'Suchlike' obviously include the internet for example. We want power to do what we're doing now. As we don't necessarily need to be doing what we're doing now we don't really need the electricity to do so. Instead we want to do what we're doing now so we simply want the electricity to do so ... and loads more besides.

I'm off to read a book in bed now, which is something I want to do, not need to do, so I will be wanting loads* of electricity to it.

*but I have got an energy saving** bulb in the bedside light.

** The only energy saving bulb is a broken one!

As Littlestone said ....... 'you can usually get by without the first but not very well without the last.'
The first being heated toilet seats and the last a power supply that doesnt phuk us all up.
I think we're all singing of the same song sheet here guys!!!

and is it...

you can't always get what you want..... etc'..... The Stones?

I take my bow.

Can you run that passed me again please :-).

Seriously, I know where you're coming from FW, but you'll excuse me for not wanting to be there. I know most of us need our heating and lighting and radio and TV and computers but personally I try to keep that energy consumption to the mininum. I grow my own cucumbers, onions and potatoes etc because that's what I both want and need. I neither want nor need a heated loo seat (I've got one of those warm seat covers just in case it ever gets really cold :-).

If it ever came to the crunch I've got enough fuel to keep the house warm for a couple of weeks and enough food on the allotment and in the shed to keep me going for the same lengh of time - dunno about you but that's all I really 'need'.