Public Utilities in this country used to be owned by the "people" and managed by governments on their behalf. Now they've nearly all been sold off to private enterprise for a quick profit and to save government expenditure. Very short sighted indeed.

All this situation worldwide and here at home reminds me of a quote attributed to "Dutch" Schultz: "What happened to the good old days when you could get a guy whacked for twenty bucks? Now what is it? $10,000!"

Hitman replies: " We live in inflationary times."

And now the hitmen run power companies and corporations worldwide.

I'm hoping that by the time the wife and I retire in 15 years or so that solar and geo-thermal technology will have advanced to the point we'll be able to live comfortably and cheaply off the grid.

highest I ever had was $67 USD per month

Around $140 a month. You guys that have nuclear energy like the States wouldn't the power bill be very low? If that how it works or is the nuclear energy don't count for power.