May 11, 2005 – Knowledge Problem

Metering And Pricing Activate Electricity Demand In California

7 Comments / Economics, Electricity, Energy markets / By Lynne Kiesling

Lynne Kiesling In today?s Wall Street Journal, Rebecca Smith writes about changes under way in California (sub. req.) that would enable the three investor-owned utilities to offer their customers sophisticated digital meters and pricing options. The initiative that Smith describes is the culmination of a joint PUC/Energy Commission effort over the past three years to …

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Should Young People Read Books?

Books / By Michael Giberson

Michael Giberson Reading books chronically understimulates the senses. Unlike the longstanding tradition of gameplaying?which engages the child in a vivid, three-dimensional world filled with moving images and musical sound-scapes, navigated and controlled with complex muscular movements?books are simply a barren string of words on the page. . . . Books are also tragically isolating. While …

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Nerc Compliance And The Scarlet Letter

Electricity / By Michael Giberson

Michael Giberson While the North American Electric Reliability Council (NERC) has monitored compliance with its reliability standards for years, lately it has taken compliance more seriously. (What with the big blackout in 2003, NERC?s desire to take a more prominent role in industry developments, and such things.) As of the 2004 Third Quarter Report, NERC …

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More Energy Bill Stuff

3 Comments / Economics, Energy markets / By Lynne Kiesling

Lynne Kiesling Thanks to the guys over at 2 Blowhards for their recent link to my recent energy bill rant. Since it’s generating readers, here’s more! But not from me. Here’s one from Jonathan Adler over at The Commons, with links to other commentaries. One of his links suggests that the “peak oil” corpses are …

Competition Lowers Prices? You Don’t Say!

Economics / By Lynne Kiesling

Lynne Kiesling I do say! So does this this nifty little news story from northeastern Ohio. The story points out the importance of being able to compare prices, and how that transparency leads to the process of prices heading toward the competitive equilibrium. Hat tip: Division of Labour.

Eat Fat To Lose Fat?

3 Comments / Economics / By Lynne Kiesling

Lynne Kiesling Obesity has been much in the news lately, with last month’s study that indicates prior CDC extreme overestimates of the negative effects of obesity. Economist Steven Levitt waggishly observed that the information made eating fatty foods cheaper. And on these very pages I mused about the French paradox. Today comes two interesting additions …

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