Sunday, December 10, 2006

Follow-Up: Electric Companies Inefficient at Infrastructure Maintenance

Follow-up from yesterday's post:

Texas state Public Utility Commission Cracks Down on Power Companies

Notable quote: "I think it is approaching a number where it is cheaper for (companies) to just write a check than it is to make the repairs," Commissioner Barry Smitherman said during a discussion of the TXU penalty.

Also note just how complicated the regulations are, just in the brief mention given by the Houston Chronicle's report. Effective? Probably not.

Would a statewide or nationwide government-run transmission system be any more efficient? Almost certainly not- but at least you wouldn't have paper-pushers levying useless fines in an effort to look like they're actually working.

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