Carol and Toad both make good comments. A "free market" for electricity is tough to do as the barriers to entry are high and the access to market extremely limited. Profit-driven firms will make hay as the sun shines and it currently is shining for the producers.

Carol, I particualry appreciated your comment regarding the incredible complexity of the issue, as well as your genuine interest in learning as much as you can in order to form your opinions.

I agree that certain infrastructure industries should be regulated. Toad's right, the economic impact of this "free market" could drive our entire economy down the tubes.

Carol, I also agree in principle with assessing the cost of alternative solutions versus the price. As you can imagine, this is also extremely complicated as folks attempt to quantify qualitative measures or apply mitigative measures to cure something we don't fully understand.

Ed