• UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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    7 months ago

    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
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      7 months ago

      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
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        7 months ago

        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
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          7 months ago

          Some people ideas of capitalism are so warped.

          If there is an energy cartel report them.

          • UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world
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            7 months ago

            If there is an energy cartel report them.

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