Objective: Create a new type of company that produces and supplies electricity to cities and other businesses (factories, shops, public buildings, etc.).
New "Power Plant" company:
It would consume fossil fuels already present in the game, such as oil and natural gas.
It would produce "Electricity" as a new type of "invisible service" (such as telecommunications).
There could be different types of power plants in the future (thermal, renewable, nuclear, etc.).
All buildings in the game (factories, shops, residences, etc.) would have built-in energy consumption by default, which does not take up internal space (as with water consumption in other games).
This consumption could vary depending on the type and size of the building.
Energy would be automatically provided by the city (by the government) if no private company exists—but at a higher utility cost.
The player (or AI) would have the option to choose the energy supplier for each building, similar to how it works with the internet or raw material suppliers.
This would open up space for competition between energy companies and integration with contracts, dynamic pricing, and even fossil fuel scarcity.
Makes oil and gas extraction more strategic, with more real-world uses.
Adds economic depth, especially in the balance between production, logistics, and invisible services.
It creates opportunities for new types of companies in the game, including energy-focused subsidiaries.
It also allows players and AI to compete in the utilities sector, adding diversity to the gameplay.
I would be thrilled to see this type of mechanic integrated into future versions of the game or into DLCs focused on infrastructure or sustainability.
Thank you for keeping Capitalism Lab alive and evolving!