Even nonutility providers were on the hook and forced to turn over most of this excess profit to the utilities. No one ever dreamed that the so-called price cap would actually be anything other than a price floor. That is, until this fall, when the fleecers became the fleecees. The rate cap has actually proven to be a double whammy. If ratepayers aren't given a good economic reason to cut back on the juice, then high prices will fail to reduce demand or ration available supply to those most willing to pay for it.
Scarcities are the inevitable result.
A whole flock of chickens is now coming home to roost. Let the utilities declare Chapter 8 and turn the companies over to the debtors. This group doesn't deserve our tears - or our money.