@sjwrenlewis explores relations between the Public debt/GDP ratio & 'tax smoothing' to manage higher levels of debt when particular expenditure seems both necessary & prudent, but when taxes should be more stable.
If you have a Direct Debit to pay for their energy bills, 'tax smoothing' is like the DD while public debt changes are like your shifting energy use.
I don't like the household metaphor but here it does makes sense even if SWL doesn't use it.
