Energy Costs - I DO NOT HAVE BLACKOUTS OR BILLS
The true cost of energy include:
mining and the environmental reparation costs
mining and the health costs to workers
mining and the cost fuel in shipping coal or LP gas to Power Plants
maintaining Power plants AND the failing Transmission Lines
The Cost to CONSUMERS during black outs and grid failures.
The subsidies to Mining and to Power Plants
The local tax money spent on Power Plants and maintaining the Grid
The local tax money spent on maintaining city transmission lines & transformer stations
The money spent by lobbyists for Oil, Gas, and Power companies (which really comes from the "consumer" or customer.)
the money spent for health problems from Power Plants contaminating the Air, Water, and surroundings which cause local communities continuing health problems.
The loss of financing alternatives which could relieve contamination and health costs.
The cost of building Power Plants and decommissioning them.
The 10,000 year monitoring of Uranium.
The cost of Uranium Power Plant breakdowns and related health concerns
After all those costs, Individual alternative energy systems are really 150 times cheaper to build, maintain, and reduce health and environmental problems. Environmental costs caused by the current power system are also a major problem to all - even those not using the Grid.
I have lived of the grid for over 30 years using PV and a small wind generator. I have to replace batteries every 8 years or so, and have some repairs on occasion - BUT I DO NOT HAVE A MONTHLY UTILITY BILL AND DO NOT HAVE BLACK OUTS.
