obviously people don't want to pay more for gas/electric, but the deal with utilities is that in exchange for limiting their right to charge what they want when they have a near-monopoly is that they are allowed to pass along their costs, and the cost of gas goes up in the winter when it is needed for both heat and for generating electricity.
To lower the costs we should work to end the Ukraine war which is driving up the cost f energy. We should work to accelerate development of renewables that less dependent on the natural gas market.
In the meantime, it seems to me its best to establish "lifeline" rates where everyone gets a basic amount of electricity for essential needs at low rates, but if you use more then the cost of additional use rises steeply. This would help assure low income people get a basic amount at low rates and everybody gets an incentive to conserve - essential as demands on the grid will be increasing as it is used more for heatng and transportation
obviously people don't want to pay more for gas/electric, but the deal with utilities is that in exchange for limiting their right to charge what they want when they have a near-monopoly is that they are allowed to pass along their costs, and the cost of gas goes up in the winter when it is needed for both heat and for generating electricity.
To lower the costs we should work to end the Ukraine war which is driving up the cost f energy. We should work to accelerate development of renewables that less dependent on the natural gas market.
In the meantime, it seems to me its best to establish "lifeline" rates where everyone gets a basic amount of electricity for essential needs at low rates, but if you use more then the cost of additional use rises steeply. This would help assure low income people get a basic amount at low rates and everybody gets an incentive to conserve - essential as demands on the grid will be increasing as it is used more for heatng and transportation