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Oh and BTW if you're a large enough consumer you can negotiate just about everything. Typically entities like malls and industrial plants have no set agreement - everything is on the table from rates to guaranteed consumption to equipment maintenance, etc. For example a mall may own it's main distribution yard or not depending on what's cheaper. However, you'd better get it all in an iron clad contract before you build your plant/mall, etc. Smaller commercial consumers don't have all that much leeway. Typically their rates are worse than consumer rates because of things like demand charges.

Power companies are like any other corporate entity. They're in the business of making a profit, and if newer technology helps them do that then they'll use it.

and the ratepayer has to take it, no matter what the utility decides to do.

This is also a false statement. Every utility has to answer to a public service commission which typically are the entities that set the rates - not the company as such, although they will present their case for rate hikes based on expenses etc.