The American Winter & Utiliy Bills

cb1504 · Mar 30, 2013

Did you see The American Winter on HBO?  Did you hear those people relate the sizes of their utility bills?  Some had their power and water cut off. To me, it seemed as if these people, at minimum wage or slightly higher, were working themselves into the poor house to support the utility companies and their landlords. a) I don't pay utilities, I have a package deal for my housing costs, so the big numbers being bandied around piqued my interest. b) A charitable organization offered a couple over $900 to get their electric & water turned back on (on a $1,200 utility debt)  The couple, and their children had been without power and water for 30 days. c)  That family had no money for food.  I can't see them having $1,200  to spend on anything, yet they give that sort of money 3 or 4 times a year for electricity. 1 year of paying that sort of money would buy a tidy little solar set up. $900 or $1,200 goes quite a good distance in the solar energy world.  How many others who were not on camera were being assisted by that charitable group - that month?  Why are our charitable donations going into the pockets of the utility giants? My real question is, where are our experts or even our knowledgeable laymen, when it comes to giving back and moving forward?  I just want to encourage some of you pros I see on this forum to donate your time and expertise to the heads of these charitable orgs that need to see a different future.  Please try to make a difference in your community. Being a child of the 60's and born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area during the time of the "protests", I have often wondered what cause would bring me out of my relative slumber and awaken the sleeping bear within me.  This is REALLY coming close.  Don't make me come down there! I would have to educate myself in a world of electronics that I have never understood - but I will.  Some of you already know this stuff and it comes easily to you so I urge you to get involved.  Maybe I'm not to be the knowledgeable expert, maybe I'll just be the activist.  Seriously, put this in your "occupy wall street" and smoke it! Thanks for the venue, cb Edmund Burke (1729-1797) - English statesman:"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."Burke also said:"Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little."

Cubey · Mar 30, 2013

I think solar is mostly looked at like 4 cylinder and diesel cars. While more fuel efficient and better for everyday driving, they are considered inferior by many. You mention a diesel powered car to about 90% of the population and they make a face like they just got a wiff of someone cooking cabbage. Much the same with 4 cylinder cars, but that percent my be closer to 60%. People think they aren't "powerful" enough. I had my 91 corolla at 80mph once for about a minute (on accident, wasn't paying attention when having just passed a semi) with a 4 cylinder engine and automatic transmission at about 165k miles on both. It's funny how some people who want a classic aircooled beetle also who want it to be able to do 100mph. Well.... you can build an expensive, powerful aircooled VW engine but it won't last much beyond 75k miles. I spoke with someone online like that yesterday. Some kid who wanted a VW Beetle as his first car and I told him just that. You either have an engine that lasts or you have one that's fast. You can't have both when it comes to engines mostly designed about 80 years ago. Yes, they improved them and made them more powerful (up to 1600cc stock, I think it was by the 70s) but the basic design was about the same.

Zil · Mar 30, 2013

In most locations, the electric is not cut during the winter, or for various other excuses, and one can build a very large bill living high while earning low. Until the (this sword was banned) hits the fan, and then someone else bails the boat. My electric with gas heat, electric AC on a stick and brick is less than $50 a month on budget plan. And I am careless.

Cubey · Mar 30, 2013

Beats me how. In winter, my electric runs $60 month which is my current bill (for Feb usage). $5 or $6 is a security light though, so $54-55 otherwise. My central unit uses gas for heat (but electric for the blower). Of course, i am on well water so some electric gets used for that. My clothes drier is electric also. The water heater and stove top is gas. Oven is electric and I use an electric coffee pot, sandwhich maker some, etc. In summer, due to AC usage, electric runs $100 at cheapest around here. Mine runs $150 due to this big house that isn't insulated as well as it could be. And that's with the thermostat set around 78-80. By "budget plan" do you mean leveled out billing? I caught the electric company cheating my mom on that but they wouldn't admit it despite the math not adding up. I had them stop the leveled out billing and I refuse to do it on my own utilities.

cb1504 · Mar 30, 2013

Picture it:  all Section 8 approved housing will be required (!) to be 100% solar electric powered, or they don't qualify as Section 8 properties. I know this won't sit well with the energy company lobbyists, I see that it makes far too much sense and takes money from the utility's pockets. Just food for thought. cb

Cubey · Mar 30, 2013

No one would accept section 8 then. As it is, many landlords won't accept section 8. Landlords are not required by law to accept people on it so many don't, fearing undesirables will move in and trash the place.

Zil · Mar 30, 2013

Yes, leveling out billing. Yes I don't trust the power company. but I keep my life on auto pilot. Regular bill amounts, auto bill pay, and direct deposit. During our hot humid summers I can do 350 to 500 kWh per month. below 200 kWh during winter. AC, stove, dyer, lights, random space heater, and some shop use. When I'm on the road, all is shut down.

Zil · Mar 30, 2013

I forgot. I have a small solar system that runs a freezer.

Seraphim · Mar 30, 2013

Cb

If you're discussing residential solar, $1200 ain't gonna buy much. That's a whole different ballpark than a van.

We keep outrhouse about 65 degrees and wear sweaters, sometimes blankets. We don't HAVE to, we just do. We are extremely efficient in our energy use.

Yes, you pay utilities. You just have no idea how much you are paying for utilities, because it's bundled.

There are some outstanding people here who already donate their time.LesH comes to mind...

You can be an activist all you wish, but until solar costs reach the level of profitability, investors aren't going to gamble their money.

I'd you don't like where your charitable donations go, and you want to be an activist, then how about actively organizing a charitable group who collects money, distributes it to needy people, and who don't feel the need to be reimbursed for their time?

Talk's cheap. DO something

cb1504 · Mar 30, 2013

I'm estimating that the $1,200 mentioned was 3 or 4 months of power that the family owed before they got cut off.  Multiply that by 3 or 4 (1 year's worth of power bills) and you will have enough for a tidy little solar system that will operate a home, FREELY, for years to come. Seraphim,  how do you stay so positive?  I'm thrilled to hear about LesH.  I wish there were more of him.  I have loads of hope that there are MANY more of his type out there. I know my monthly payment includes utilities - I just don't see the actual bill or have any idea what it might be,  My monthly payment also includes loads of cable tv and all the water I want.  I don't see those bills either and have no idea what they may be.  Thus my surprise at the bills the people in the show have. As to your suggestion of collecting money for charity, I have to laugh because you've completely missed the point - THERE ARE BETTER WAYS TO HELP THAN THROWING CASH AT THE PROBLEM. Problem:  People can't afford electricity from the utility companies.  (see <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron:_The_Smartest_Guys_in_the_Room" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enron:_The_Smartest_Guys_in_the_Room</a>) Solution: Disengage from the (robber baron) utility companies. I would happily throw my cash to solar power companies who were hooking up section 8 housing. Why should I give my good, hard earned money to power companies? Or to charitable organizations that support them without looking to alternative methods? Clearly, you don't know the Enron story. Thank you for your response,  cb

cb1504 · Mar 30, 2013

Cubey,  Many landlords feed from the gov't. trough with Section 8.  There are tax breaks for homeowners for solar, but no incentive.  If they want to keep feeding off the feds (incentive) they will comply.  Laws like this are not passed because utility company lobbyists have deep pockets - they are using our money against us. Honestly,  when I see things like this "rich getting richer, poor getting poorer" story, I wonder how much more the people will take before a new revolution comes. It only took TV, putting dead American soldiers in our living rooms, to force the last one.  What will it take for the next? Now that you all know where I stand, I'll get off my soapbox. But not before I ask you again - please disengage & help someone else disengage if you can. cb

twokniveskatie · Mar 31, 2013

This was getting off-topic. Moved a couple posts to their own thread, after I get done cooking dinner for my charge, I will see if others need to go there.

cb1504 · Apr 1, 2013

Really?  off topic? no wonder I seldom stop by this forum.  Do go cook more - the kitchen seems to be where your brain belongs. best wishes to you all, cb

dragonflyinthesky · Apr 1, 2013

cb, I think it was just my post removed that was considered off topic referring to a zil post..

twokniveskatie · Apr 1, 2013

Not sure what you mean about the kitchen? Please, not the kitchen! A campfire is more my style!

I am sorry I wasnt clear. I moved some posts that were not keeping with your very appropriate topic. So i was DEFENDING your topic.

Sorry you have not felt like stopping by too often. We do try to make it as nice a place as possible to the most people possible. We don't always get it right, but our intentions are good.

But back to my brain. What's up with that?

cleanheart · Apr 1, 2013

I know it's hard out here and I do everything I can to keep my utilities as low as possible. I used to jack up the heat about 76* in the winter and run the ac constantly all summer but after a $400.00 gas bill one month I decided to do what I could to cut down.  I now keep the heat on 58* all winter rarely bumping it up to 60* on those really cold Illinois days and my highest monthly bill this very cold winter was $80.00. My highest electric bill last summer was $50.00. I am 57 years old and not as young as I used to be but I can still handle it by wearing more clothes in the winter and sitting outside under a tree in the summer. I don't watch much TV so I don't need to be indoors all the time in the summer. It helps to acclimate oneself to the weather so it's easier to deal with. I speak from experience so I know what I can handle. I can't ever imagine paying that kind of money again! Not ever. This is one reason I'm moving out of a house and into an RV or in my van. I just can't afford the high utility prices that just keep going up and up and up!  I also don't see myself as an activist either. I guess I'm a little hardened by seeing people living with their heat on 80* and run around their house like it's summer. Put some clothes on and deal with it better. Sorry, just my opinion.......

BamaDuke · Apr 1, 2013

While increasing solar/alternative energy use is indeed a noble exercise, the facts remain that a whole house off-grid 100% system is just not affordable by most people.  My Class C came with a 4kW generator, and it takes nearly all of that to run the rig.  In the Texas heat, I use up to 40kWHrs per day.  A system to produce and store that much energy would be quite expensive.  My current cost on the grid would be $6.00 for that one day's energy.  For the cost of the off-grid system, I can buy several summer's worth of grid delivered energy, and I don't have to worry about hail, wiring, or topping off batteries. If I am willing to forego the coolness of AC, and a hot shower, I can reduce my costs significantly.  I earn enough to be comfortable.  Some folks, apparently, do not.  I would like to see better incentives.  Both to increase alternative energy supplies, and to encourage people to use less energy.  But the choice is mine, as to my comfort, as long as I can afford the bill.  Bama Duke

Zil · Apr 2, 2013

I understand, I think, moving my post, but it was in reply to another post and you should have moved that to keep the thought clear. thanks Kate

twokniveskatie · Apr 4, 2013

Zil- I put it on the list for re-review.will sort it out!

SirJoey · Apr 4, 2013

Our electric power rates must be sky-high here, cuz I've set personal all-time records for highest power bills ever, for the past 3 months in a row now! Even after doing everything I can to weatherize & insulate this tiny little TT, & living VERY frugally, AND with another MILD winter, I still hit nearly $100 last month, with the 2 prior months being very close to that as well. My water heater is gas (which has crapped out again, leaving me once again without hot water for 2 months now), so the only real electric consumed is for heat, a well pump, & the microwave. Very little TV usage, but a fair amount of computer time, although that's a low-energy laptop, & I live like an energy miser, so I can only conclude that our local utility company is a bunch of greedy pirates! In fact, I'm sure of it. <img src="/images/boards/smilies/frown.gif" class="emoticon bbc_img">

The American Winter & Utiliy Bills

Help Support Van Living Forum:

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Active member

Active member

Well-known member

Active member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Well-known member

Similar threads

Join the conversation!

Join today and get all the highlights of this community direct to your inbox. It's FREE!