If power start-up Drift can make it in New York, it may be lights out for traditional utilities Drift is among the power sector start-ups that believe the traditional utility model isn't going to deliver the best deal to electricity consumers in the technology-led era. It has been active in New York City since May and has hundreds of customers using its platform, which relies on blockchain technology and software algorithms to source and trade power and drive down pricing for utility customers. Drift has developed business models for 16 states beyond New York, where it sees opportunity to create savings for utility customers. Zachary Basu, special to CNBC.com Published 42 Mins Ago CNBC.com DON EMMERT | AFP | Getty Images The rooftop of Jetro Restaurant Depot in the Bronx, with a view of Manhattan. The 1.6-megawatt installation, installed in 2014 and highlighted by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, is covered with 4,760 solar panels. Meet Farmer Dave, a landowner from eastern Washington. In 2009, Farmer Dave contacted a solar solutions company called Questar Energy Systems with a request: He wanted to install 100 solar panels on his property and sell excess electricity to his neighbors. To Greg Robinson, then the CTO of Questar, Farmer Dave's request seemed both logical and feasible. Why shouldn't somebody be able to sell their self-generated electricity on the open market? Robinson quickly found that things were not that simple. Farmer Dave would have to become his own utility, build his own network infrastructure or negotiate terms with an existing power company, which would likely pay him next to nothing. Over the years, Robinson encountered enough "Farmer Daves" that he began to question the efficiency of today's energy systems. Unfortunately, this isn't how the market works, he would have to tell people. But maybe it's how it should, he quietly pondered. ... https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/08/why...or-amazon-of-utility-industry-its-coming.html