeans and would be happy to help out folks from the Old Countries.


Send me some Cash and Ill go to the hardware store and get you some good old American Incandesent Light bulbs. These run on 110- to 120 VAC and you can wire them in series and use them overseas and get twice as much light for your money.

How Bout that.

And remember that since when measuring lumins 2 + 2 dont equal 4. Your actually getting more Candelpower .

Send Lots of Cash and Stock up for the next Millinium with American Light Bulbs.

Now Thats a Bright IDEA!

 

I do encourage any serious attempt to reduce power consumption, but the way it turns out now there will be no net savings at all.

Self interest causes the electricity producers to supply more than we need. A higher electricity bill will lead to lower consumption in part of society but in the meanwhile fuel keeps being wasted.

All our domestic appliances accept a margin of -10/+6% to properly function, except cheap microwave ovens (-5%). Large savings are possible starting tomorrow without any investment in new light bulbs if only the electricity distributors were held accountable for delivering excess amounts.

There are simple technical solutions to track the difference between nominal voltage and amps and the actual values; a serious government could monthly fine excess electricity production based on these figures.

But I see the flaw: a serious government.....

 

This happened in Pinellas County, Florida with water. The authorities begged people to use less water, then raised the price when water use fell below the minimum budget needed to support the infrastructure.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/environment/water/article1080875.ece

 

The fluorescent lights dim considerably over their lifetime and have mercury in them. That makes them great for the environment which you won't be able to see very well because the light will be to dim. Also the fluorescent lights trigger migraine headaches and, in some susceptible individuals, epilepsy.

 

But that is a normal market behaviour (law of demand), perfectly expected. The ultimate goal was to decrease the consumption of water, and that one was reached...

 

Not really they are trying to avoid the expense of building multi-billion dollar power stations in a environment where the permitting process takes decades, the local scream every time there is a new unsubstantiated health scare, and tort liability is ever increasing.