In respect of the point you make about knowing what is actually happening in the US - i know that the cost of electricity has gone up at least in this part of the US because i pay the sodding bills! I also know that the price has been set for the next 3 years with an average increase of around 5%.
I suppose you could be right though that a pipe-fitting ex St Mirren supporter on a St Mirren supporters forum who lives in Lanarkshire would know more about US domestic electricity bills than the people who actually live here.