Dis-integration and re-integration … cycle of evolution.
“In a ground-breaking move in November, voters in Boulder, Colo., approved an initiative to end their relationship with Xcel Energy, a utility with $10.7 billion in revenues, thus clearing the way for the city to form its own municipal utility that would lower rates and make greater use of renewable energy …
Municipal utilities are far more common than most people are aware, with more than 1,000 already functioning in the United States, serving 50 million customers“
Not only is this a substantial and refreshing change but it seems to be benefiting from a supporting feedback loop:
“All of this comes at a time when the entire model of a corporate utility operating a centralized grid is facing steady erosion. Universities and cities across the country are expressing their desire to move away from both hiring—or even owning stocks in—companies that remain committed to fossil fuels. In addition, every family who installs solar on their roof not only slashes their need for energy from a utility, but also cuts the revenue for those same firms.
As the number of customers inexorably drops, the firm must spread its costs across a smaller and smaller number of customers, which increases their rates and creates even more demand to leave the grid.“
from YesMagazine via David Korten