I seem to be on a kick the past couple of days wondering whether it's motives or outcomes that matter. Particularly, if greedy, self-interested government-subsidized profit-mongering by evil big business accidently results in social welfare improving environmental outcomes, should we care about the motive?*
More than 100,000 central Ohio households are on the leading edge of energy technology, having received high-tech electricity meters with the help of federal aid, a project an Obama administration official praised yesterday.
...
As soon as October, the customers will be able to use an AEP website to track their electricity usage the previous day. Future versions of the meters might allow for real-time tracking.
Electric utilities eventually might use the technology to offer different prices for power, depending on the time of day, which would encourage customers to use less power during times of high demand. This kind of change to pricing would require approval by state regulators.
As Chu sees it, the meters' main asset is the way they provide information that can be used to cut power bills.
"First and foremost, it's about saving money," he said.
*I say no.
