Nanny Wants More Control - as Usual.

Last week I got an ordinary, non-descript, envelope in the mail from my power provider, Duke Energy. Here is what was inside.

If you can't read what it says, it is basically an "offer" from Duke to come out and install a "Power Manager" power meter (controller) on your A/C unit so that "when demand for power is especially high, the radio-controlled device turns your outdoor air conditioning unit off for only a few minutes each half hour...." (emphasis mine) This interruption "may occur between May 1 and September 30, Mon-Fri. But you can request to be excluded from the interruptions for one day each month. You have to request to control the temp in your own home!! And for handing over control of your A/C to Nanny, you get a $25 credit to your account! Does anyone believe that is a fair trade?? What price do you put on control of your own life and comfort? And this is only 1 of a growing list of ways Nanny is tightening her grip.

I like to keep my A/C on higher temps and use fans, open windows, etc. to save money. I do it by choice, in my own self-interest. I don't do it to "save the earth" or "reduce my carbon footprint." That may be a result of my action, and I'm fine with that. (even though I believe the global warming /climate change racket is the biggest con-job ever pulled)

Along the lines of government actions creeping over into and joining with the private sector is this group. USCAP, United States Climate Action Partnership, is a pretty scary group. The Other Mike S. has a good recap and breakdown here on his site, No Nanny State. My guess is that these companies are accomplishing three things by going this route. 1) They are going with public / government sentiment to try to stay alive, 2) get in the good graces with politicians so they don't get targeted more specifically (as if that is possible) with worse legislation, and 3) they see this as an opportunity to help craft the legislation in a way that allows them to survive / prosper and kick the crap out of their smaller competitors and scare off any start-ups from trying to compete with them. These companies will take a tax, fee, fine hit here in the US, but they'll just pass most, if not all of the cost increases on the consumer, and if they drive out competitors, they'll make up for the higher "cost" in increased market share and added revenue.

If you went to their home page and looked at the list of members, did you notice any companies you deal with? Did you see Duke Energy? Coincidence? I guess I can't really boycott Duke, unless I move out to the sticks and live "off the grid," but the others will definitely be getting less of my money. That is going to be a hell of a list to keep in my head.