...the utility just doesn't care. We need them more than they need us.

If we get rid of all the government regulations and allow competition and a free market in energy FPL would sing a different tune. They would be forced to lower prices and woo customers just like any other business that wants to make a profit.

When government guarantees a profit to utilities, there is no incentive to serve the public. More government regulation will only result in increased costs and worse service.

FPL has the best politicians our money buy looking out for the huge profits. It's amazing we pay FPL, they pay to get the people they want elected, we get get hosed with higher rates so they can pay more politicians. Repeat as often as required.

Anyone know how to convert solar power into electricity?

I have a contact that can do that...convert energy.

So Lolly, who do you think owns the wires?
Competition with utilities involves smoke and mirrors positioned by government regulations.

Yeah, FPL really should change to coal or something else dirty but cheap. Screw this solar stuff. I mean, I shouldn't have to pay for the environment. Leave that to someone else.

Electricity, water, gas...everything should be free. We want to have our pretty green cake and eat it, too. Communism, here we come!

...the utility just doesn't care. We need them more than they need us.

If we get rid of all the government regulations and allow competition and a free market in energy FPL would sing a different tune. They would be forced to lower prices and woo customers just like any other business that wants to make a profit.

When government guarantees a profit to utilities, there is no incentive to serve the public. More government regulation will only result in increased costs and worse service.

Sorry folks. That argument for deregulation causing more competition just isn't working in Connecticut. Connectocut Light & Power now charges double what is charged before deregulation, one fee to maintain the transmission lines and one fee to deliver the power. There is no competition in Connecticut, and there won't be any competition in Florida. Anyone who thinks so is mistalen. Look at the recent talk about regulating the energy futures markets to end excesive speculation, which only drives up the costs that you and I pay for everything from auto and airline fuels to ome heating and cooling costs.

The Sun-Sentinel is the Fox News of newspapers now. Nobody trusts it except idiots.

FPL isn't the same as FPL Group. FPL's profit didn't soar. FPL Group's did. Read your own paper, Chan. Thanks for insulting our intelligence.

I wish I could get paid to doodle b.s. for a living.

Bob Dem:

Your stupidity takes one's
breath away.

Mr. Lowe is an award-winning
journalist who has devoted nearly 35 years to covering
the news.
"Doodling?" You've
got to be kidding.

Electricity, water, gas...everything should be free. We want to have our pretty green cake and eat it, too. Communism, here we come!

Posted by: True American

This jackass wants inject politics into everything. Friggin maroon probably works for Florida Rape & Pillage, I mean FPL. I always get them confused.

Who doesn't like being constantly lied to by a monopolizing corporation who cries broke to justify their rate increases and posts 77% profits within 2 months of doing so. (Insert sarcasm here) Haven't had a hurricane in 4 years yet we have to keep buliding that "emergency" surplus.

So Lolly, who do you think owns the wires?

Whoever owned the wires would be highly motivated to make sure they were properly maintained.

Who owns the rivers and lakes? Oh right, government. That's why they are polluted and poorly maintained.

Competition with utilities involves smoke and mirrors positioned by government regulations.

That's not real competition. As long as government arbitrarily sets rules there can be no real competition. Government regulations tend to favor the politically connected. It is called competition to defuse criticism.

That argument for deregulation causing more competition just isn't working in Connecticut. Connectocut Light & Power now charges double what is charged before deregulation, one fee to maintain the transmission lines and one fee to deliver the power.

You believe Connecticut P&L is charging too much money and hence making too much profit. In a truly free market competitive environment other energy companies would be chomping at the bit to compete and get in on those excess profits. It is that competition that would ultimately drive prices down and/or improve service.

If that competition is not developing it must be that government regulations, taxes, etc are discouraging competing companies from coming into the state.

Look at the recent talk about regulating the energy futures markets to end excesive speculation, which only drives up the costs that you and I pay for everything from auto and airline fuels to ome heating and cooling costs.

How do you know when speculation is excessive? Speculation actually plays a very useful role in providing liquidity to markets. Speculators do not have the power to drive markets. In fact, speculators very often lose money.

Government regulators often cause economic problems and then blame speculators to divert attention from the true culprits.

The best cure for economic ignorance is Henry Hazlitt's Economics in One Lesson. It is available as a free internet download (Google for URL) and at the Broward County Library.

I like the artistic elements in this one. BTW, it is IMPOSSIBLE to find the opinion page with the new website layout.