The speed and power of computers doubles every 18 months, and has for decades.
Somebody is doing this, and I think it is corporations.
You should look into this problem.
Since when has government been interested in less expensive OR more efficient (I'm assuming they would be a big user)?
Government isn't per se, but they are requred to take bids and the bidders are (or should be) in competition to provide the best product at the best price to get the bid.
Oh, and since when did businesses that make this stuff get interested in producing a better product, especially if it needs less frequent replacement?
Again market competition.
And about utilities....remember how they fought solar energy. They aren't going to be quick to adopt anything that might cut into their profit margin.
In a regulated market that is true, there is less incentive to change. But the consumer can always use less, or purchase devices that use less, or even supply his own.
Most utilities were regulated because they had no competition. This should have never been a preventative to competition, but it was and is. Change is slow, but change it will. Change is the only constant in the universe.