Lost Electricity Generation Capacity 7X Higher Than EPA Estimates

A standard AC wattmeter consists of 2 coils, current coil and voltage coil, configured so that the resultant fields produce a torque on the aluminium disc proportional to the 'in-phase' power passing through those coils (IE the Watts) that drives the register to record your usage. These meters do not produce any torque for any reactive component of the energy passing through so they only register Watts and ignore Vars.

It does seem premature to be forcing coal-fired generation out of service prior to cleaner alternatives coming online but, to encourage investment in alternatives, higher energy prices are necessary or it'll never happen. Energy prices are destined to rise and keep rising so your best solution to avoid those extra costs is to simply use less of it by adopting more efficient usage habits. I recall people getting by quite well without the sort of energy demand we typically see now with the luxury items like aircon, hot tubs, heated pools etc.

In this this country the observed outcome of higher prices has been a flattening and even a reduction in peak demands put down mainly to more efficient appliances and a huge rollout of domestic solar installations. It actually screwed up the forecast grid energy requirements made some years ago requiring a complete re-assessment of future needs.

Finally, I can commend the president for doing something right for once. Fewer coal power plants is a good thing.

Hopefully we can close a few hundred more next year.