They justify it by trying to make you use alternatives and force the government to use more renewable sources.

The fact of the matter is that this increase will force everyone to look at how and when they udse energy and push them to seek out alternatives. That will only be a good thing
But won't that just bite themselves in the bum - I mean the power companies make money by providing power, if they put the prices up so high that everyone extememly cuts back, then they don't make enough money and they put the prices up again. Sounds like a very vicious cycle to me.