I specifically said that you needed to get rid of monopolies and subsidies for prices to work.
Most places are not set up for that, and giving a power company a monopoly is a necessary evil. That's not a solution without a tradeoff though. When you have a monopoly, the consumers need to collectively negotiate prices. Part of that negotiation can lead to other forms of rent-seeking in the form of subsidies, or whatever else. It's just trading problems for problems.
What might a better solution look like? Having municipalities own the last mile, and take ownership of the grid might eliminate the need for energy monopolies. Multiple energy suppliers could compete, and the grid would be maintained through contractors. The contractors hired to tend to the lines and conduits wouldn't be in the power business, they would be in the plumbing and wiring business. There is a state monopoly on the grid infrastructure, the same way there is a state monopoly on roads. There's no government truck or car monopoly even though that's what uses the roads.
Most places are not set up for that, and giving a power company a monopoly is a necessary evil. That's not a solution without a tradeoff though. When you have a monopoly, the consumers need to collectively negotiate prices. Part of that negotiation can lead to other forms of rent-seeking in the form of subsidies, or whatever else. It's just trading problems for problems.
What might a better solution look like? Having municipalities own the last mile, and take ownership of the grid might eliminate the need for energy monopolies. Multiple energy suppliers could compete, and the grid would be maintained through contractors. The contractors hired to tend to the lines and conduits wouldn't be in the power business, they would be in the plumbing and wiring business. There is a state monopoly on the grid infrastructure, the same way there is a state monopoly on roads. There's no government truck or car monopoly even though that's what uses the roads.