Electricity costs rising already? Look to Little Elm's lights-out lights out boycott in 1975
The then-town of a few hundred people decided to shut down power for 24 hours in protest of rising electricity costs. The then-town of Little Elm, Texas, held a 24-hour power blackout in 1975 in protest of rising electricity costs. The town of just a few hundred people cut off power for 24 hours in protest, with power cut to all homes and neighbors passing out candles to make it through the day without lightbulbs. The action was part of a larger effort than a larger undertaking in Little Elm today, as the population has grown from 300 in 1970 to nearly 55,000 people. David Kinchen, Chief Operating Officer for Energy Ogre, suggests that reducing electricity usage is the only viable means of reducing usage. The blackout, which was reported to have little impact on their bill, is archived at SMU’s Jones Film Library.
Yayınlanan : 10 ay önce ile Chris Sadeghi (WFAA) içinde Finance
The then-town of a few hundred people decided to shut down power for 24 hours in protest of rising electricity costs.
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LITTLE ELM, Texas — The arrival of summer and the heat it brings with it will soon have Texans thinking about energy conservation, not just for the sake of the state grid but for their own bank accounts.
David Kinchen is the Chief Operating Officer for Energy Ogre, a company that tries to help consumers find the best utility plan and pricing for their needs. He said when it comes to saving, there are two ways to do it.
“One of them is price and the only other way is to reduce usage,” said Kinchen. “And usage depends on how much pain and suffering people want to go through.
Because unplugging appliances or kicking up the thermostat a few degrees forces us to abandon the conveniences and comfort they provide.
But in 1975, the people of Little Elm unplugged all of it to take a stand.
Unhappy with rising energy prices, the town of just a few hundred people organized a 24-hour boycott of electricity. Power was cut to all homes and neighbors mobilized to pass out candles to make it through the day without lightbulbs.
The boycott was about proving a point as they knew it probably would have little impact on their bill.
“Most of the residents of Little Elm admit the blackout will probably do nothing to lower the price of electricity,” said WFAA reporter Paul Henderson who reported the story now archived at SMU’s Jones Film Library.
“Did it hit the utility’s pocketbook enough? Probably not,” he said. “But it is interesting to think about what could we organize, even in a small town, something about asking people to shut off their electricity for a day.”
It would be a much larger undertaking in Little Elm today as the population has exploded from 300 in 1970 to nearly 55,000 people at present. And Kinchen said if saving is the goal, most people can focus on one thing.
Konular: Inflation