[Big Dave]

"Facility charge" or the same thing by other names reflect the fixed charge of power T&D regardless of usage. That transformer and transmission line cost exactly the same whether you use zeo kwh or up tro the capacity of the line. Actaully the 240 volt residential service is an expensive way to transmit power. Generally the higher the voltage at which you recive the power the less T&D losses are incurred. Big users receive power at high voltage (often 13.2 kv) and have their own substations, and thus the did not get billed for a "facility charge."

On the macro scale, wind, solar, and geothermal electrucity are penned into limited geographical areas simply because that's where they are. Maybe (with a massivel augmented T&D infrastructure) the parts of America west of the 100 meridian maybe could be substantially powered by solar (roof over Nevada and Arizona), wind (the Front Range Ridge is an awesome potential resource) and geothermal (Yellowstone alone could be substantial).

But solar in South Bend? Wind in the Ohio Valley? Aintgonnahappen.com