80% Increase In Electric Bills?

[Rajoo]

Oops. I am crapping on Bob's thread but it is for a good cause.

[merrylander]

Somme genius in the PSC decided the local Flicker and Flash shoule be paid by the KWh merely for "delivering" the electricity, not providing it merely delivring it.

Jan = $965

Feb = $735

Mar = $645

Apr - $335

In Ontario I would not have paid $965 for the whole effing year. Private industry is great - great bunch of thieves IMHO

[BlueStreak]

My electric bill for last month was $120. In the winter, it might reach $200. House payment is $480.

You can have your McMansions, I love small houses with old mortgages.

Dave

[icenine]

Originally Posted by BlueStreak

Mine never changed. In fact, I got on the budget plan, so it was the same all through the winter. Last month; $120.

Wooo. It's the end of the fucking world. Better start voting Republican and put an end to this tyranny....................

Dave

I would imagine the GOP is happy with higher utility profits? IDK

[whell]

Frankly, I think the truth is somewhere in between. There's a TON of moving parts to be considered in this equation.

The article makes a point about the "fragility of the grid", a situation that has been discussed but still remains an issue nearly 10 years after the grid malfunction that hit / shut off the east and central US for days. Given the relatively weak economic growth in the US and the resultant reduction in demand for energy, I suspect that grid upgrades (or lack thereof) are probably the bigger near - term issue.

The coal plants that are being decommissioned now are likely the coal plants that are the most expensive to operate. But even the most expensive to operate coal plant is less expensive than natural gas fired plants, and its gas plants that are most likely to replace the capacity lost from closed coal plants. Also, utilities will likely decommission more coal plants in the future rather than invest in maintenance. The economy - hopefully - will also not stay stuck in neutral forever.

So, 80% increase? I don't think anyone can predict that with any certainty. I think it is certain that the regulatory environment drive major changes in power generation costs. That, along with overdue maintenance/upgrades to the transmission grid, are going to drive up costs for the US energy consumer.

[whell]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Somme genius in the PSC decided the local Flicker and Flash shoule be paid by the KWh merely for "delivering" the electricity, not providing it merely delivring it.

Jan = $965

Feb = $735

Mar = $645

Apr - $335

In Ontario I would not have paid $965 for the whole effing year. Private industry is great - great bunch of thieves IMHO

Sure. Electricity generated from Hydro - which is responsible for more than 1/2 of Canada's output - is relatively cheap. Canada also doesn't have the per capita demand for electricity that the US does.

[whell]

Originally Posted by icenine

I would imagine the GOP is happy with higher utility profits? IDK

So you're saying the Dems won't be satisfied until the utility industry is broke?

[Dondilion]

There was a 60% increase in my bill for the month of December
compared to the previous Dec for roughly the same usage.

They said the reason for this: a nuke went off line.

[whell]

Originally Posted by Dondilion

There was a 60% increase in my bill for the month of December
compared to the previous Dec for roughly the same usage.

They said the reason for this: a nuke went off line.

Nuke is truly the missed opportunity in this country IMHO. We twist ourselves in knots to keep from approving new nuke plants. Next to hydro, nuke is the next cheapest way to generate electricity.

[donquixote99]

Originally Posted by whell

Frankly, I think the truth is somewhere in between. There's a TON of moving parts to be considered in this equation.

The article makes a point about the "fragility of the grid", a situation that has been discussed but still remains an issue nearly 10 years after the grid malfunction that hit / shut off the east and central US for days. Given the relatively weak economic growth in the US and the resultant reduction in demand for energy, I suspect that grid upgrades (or lack thereof) are probably the bigger near - term issue.

The coal plants that are being decommissioned now are likely the coal plants that are the most expensive to operate. But even the most expensive to operate coal plant is less expensive than natural gas fired plants, and its gas plants that are most likely to replace the capacity lost from closed coal plants. Also, utilities will likely decommission more coal plants in the future rather than invest in maintenance. The economy - hopefully - will also not stay stuck in neutral forever.

So, 80% increase? I don't think anyone can predict that with any certainty. I think it is certain that the regulatory environment drive major changes in power generation costs. That, along with overdue maintenance/upgrades to the transmission grid, are going to drive up costs for the US energy consumer.

Your faith in the good will and honesty of the investor class (that runs things like the Power Industry) is touching.

I suspect you missed this thread a little while back: http://www.politicalchat.org/showthread.php?t=7405