Goofy/Not so goofy thinking about economics...

[HTRN]

I realize it wouldn't become truly free - but, it would represent a dramatic shift in cost.

It would probably drop below .06c/kwh, probably not by much. Considering that the nationwide average is something like 11c/kwh(IIRC), I dunno if that qualifies as "dramatic".

[Kommander]

I realize it wouldn't become truly free - but, it would represent a dramatic shift in cost.

It would probably drop below .06c/kwh, probably not by much. Considering that the nationwide average is something like 11c/kwh(IIRC), I dunno if that qualifies as "dramatic".

Did you mean 11c/kwh to .06c/kwh or to 06c/kwh? The former is quite dramatic, while the latter is merely good.

[Aglifter]

Cutting electric costs in half isn't trivial.

It won't change the need for petroleum - nothing ever will, probably - well, maybe with another 100 years of progress in biotech.

[HTRN]

Did you mean 11c/kwh to .06c/kwh or to 06c/kwh? The former is quite dramatic, while the latter is merely good.

from a 11 cents to below 6 cents. below is my reasoning.

Iceland has some of the lowest electric rates in the world, due to their extensive use of Geothermal power(IE it's "free") and the fact that their people are mostly clustered up in a few cities, limiting distribution costs. And it's still averaging 4 cents a kwh.

Cutting electric costs in half isn't trivial.

It's not trivial for Data centers and Electric smelting. For the rest of us... Right now I'm paying a bit over 6 cents a kwh. It's "low" but there are all the tacked on charges, like delivery, progressive pricing(the first kwh is the most expensive)taxes, fees, etc.

And oh, I can tell you that in Manufacturing, the electric costs, while significant, pale compare to labor, materials, taxes, etc.

[Netpackrat]

We'd honestly become like Iceland, with ultralow electric rates(which is enticing to various manufacturing processes, like Bauxite smelting to make Aluminum).

This is a very good example of how increased energy costs make everything more expensive. In this case, anything with aluminum in it. Aluminum is basically electricity in the solid phase, so the cost of Al skyrockets when the cost of generating electricity goes up.

[Aglifter]

Hmm... I think it depends on what you manufacture - and, possibly, at what stage.

Electricity is a major cost in food processing - and in steel, I believe. I know a, very, modern steel mill uses very few employees.

[HTRN]

Data centers are another big thing - in fact, Google mentioned that they looked for aluminum smelters for where to put them, because the aluminum smelters are basically wherever electricity is cheapest.