Chronology Current Month Current Thread Current Date
[Year List] [Month List (current year)] [Date Index] [Thread Index] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Date Prev] [Date Next]

Re: [Phys-l] CFLs



I pay about $0.14 per KWH. But, electricity costs in California always have been high because of air pollution regulation that require the utilities to use cleaner fuels and to have cleaner generating systems than in most other parts of the country.

Unfortunately, there is a "free lunch" in the sense that most electricity consumers do not pay for the "external" costs of generating power. For example, you probably are not paying the real costs of air pollution caused by using coal-fired plants nor for the disposal of nuclear waste from the nuclear reactor on you electric bill. Much of that is subsidized by the taxpayer in most parts of the country. Here more of it is covered by the ratepayer.

Mark
________________________________________
From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu [phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu] On Behalf Of Rick Tarara [rtarara@saintmarys.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, April 08, 2009 6:41 AM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] CFLs

----- Original Message -----
From: "Shapiro, Mark" <mshapiro@Exchange.FULLERTON.EDU>


No, here in southern California the subsidies come from Southern
California Edison Company, which is an investor owned company. Full
disclosure -- I own a substantial number of shares in SCE's parent
company.

SCE finds it more profitable to subsidize CFLs than to build new electric
generating plants.


OK--what do you pay for electricity? My 2008 cost was 8.3 cents/kWh in
Indiana but fed primarily from a nuclear plant in Michigan. What is it
running your way! Bet there is no 'free lunch' here. ;-)

Rick

_______________________________________________
Forum for Physics Educators
Phys-l@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu
https://carnot.physics.buffalo.edu/mailman/listinfo/phys-l