[fredophile]

If I had a gas station that offered gas for a fixed price, that was higher than the average gas price in your area, would you agree to use it exclusively? I don't see how the mental load for griddy is fundamentally different from buying gas at a gas station. When I notice prices are low I make the extra effort to top up my tank even if it means a small inconvenience. Do I drive less if gas prices are higher? No but other people might choose to.

[dragonwriter]

> If I had a gas station that offered gas for a fixed price, that was higher than the average gas price in your area, would you agree to use it exclusively? I don’t see how the mental load for griddy is fundamentally different from buying gas at a gas station.

Gas purchases are discrete events that, with extremely minimal planning are capable of being purchased from different outlets each time and, usually, time shifted to deal with per-provider or very short term spikes.

Electricity puchases are continuous and the ability to shift sources or time shift is often significantly less without much more significant planning.

Paying a premium for insurance against extreme variation makes some sense in either case, but a lot more in the latter case.

[thayne]

First of all, the typical person does not fill a car with gas nearly as often as you use electricity. Secondly, if I had to choose to use one of those gas stations exclusively, I might choose the one with a fixed rate, because:

1. It would make it easier to predict how much I would need to pay for gas each month, and simplify budgeting.

2. I don't need to worry about keeping track of the current price of gas

3. Depending on how my driving schedule matches the variance in prices, it may actually be cheaper for me.

[Teever]

Does anywhere else in the world sell electricity like this?

[OJFord]

In the UK 'variable rate' tariffs are common, usually updated monthly.

Octopus' is daily, and also offers an hourly plan 'Agile' with an API.

There is a regulatory cap on the cost of energy, which is a bit convoluted, but Octopus passes it on as a 35p/kWh cap on variable rate plans.

[thayne]

A price that changed monthly might be manageable, but daily or is probably too much for most consumers to keep up with.

[eisa01]

Yes, in Norway the consumer association even recommends it

[ahdinosaur]

local to me is Flick Electric in New Zealand: https://www.flickelectric.co.nz/freestyle