In California and Texas, the generation of electricity through state-subsidised alternate sources has enabled people to make generation companies indebted to them. Now communities in these states can sell surplus power generated through alternate sources back to generation companies. This is called ‘negative power’. In California, in some cases electricity is costing as much as $23.5MWt per hour to consumers. It simply means that the power generation company owes $23.5/unit of electricity used by a consumer. In Texas, as much as 14,000MWt of electricity (almost half of the state’s requirement) is produced through wind power.
We should learn from this experience. We can harness solar energy, wind power and other suitable areas in the country. The government should introduce indigenous solar power and windmill technology in the country and subsidise the provision of such technology to people. Solar farms can be introduced. This will not only provide electricity at cheap rates, but also reduce our dependence on oil.
Air Cdre (r) Mohammad Yaqoob Khan
Rawalpindi