Solution to the antiquated energy grid

A friend of mine has been pushing "Pay to Save" for the last five years.
<http://www.eere.energy.gov/electricity_restructuring/pdfs/pays1_final.pdf>

The basic idea is that you deal with our increasing need for energy NOT by building more electrical plants, but by improving energy efficency on the consumer side.

For instance, rather than spending 2 billion dollars for a nuclear plant that produces 10 billion watts of energy (and I'm must making up the numbers here) you can basically give 10 million people more energy efficent refrigerators and air condidtioners that save 10 billion watts.

What my friend suggests that is innovative is that you can actually let the energy company get a rate increase to pay for the new applicances, just as you would let them get a rate increase to pay for the new power plant.

I think this is a good idea, worth passing along to friends.