From "Utility companies are seeking to get ahead of this expected growth. A group of 36 companies wrote a letter to Congress earlier this month lobbying for the removal of the cap on EV tax credits. Currently, Americans who purchase an electric car receive a federal tax credit of $7,500. But the government plans to phase out those credits after each auto company sells 200,000 vehicles. Tesla will likely see their tax credits disappear this year, with GM and Nissan right behind. This means that people will be less likely to buy electric cars right when power companies need them. Many automakers are divided over whether lifting the threshold indefinitely will drive sales. While utilities will be forced to undergo a transformation, the decline in demand is actually a good thing. That's why in their pitch to Congress to lift caps on EV tax credits, utilities argued that investment in the EV market will help move the energy industry forward." Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
i would like to see a historical chart of electricity use by state. hard to believe usage is going down.
Remember that it wasn't that long ago that the most inefficient light bulbs were taken off the market. With rebates at the register for the most efficient, that is shift in lower demand for nearly all households.
The utility industry actively promoted energy efficient light bulbs, appliances, etc. under the guise of not having to build new power plants. Now that the public is (somewhat grudgingly) jumping on the energy efficient bandwagon, the utilities are realizing lower revenues, so electric vehicles are looking very attractive to them.
i replaced all my light bulbs, new refrigerator and television, difference in electric bill is not noticeable. but i'm looking at dollars, not kWh. they just raise the rate to make up for losses.
They do not offer tax incentives on LED bulbs because only morons are not already using them wherever possible. Someday, EVs will be the same way....or they will go the way of CFLs. I already know that solar is ready for prime time because ELECTRIC COMPANIES are starting to install solar, and they will probably continue to do so after the initial tax credit make about as much sense as they would NOW for LEDs.
The power company has been putting solar panels on the telephone poles for years now, around here. My rates have dropped about 1/2 cent per kWh now.
