[Steve_Seattle]

"Neither does the Federal or local governments know the details either. Why do you want them making the decisions?"

The nation's electrical utilities are typically owned by local governments, so - yes - they do know the details - they are the ones running the systems. This is one thing that government actually does pretty well. Who else should be making the decisions - people like you who obviously don't know anything about it?

[thackney]

The nation's electrical utilities are typically owned by local governments

While a few are this way, most are not.

so - yes - they do know the details - they are the ones running the systems.

No. Even in a municipal utility, the elected officials, the ones that would decide the content of the regulations and make them law, do NOT know the details.

Can you name a single elected official you have voted for in the past that does know this level of detail?

This is one thing that government actually does pretty well.

Can you give me an example where they have done this well in the past.

people like you who obviously don't know anything about it?

I'm an Electrical Engineer, specialized in power. I started my career working in electric utilities but was bored to death. I moved to design electrical power systems, mostly for the oil/gas/petrochem industry. I've helped specify, purchase, design, construct and start up electrical high voltage transmission lines, switchyards, transformers relays. I've designed Protective Device Coordination Systems, provided the PE stamped calculations and programmed in the set points. I'm currently involved in two major expansions of 138kV Substations. All of those past and current project already have Surge Suppressors.

I don't know your expertise and won't claim I do. But be sure to call you congressman and urge them to make these laws and spend our tax dollars, because you are sure it will help.

[Mr. Lucky]

You're gonna shortly have to apologize to thackney concerning how the US electric utility industry is owned.

I just wanted to give you a heads up.

[thackney]

The nation's electrical utilities are typically owned by local governments

Not True.

EIA > Home > Energy Explained > Secondary Sources > Electricity > Electricity in the U.S.
http://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=electricity_in_the_united_states#tab2

Who Sells Electricity?

Sales by each kind of provider in 2011 (latest data available) totaled:

Investor-owned utilities — 54%
Non-Utility & Power Marketers — 19%
Public Utilities — 15%
Cooperatives — 11%
Federal Power Marketing Authorities — 1%