One more reason to off grid

[light trip]

We live in a stick and brick house. (“forgive me father for I have sinned ...” ) And where we live has deregulated electricity.



The house we moved into, for the first three months we get a teaser rate from a renewable energy company. Now that the three month teaser is over, the rate will more then double. But it's not that simple or easy.


I can go month to month with this company, but they won't tell me what we will be charged per kilowatt. Only that the price keeps going up and up and up. Their words,,, scare tactic. So I asked; is there history that I can look at on what was charge to customers in the past year? Oh no – the reply over then phone, everybody uses a different amount of electricity, so there's no way we could do that. But I respond; you charge each customer the same per kilowatt, right? Yes, is the response. I'm not asking for each customer, just what your company charge per kilowatt over the last year. Yes, but we don't have that history available.


Of course not, because it's a scare tactic. So I look at a locked in rate, which again is more then double then I pay now per kilowatt. But there's more, you have to sign up for a year. And if you cancel there's a $200.00 cancellation fee. Unless you're moving where you're going to use the same company and just change service.


One more reason to live off grid.


So many of you will be thinking, why don't you just go off grid. For a lot of reasons I'm not gone to go into, it's just not an option. And some will suggest solar, but that's already been thought of by the companies, as you use less electricity, the more your rate goes up per kilowatt. Yes, you read that correctly, you are penalized for conserving electricity.


But for those of you who do live off the grid – be happy.

 

[mockturtle]

But for those of you who do live off the grid – be happy.

I am! 

When the utilities used to be publicly owned [remember the old PUD?] we were told that deregulation would give us better rates because of competition.  Sadly, and perhaps predictably, this hasn't happened.  :-/  And I heard recently that some people in Hawaii who installed expensive solar panels on their houses aren't allowed to turn them on yet because the power company has to compensate for the loss of income. 

 

[Canine]

And some will suggest solar, but that's already been thought of by the companies, as you use less electricity, the more your rate goes up per kilowatt. Yes, you read that correctly, you are penalized for conserving electricity.

There are lots of people who have solar, wind, generator, etc. that are completely untied from grid electricity. Those people don't have washers or dryers or things of that nature. Do you own a business that is run out of your home that needs more electricity than what solar can provide? Or something along those lines?

I do understand how being frugal and living minimally is frowned upon. People talk about saving the planet and conserving our resources, but when someone steps up to the plate and actually does it, it is sometimes looked upon as weird or wrong.

 

[ccbreder]

My S&B, I could select a different supplier of electricity delivered by the regulated company or electric from the regulated company. Over the year, the delivered charges are lower from the regulated company. But the others still try to sell me on their supply. It all comes off the same wire?

 

[Almost There]

My S&B, I could select a different supplier of electricity delivered by the regulated company or electric from the regulated company. Over the year, the delivered charges are lower from the regulated company. But the others still try to sell me on their supply. It all comes off the same wire?

Yes, the 'different supplier' is merely wholesaling from the regulated company and retailing it back to you. There have been numerous problems and major lawsuits over some of those 'different suppliers' business tactics and pricing structure. Aside from locking you into a contract which in most cases requires you to use xxx amount of power, consumers have had some nasty surprises when they switched.

 

[Canine]

When I lived in Texas they were recently deregulated and prices were all over the map. I finally found a co-op and went with them. See if you have anything like,that.

A problem with solar is that the big utilities are successfully lobbying their state legislators to remove the incentives and reduce or eliminate any backwards spinning meters. With the average solar setup running from 20-40K, and many people paying at least 30$ if they purchase it, the value in solar is questionable. Leasing doesn't pencil out very well anymore either. I'm sorry that what seems so obvious an energy source has gotten completely fouled up with special interests trying to get their piece of the pie and gore the other guy/gal, but that's what's happening. Years ago California was very generous for solar grid tie ins, so was New Mexico. It's changed now. Perhaps High Desert could comment...

 

[highdesertranger]

I am really not well versed on residential solar, don't plan on being on grid for much longer. I do know in my s&b we are taking it in the *ss for electricity. we have no choice here for who we buy from. but I figure in a couple of years I will be out of here, so no long term investment for me. highdesertranger