Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

I view safe/stable power, clean water, and waste/sewage systems as bare minimum utilities that everyone should have. I don't live in a third world country and so equal access to those kinds of utilities should be a given for everybody. I really like the idea that everyone in my state is entitled to equal access to the grid and I'd much prefer to have people on the grid rather than having people in poor/remote communities trying to create their own shitty replacements with the dangers and fire risks that'd create.

I see no reason why people who don't live in cities should be punished or burdened with higher access fees, especially if those people can't afford to move/live elsewhere. It may cost a lot more to run utilities out to users in remote areas but it costs very little to run them to users in ultra-dense urban areas and that's where the vast majority of the users are so it should all balance out.




I mean, it costs much more to expand and maintain access for them, why shouldn't they pay more?


Because electricity is a common good. Some subsidize others so we may all have electricity.

Kind of like the postal service. Or insurance.


So do it with marginal prices for electricity. The price for electricity should have nothing to do with the recipient’s income.

If people want wealth redistribution, then do it with wealth taxes and cash.


No, insurance is against things that didn't happen yet that are out of your control.

You can't just buy fire insurance when your house is burning down, so you shouldn't be able to have "electricity insurance" when you buy a far away house

The postal service is necessary to do things like send you IRS communications, drivers licenses, jury duty, etc.

When the government no longer uses paper to communicate with people we can talk about privatizing the postal service


Just saying… somehow states with huge rural areas manage to have prices 3x or more lower than cali




Join us for AI Startup School this June 16-17 in San Francisco!

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: