The power of supplying power

My in-laws own a summer place in MO. Recently the electric company told them there was a problem with their electric meter. The company decided it was faulty and was under reporting their usage. It was nothing my in-laws did. One would think the company would replace the meter and go on from there. Nope, they figured my in-laws must have used $1200 more in electric power and billed them that amount.

Had it been me I’d have told them to get their ugly meter off my house. Of course, you can have that attitude when you already make a significant part of your power from solar. Rather than give $1200 to the power company I’d plow that back into more off-grid power.

The electric company is a monopoly. There are supposed to be regulators that prevent them from predatory practices. Unfortunately big companies generally have a lot of money and money is political power.

There are so many companies that supply essential things for our lives. We depend on the them for electricity, communications, water, sanitation, food and medical treatment. A good part of the attraction of living in a remote homestead is to be able to take care of one’s own needs.

Unfortunately that’s not practical for most people. Even if you live in a remote off-grid locations there are still big companies that you rely upon. Eventually you will need replacement parts and they have to come from somewhere. Most people who live out in the country are heavily dependent on their vehicles to get into town. Few people homebrew their own fuel. Even if you do all these things, nobody has an MRI machine in their basement. We are all need the medical companies.

So with all the things we are stuck with, do we just give up? Just because we can’t be perfectly independent doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do what we can. As for the rest, going it alone won’t work. Taking big money out of politics and holding politicians feet to the fire might.

-Sixbears