Posted on 02/19/2021 9:08:06 PM PST by Berlin_Freeper
As the Texas power grid collapsed under a historic winter storm, Jose Del Rio of Haltom City, in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, saw the electricity bill on a vacant two-bedroom home he is trying to sell slowly creep up over the past two weeks. Typically, the bill is around $125 to $150 a month, he said. But his account has already been charged about $630 this month — and he still owes another $2,600.
“If worse comes to worst, I have the ability to put it on a credit card or figure something out," Del Rio said. ”There is no one living in that house. All the lights are off. But I have the air at 60 because I don’t want the pipes to freeze.”
When he contacted Griddy, his electric company, they advised him to switch providers, Del Rio said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nbcnews.com ...
And you’ve never gone to sites like powertochoose.com and looked at the hundreds of electric plans/providers that are available?
You can select:
Fixed Rate
Variable rate
Indexed Rate
Those that chose variable or indexed are now in pain. They KNEW what the rules were when they signed up for those, just like an variable rate mortgage. It’s not some scamming electric company. When you pick a fixed rate plan, the price is higher because the electric company is PADDING the risk into the higher rate. If you want to take on the risk yourself, don’t blubber when that bet goes bad.
Poor choice, rates are always much higher than other fixed rate plans.
Best system I know was how they did it in Mannheim (Germany). Typical bill annualized and smoothed out over 12 months. Any over paid amount of refunded or under paid amount is paid at end of of 12 months.
Why is that a “best system”? You could get stuck with a big final payment. Most people would not want that, would not pay attention and then get a nasty surprise.
Why is that a “best system”? You could get stuck with a big final payment. Most people would not want that, would not pay attention and then get a nasty surprise.
———-
You track month to month usage. No more extremely high bills in the German heating or cooling system.
And a large final bill? Most of it goes into the next year’s billing average. Maybe 100 to 200 € tops. Most I paid was €60 extra
Season should be system
Many heating oil companies offer something like that.
But if there is no final payment paid at the end, that sounds more like a rolling averaging system.
Cannot feel sorry for this dip shite. He probably has all electric heat and is trying to keep pipes from busting on a vacant house. He should have either drained and blown out his line or he should have never gone electric heat.
CAn not feel sorry for self inflicted wounds
Another unprepared loser
They are trying to make this a story to avoid the supreme court cases starting Monday.
“I’ll bet he’s certainly not the only person who did that, but the media is not going to expose all the leftists who did it.”
I agree, and even a Republican candidate for dog catcher should know how the media operates.
In my day, I’ve seen Republicans do plenty of STUPID things, but this one may top them all...maybe you think of worse, unforced, moves. As I’ve been say, he could have stayed home and read a book, and no one would have cared...this was a really easy screw-up to avoid...and who knows what he’ll do next, if we keep him around.
Years back two thug-looking young fellas pulled into my driveway behind me as I pulled in. No markings on their beat up old Geo. Dressed like they were homeless. One holding a clipboard with nothing on it. They approached me as I got out of the truck, wanting to talk to me about my electricity bill. Told them I wasn’t interested and to leave my property so I could shut the gate, but they kept approaching while I kept telling them to stop. They got to within about 30’ when I told them they were about to get shot so they turned and left. Didn’t stop at any other houses. Never saw another electric plan scammer again either. If that’s what they were. #oldmanstories
This article doesn’t make any sense at all.
You bill doesn’t just jump unexpectedly by thousands of dollars.
I agree this does not make any sense. The event only lasted 9 days - that car pile up here in Ft Worth was last Thursday morning the 11th, we got up to 47 here yesterday the 19th.
From what I understand it is folks trying to buy the typically cheaper wholesale rates, rather than being on a fixed rate plan.
Perhaps a bit like health insurance???
Pay the insurance of $300 a month, and the utility bill of $100 a month - regardless if you use it all or not. (And most times you are NOT using it all. And the insurance/energy company is making money.)
Don’t pay the health insurance and you are healthy - you paid nothing for the entire year - until you broke your leg and now you have to pay the hospital $15,000.
Similar with the utility bill. Pay $20 a month or whatever for the wholesale price most of the time, but then get stuck with a huge bill when the crisis happens. Just like with a broken leg.
Although most folks I would hope know their risks for little to no health insurance. I’m guessing these wholesale energy plans hid the extra costs in the very fine print. All they ever really talked about was “Are you paying too much for electricity? Cut your energy bill by 80%!!”
I’m guessing that’s not what they were.
The ones I’ve seen have been dressed pretty nicely and actually just come around by themselves.
Yes, Texas homes in southern Texas are not built for a hard freeze. Add loss of heating due to no electricity, then pipes freeze. Only way to prevent, turn water off at the meter and drain the pipes. What little water is left in your pipes can expand when freezing without busting the pipes.
In CA some years ago, there was a desert cold snap down near zero.
Natural gas regulators froze; why check them for water, it never gets cold here.
Gas stopped, pilots went out.
Houses with pipes overhead froze and broke and spewed water. Some folks were gone for Christmas vacation.
PG&E, the gas provider paid for damage as I recall. I was using wood stove and was home so no problem for me, but many bad cases around town.
What is the liability for damages in Texas, I wonder?
“Best system I know was how they did it in Mannheim (Germany). Typical bill annualized and smoothed out over 12 months. Any over paid amount of refunded or under paid amount is paid at end of of 12 months.*
That’s what I do in Alabama. I pay $80 a month and it’s adjusted every year.
The problem you have is that about 70% of people who are allowed to vote are unprepared losers.
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