Topic: Wholesale

The hosts discuss the growth of the No Agenda Social Mastodon instance and the "troll room" community. They also briefly address reports of $7,000 electricity bills in Texas, explaining that these affected customers on wholesale price plans who were exposed to market volatility during the winter storm.

Customers of the wholesale electricity provider Gritty reported massive bill surges, with some facing charges of over $1,000 for a single week of service. Gritty, which passes wholesale market prices directly to consumers for a monthly fee, had urged its 29,000 customers to switch providers before the storm, but many were unable to do so. The Texas Public Utility Commission is expected to investigate these extreme billing incidents.

Trade shows serve as primary hubs for wholesale buyers and sellers, though consumer interest in these events has grown significantly. Performance rights organizations like ASCAP and BMI frequently monitor these venues to collect licensing fees from booth operators playing music, a practice that extends to small businesses such as hair salons and workshops.