And, according to Professor Hyman, this also weakened the power of local union activists like shop stewards, and unions adopted a more "strategic" use of power, where strike were the last resort, not the first course of action.

BBC: NEWS | Business | The trade unions' long decline

Now, finally, two big factors are getting electricity customers to shop around for power.

FORBES: OutFront

The finalists were Booker, Bright Power, Of a Kind, SHoP Architects.

FORBES: Lower Manhattan Sparks Startup Competition

RVs can be invaluable in emergencies--from high-tailing it out of harms way during a hurricane or tornado to setting up shop in your driveway during a power outage, like many on the East Coast did during the blackout of August 2003.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Ultimately, says Ford, the system could power one-third of the plant's paint shop.

FORBES: Paint Power

Unable to compete with the purchasing power and supply chain prowess of national chains, the mom and pop shop seemed destined for the dust heap.

FORBES: Connect

Many foreign companies looking to set up shop in Asia want a base that allows them access to all of Asia's power economies without overreliance on any of them, and Singapore fits the bill.

WSJ: Ian Bremmer on Pivot States