The electric car and, yes, the electric toilet will save the day.
As the grid becomes cleaner, emitting decreasing amounts of carbon dioxide and other emissions with each kilowatt-hour, we can expect some rekindled interest in load growth.
The electric car is often cited as a future source of load growth. But electric toilets?
According to the web site Priceonomics:
"For anyone who has traveled through Japan, one of the greatest cultural experiences is discovering a modern Japanese toilet. These toilets, known as 'washlets,' have many amazing features - the most notable of which is they render toilet paper obsolete.
After using one of these washlets for a while, you can't help but wonder why the American toilet experience is so primitive. Why has technological progress not eviscerated the need for toilet paper in America like it has in Japan?
The innovation in modern Japanese toilets is actually in the seat. These electric toilet seats spray water to cleanse ... The spray of water is initiated by a remote control panel near or attached to the seat."
According to the Wall Street Journal:
"The majority of homes in Japan are equipped with toilets that come with seats that heat up and electric bidets - more than 70% of all homes, according to a government estimate - that do consume a fair amount of electricity here.
Generally switched on year-round, toilets in Japan account for 3.9% of all household electricity consumption. The fancier ones have seats that majestically rise when a person is detected entering the bathroom, while others play music and emit pleasant odors."
Society is constantly becoming more electrified. Consumers in coming years will acquire and enjoy a dizzying array of new electric machines, appliances and devices.
Though kilowatt-hour consumption may not grow much because of the offsetting effect of greater energy efficiency.
The electric car and, yes, the electric toilet will save the day.
Unlike the electric toilet of Japan, Public Utilities Fortnightly continues to believe in paper's role in the future. At least to make beautiful thought-provoking magazines (along with their digital cousins to empower PUF readers on the go).
Steve Mitnick, Editor-in-Chief, Public Utilities Fortnightly
E-mail me: mitnick@fortnightly.com
