Electricity 101 is a short history of the USA power industry.

Energy can be neither created or destroyed. It can only be transformed from one form to another.  I have commented on the pages that are most relevant to everyday life.

Page 29 U.S economy growth is directly linked to electricity increases. As this need grows more and more power sources are needed for this increases electricity demand. Alternative energy such as solar power systems are a prime way to reduce the need for gas and oil generated electricity.

Page 30 While emissions are increasingly cleaner from new plants that are built they still producing millions of tons of pollutants over the years. Solar power is 100% clean electricity. The cost of coal, oil and gas are only going to increase over the years. Once a Home Solar Power system is installed it continues to generate electricity for decades to come without any cost increase. Electricity rates from utilities will continue upwards. The price of coal generated electricity has increased over 30% from 1999 to 2006.

Page 32 Fuel Sources. Currently only about 10% of electricity generation is with hydro or renewable energy sources. 90% of electricity generation is with coal, gas and nuclear. The radiation of nuclear waste will never go away. They are still trying to find permanent storage places after 20 years. As long as there are these plants there will by mountains of radioactive waste generated.

Page 37 Most new electricity plants are gas powered. Gas prices have risen 169% from 1999 to 2006. As more and more plants are needed and gas supplies decrease the price for natural gas can only continue to spiral upwards. Home Solar Power is an individual's best hedge against these rising prices.

Page 38 Nuclear energy has no emmission polutants like coal and gas but the radioactive waste and it's storage is a problem that may never be solved. The extremely high cost for construction is another big factor new plants have not been built for many years.

Page 43 The cost and demand for electricity is ever increasing. Alternative energy forms such solar power and wind generation is a need who's time has come.

Page 45 From 2000-2006 the cost of new construction was 37.8 billion. From 2007-2010 it will be about 38.1 billion. A 60% increase and all these cost get passed on to the consumer. Having you own alternative energy source such as a Home Solar Power system locks in your electricity rates for 25 years sheltering you from the utility increases to come.

Page 47 MUST READ PAGE! Many states decreed rate caps of electricity rates in 1997. They are all ending in the next couple years. If your rates aren't already seeing bigger rate increases they may when local caps are eliminated.