Don't want you getting too lazy. :)
Posted on 06/03/2024 8:13:18 AM PDT by fwdude
My residential electric service contract is up in about a month and just checked the markets for renewal. The rates have SKYROCKETED.
I don't know if this is because of EV usage increase or just the general crappy economy under Biden, but it's about to price me out of home ownership.
Anyone else seeing this?
[Service company is Oncor.]
My provider, AEP, was told by the government to replace all of their existing coal power plants. In exchange, the government would allow any rate increases requested.
That's a pretty good rate. We're a few towns outside of Austin, and we're paying around 10.3 cents per kWh. The rates inside of Austin appear to be in the 14-16 cents range.
Texas gov. has plenty of corruption regarding “green energy”. Multiple ways the scam works but one of the big ones is utility companies subsidize wind/solar on the front end and make it up on rates a couple years later so people don’t associate green with living worse. We are finally starting to pay the piper for all the solar and wind forced on us.
“It’s because the green raw deal ain’t cheap.”
In Australia, they allow setting of electric bills based on demand during a high-priced period.
Green power is not 100% reliable, so homeowners are having to pay dearly for backup power capacity.
There is nothing free about it.
In general, there is little more expensive than “free”.
What you need to do is to totally disconnect from the system.
FWLIW I am on an EMC now, not GPC, and am quite pleased overall.
Vogtle 4 will hit the rate base for most soon, and be a bump, but should be good for things over the long haul.
However, his is still cheaper than electricity from my default provider, before looking at other choices.
If your state or area allows electrical provider choice, please find sites that fairly describe the contracts available.
We saved a lot of money with Day-Ahead pricing, which we used to get. We precooled overnight, leaving us to ride through the hottest part of the day with little to no A/C under the peak costs were past, the next day.
That’s peak power, and there are good, rational economic reasons involving capital investment in generating capacity why that is so expensive.
Figure out how to use less energy in that time frame.
The problem in California are the ripoff rates from PG&E, SCE and SDGE. 😱💸😒 Especially PG&E.
I’m in Oakwood and our energy co-op uses the Buford Dam, my rates are very stable.
Our rural property is on Habersham EMC and they are high.
It's a deregulated open market, so competition is in play.
“Sometime later this year we expect the power company to start paying consumers to use the surplus electricity; either that or they will have to pour it out on the ground.”
It could be used to recharge EVs.
Don't want you getting too lazy. :)
I am very lucky to live in a medium sized town with its own power plant - we actually sell power to surrounding cities. Doesn’t stop them from heavily taxing us to pay for it - supposedly there was an upgrade and I haven’t received a notice to not run EVs and large appliances for about a year now. But with massive housing complexes (apartment type) going up on the edge of town, I suspect I’ll soon get the “at capacity” notices again when it gets hot.
Some say this is one of the reasons housing prices are so high here, we’re not dependent on PG & E or SCE for power.
We live in San Antonio (City Public Service). I remember being shocked when daughter and SIL moved to Houston and got to choose their electric provider. CPS has had a stranglehold on SA forever. Sure, there’s Grey Forest Utilities, but their footprint is tiny and not available where we live.
“It’s a deregulated open market, so competition is in play.”
Oh, there’s a shortage - we’ll pay $10/kwh.
If they paid only $2 tops, they’d still get the same amount of electricity.
I keep my electric bill reasonable by installing an additional window A/C unit in living room & kitchen combo. That reduces use of central A/C which uses more electricity. During the day time, I spend more time in living room & kitchen than bedrooms. Also helps to keep window blinds shut during afternoons along with additional insulated drapes.
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