But the goal here in setting these prices (from Society’s perspective) is not to maximize Safeway’s profits, but rather to incentive more people taking up carrot farming!
Since we’re fairly confident we need lots of carrots to save the world!
People are so quick to speak for "Society" because, in their minds, they think it trumps all other arguments.
But very few -- if any -- actually know what society needs.
I would say that what Society needs is to ensure a regular supply of carrots at stable prices. It's not to maximize small household carrot farming if it does not align with this goal.
There is no particular reason why solar needs to be on individual rooftops where there is no storage, no ability to make long term commitments, and no mechanism to turn it into a reliable, dependable stream of energy.
But sure, if the same households commit to maintaining their solar panels at an agreed upon capacity, and commit to purchasing enough storage to provide the agreed upon electricity despite the weather, and are able to sign long term contracts with significant financial penalties for failing to deliver the promised quantity of electricity, then yes they can be an electricity supplier to those utilities that need reliable energy suppliers in order to meet their own contractual commitments to energy users.
There's no need for all that red tape. Since there are so many households, the average will be highly predictable, given the weather conditions. Same as with large suppliers.
Battery capacity is something many households may also want to invest in, if the incentives are attractive enough. Again, no need for long term contractual commitments.
Given the amount that I've had to bail them out as a California taxpayer and as a ratepayer, it's absolutely criminal that they're not currently a government-owned company.
rsj_hn|3 years ago
But very few -- if any -- actually know what society needs.
I would say that what Society needs is to ensure a regular supply of carrots at stable prices. It's not to maximize small household carrot farming if it does not align with this goal.
There is no particular reason why solar needs to be on individual rooftops where there is no storage, no ability to make long term commitments, and no mechanism to turn it into a reliable, dependable stream of energy.
But sure, if the same households commit to maintaining their solar panels at an agreed upon capacity, and commit to purchasing enough storage to provide the agreed upon electricity despite the weather, and are able to sign long term contracts with significant financial penalties for failing to deliver the promised quantity of electricity, then yes they can be an electricity supplier to those utilities that need reliable energy suppliers in order to meet their own contractual commitments to energy users.
vanviegen|3 years ago
Battery capacity is something many households may also want to invest in, if the incentives are attractive enough. Again, no need for long term contractual commitments.
UIUC_06|3 years ago
That's worth discussing, but right now it's a regulated monopoly, entitled by law to make a "reasonable" profit, AFAIK.
labcomputer|3 years ago
emodendroket|3 years ago
HDThoreaun|3 years ago
lokar|3 years ago