Why electric demand is flat

Electric demand in the US has been flat for most of this decade and looks to stay that way.

Why?

At the bigger ticket level, homes are better insulated, and more older homes are going off the books.

At the medium ticket level, appliances continue to get more efficient. Thank government EnergyStar regulations.

At the moderate ticket level, computers and devices are ever more energy efficient.

At the small ticket level? A trip to WallyWorld illustrates.

I just moved, and needed a couple of light bulbs.

Two-three years ago, approximately, Wally just started selling LED bulbs. They had plenty of CFLs, halogen incandescents and some traditional incandescents.

Now?

NO, none, not a single CFL. (NO traditional incandescents, either. Just halogens.)

And, plenty of different types of CFLs.

Again, in part, due to regulation. Halogen incandescents are for those who want to spend less, even though paying more later. But, Obama's lights bill did this.

Other reasons include more backyard renewable energy. Thank regulation that requires at least partial feed-in tariff to utilities in many states, though not Texas.

Vox also wants to thank outsourcing of industry. Actually much of that happened before the start of this decade.

Anyway, even without the feed-in tariff here in Texas, obviously, Energy Future Holdings, the parent of TXU, is going to struggle more. And, that's the flip side of electric dereg.