I don't know the details about Duke energy in Florida. But I can tell you with Alabama Power at least part of the blame is the federal government. Obama's EPA forced AP to shut down a coal plant and replace it with a "clean burning natural gas" fueled plant. That cost over a beeeelllllyuuuun dollars (typed in my best Trump voice) that they had to pass onto us customers. Then Brandon issued EO's making it harder to drill for natural gas and oil, which made the cost of NG go up. In our power bills there's a rider per kWh specifically to pay for AP's fuel costs (coal, natural gas, uranium). So now that our power bills are more joined to the hip with NG than ever before (thanks to Obama), Brandon's EO made our power bills go up even more.
Bull crap like that is why I had 10kW of solar installed in the 4th month Brandon was in the WH. I studied the real world results for a year, liked it, and increased it to 20kW last year. It shouldn't be like this where we're better off producing our own energy. I can't do it as efficiently with solar as well as a power company can do it with coal if the federal government would let them (partly because coal is better than solar, and partly because of Economies of Scale makes it easier for the utility to get more kWh per dollar than me doing it for just my home).
Except that at least for now the Dims haven't figured out how to regulate the sun that hits our property. I know a lot of FReepers hate solar. But decentralized solar (solar for an individual or family, not for the grid) gives us some cushion against the Dims' stupid war on energy.
I don’t hate solar or wind power. I just don’t like the government interfering in the private sector. I certainly do not want to be taxed more or others to be taxed less so that they can make improvements to their property.
I don’t wannt the government deciding winners and losers in the market.
That is corruption.
I don’t want the government creating entire new industries like carbon sequestration that will provide an entirely useless service.
Global Warming is the largest scam ever pulled on the people of the world.
It is a huge con-job to transfer wealth from the middle class to the rich and politically connected.
I love coal and coal generated electricity. Just install proper German model scrubbers.... My mother came from coal country in PA so I am prejudiced for coal/ American born oil and natural gas too.