Decoupling (utility regulation)

Okay kiddo, let's talk about something called decoupling. You know how when you use electricity or gas in your house, your parents get a bill for how much you've used? Well, the same thing happens on a much bigger scale for all the people in a town or a city.

Now, when the people who provide the electricity or gas (we call them the utilities) charge money based on how much people use, it can create a problem. You see, if people start using less energy, like by turning off their lights or using more energy-efficient appliances, the companies that provide the energy might not make as much money. That's not good for them, because they need money to keep providing energy to everyone.

So, to fix this problem, some places have started using something called decoupling. Decoupling means that the utilities don't charge based on how much energy people use. Instead, they charge a set amount of money each month, no matter how much energy people use.

This might seem weird, but it actually encourages people to use less energy, because they know their bills won't suddenly go up if they do. And it also helps the utilities keep making money, even if people use less energy overall.

So, that's decoupling in a nutshell. It's a way to make sure people can use less energy without hurting the companies that provide it. Pretty cool, huh?