Oh sorry we're going to have to triple your rates. What? No not for anyone else just you. Nothing to do with your feedback though, we value that!
depending on jurisdiction they can't just arbitrarily raise rates
It's unfortunate that you have to add "depending on jurisdiction"
yes jokes
Oh they can't, but they can begin charging double or triple for the "gas delivery" portion of the bill, which is seperate from "gas supply."
You know. Because maintenance. Of pipes laid in the ground 40 years ago.
Fine. We’ll raise rates for everyone then. Thank you for your feedback!
We believe that feedback is a conversation
Would be nice if we could unfuck the US, also if we could take a bit of money from the military to get heat pumps and induction stoves, and just skip the gas
I agree on the gas for health reasons.
I really want an outdoor wok burner, because my induction stove just doesn't get hot enough. I'm used to working with a professional stove that will go up to 700° F. The induction stove won't get my wok above 500° F.
It’s expensive and not available yet, but this might do it: https://www.impulselabs.com/
It has a built in battery so it can have a higher peak power output without upgrading your electricity supply.
They make a standalone induction burner specifically for a wok (mine came with a wok, but the one I already had works). It's nice because you don't have to use a flat bottom one, but it still maxes out at like 550°.
The correct answer to #2 is
'Make it easier to tap the lines safely and steal gas without putting anyone at risk, then die in the revolution.'
Look, I get it, but maybe don't give a warning?
Wow, maybe some of us think honesty is important, and they were kind enough to ask.
But that's communism 🤣
Ohio separates distribution from supply. You can't select the distributor who connects your home to the gas mains, but you can choose from dozens of suppliers who put gas into those mains.
We do the same with electricity.
This is the same for both gas and electricity (both import and export for those who can) in the UK.
It generally works quite well, and could be pretty competitive if you knew to shop around. Since Vlad's 3 days began and natural gas prices spiked the entire market (the companies that survived) has pretty much been at the government price cap. There are some deals starting to re-appear but the main reason to switch right now is customer service. Amazing how much brand loyalty let's the big firms treat people like shit and get away with it.The best deals tend to be time of use for people with smart meters.
Same in the EU. Or at least I think so, it's the case over here and it's EU-wide for electricity providers. Water, sewage and garbage disposal are municipal responsibility though there's no network/provider separation there.
What's actually missing is a municipal-level telecom monopoly -- again, with separate providers. The last-mile network is just as much a natural monopoly for telecom as it is for other wires or pipes.
it's the case over here and it's EU-wide for electricity providers
I find it interesting that this is a good thing in the US and most of Europe, but in France this majorly fucked our electricity market by forcing the (mostly) state funded electricity producer into selling their electricity to some companies that provide no value aside from being an intermediate between the producer and the consumer (they are not required to produce their own electricity to buy some from EDF at a discount, and they are even allowed to sell it to consumers for less money than the lowest price EDF is allowed to charge when they are doing the same thing, because of some dumb regulations I can't remember).
All in the name of the free market because "monopoly bad", even though electricity production and especially distribution is, as you said, a natural monopoly.
In Australia, you can't choose the suppliers. All the gas comes from the same place.
You can, however, choose the billing company. And it's the same story for electricity.
municipal utilities are not much better either unfortunately
Having government owned gas I can tell you it's also a monopoly but one enforced even further by law
And when government fucked up those management, you as a citizen should held your government liable. People shouldn't be afraid of their government, the government should be afraid of their people. Also, the government's main priority is NOT to make a profit but rather serve the people. So there is a (theoretical) obligation for the government to make sure every citizen has access to their service even if at a loss.
