Electricity Fairness Act [debating]

[TJ in Oregon]

I am generally opposed to setting price ceilings unless there is a very specific extenuating case where such a ceiling is needed. Price ceilings are a market distortion that can often cause shortages and rolling blackouts rather than making more energy with less money. May I ask, what was the intent of this bill? If you believe the energy companies are benefitting unfairly, then why not address whatever loophole allows them to benefit unfairly?

I also have some question about how the government can mandate a maximum average rate instead of a flat-out maximum rate. If you mandate a certain average, presumably close to half the charges made will be higher than that average. Is that illegal if this passes?

One quick techincal point: (I apologize if this comes off the wrong way) the unit of energy is kilowatt-hours not kilowatt per hour. A watt is already per unit time, so it would be multiplied by time (in this case hours) to have a unit of energy. Also the costs should be per kW-hr, not per hour. The cost is being paid for energy, not for time.

[TJ in Oregon]

I'm proposing this amendment to fix the energy units. Let me be clear, I still oppose this bill; but if it does pass, it should at least have the correct units.

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[TJ in Oregon]

Why should the federal government establish a power company only in Hawaii? Shouldn't Hawaii do that?

[TJ in Oregon]

Aye