“When the supply is restricted, it uncommon for prices to go up.”
I imagine you meant “it IS common...”. Agreed. But, even if they did not have to shut down plants, and ONLY had to spend $128 billion, that cost will still be passed down to the consumer. Just like their taxes are.
Maybe not right at once, but if they aren’t making a profit, they won’t stay in business. And why should they? Just so we can have relatively cheap electicity? The clamor against these rules (and the increase in prices, lack of jobs, etc.), needs to come from the people (us) that consume and pay the bills.
Of course that comes from two directions. The conservative side that needs to tell the government to back off a bit, and the Liberals who will call for the government to take over the power companies because now they are so greedy and everyone deserves electricity.
Or medical care! And I say medical care - not insurance. The mandated insurance was just a necessary step towards gov’t health care. (”See - even universal health insurance isn’t working. Those evil insurance companies and doctors are all in on it together, we need the gov’t to manage the entire thing”.)
Most utilities must have any proposed rate increase approved by some state regulatory agency. Therefore, they may not be able to pass increased costs onto their customers.
Many politicians, and even some freepers, believe that investors seeking a return on their investment should take a backseat to other goals.