[danans]

I also don't understand why the article excludes the possibility of variable time of use based fixed rate plans, which are already common in California.

It seems to want to paint the picture as an either/or decision between fully variable real-time rates and completely flat rate plans. There are a whole set of possibilities in between, including but not limited to putting dispatchable appliances like smart electric water heaters and electric cars on more aggressively variable rate plans.