[janalsncm]

Power grid operators are basically a textbook example of a natural monopoly. In other words, it wouldn’t make sense to have multiple companies running power lines to houses. This isn’t like a coffee shop where it makes sense for there to be multiple in the same neighborhood competing on price.

[whatshisface]

It would make sense to have public wires built the same way as roads, and private power companies that I pay to put power into the grid, that compensate for the power I draw out. If the natural monopoly is the wires, so be it, but there's no natural monopoly on solar farms.

[janalsncm]

If we’re going to have a public road system I don’t see why the grid should be privatized. Why should the grid be run at a profit but roads be run at cost? Is PG&E really doing a much better job as a private company?

[jononor]

The government can require that the lines must be available for rent to other power providers. Such that consumers can pick provider independently of whom builds or maintain the lines.