this post was submitted on 19 May 2024
708 points (98.4% liked)

Technology

59555 readers
4537 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related content.
  3. Be excellent to each another!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, to ask if your bot can be added please contact us.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed

Approved Bots


founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 8 points 6 months ago (1 children)

It’s not a cartel risk. It’s a supply and demand equation.

Cartels love industries with inelastic demand.

It’s just market prices.

Markets aren't magic. Prices are a consequence of human decisions. And if you can withhold electricity from the grid to maximize returns (by forming a cartel with other producers) you can drive those prices up when people can least afford to reduce consumption.

[–] Wanderer@lemm.ee -2 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Isn't it tonnes of different people, farmers and such. Too many for a cartel to form. Reducing supply is just going to mean to make less money.

Batteries are making the grid a lot more elastic.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 4 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Isn’t it tonnes of different people, farmers and such.

Farmers and such are not selling power on the Texas wholesale electric grid, no.

Reducing supply is just going to mean to make less money.

Because fossil fuel supplies are limited, you can often make more money selling a small amount onto the market at a high price than a large amount onto the market at a low price.

[–] Wanderer@lemm.ee -3 points 6 months ago (1 children)

Some people ideas of capitalism are so warped.

If there is an energy cartel report them.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago (1 children)

If there is an energy cartel report them.

I'll notify Ken Paxton right away. I'm sure he'll get right on it.

[–] Wanderer@lemm.ee -4 points 6 months ago

Well done. Don't forgot to attach your evidence.