I gushy-gushed about the great $7.99 deal for
HD's 4-foot *electronic* 2-buhb
*T-8* (thinner style buhb) fixtures--replete w/ cord,
chain/hooks, budget reflector, etc.

I was doing the same thing too a while back. The last couple I bought
were the $27 ones (T-8, electronic ballast, but a bigger reflector)
although I think at the time of my gushing this same model was much
cheaper.

The current draw of the HD special is *more than DOUBLE*
[...]
So, fer allayou payin CA electric rates

Most residential customers still pay for watts, not amps, don't they?

Even though you are measuring amps, I believe the electronic ballast
will have the same watts.

Power factor may matter if you've got a whole field full of these. (I
think some others posted in my gushing thread.) I believe that it's
still true that Watts = Amps * Volts * PowerFactor.

Tim.