Should I switch power cos?

Collarspace Discussion Forums

Home Login Search

Should I switch power cos?

View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Logged in as: Guest

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Off the Grid >> Should I switch power cos?

Page: [1]

Message

<< Older Topic Newer Topic >>

Should I switch power cos? - 12/14/2009 3:43:50 PM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline

http://residential.directenergy.com/EN/Energy/Pennsylvania/Pages/ELE/res-ele-default.aspx

You may have heard about the lift of the rate cap in Pennsylvania, so it is expected that electricity generation prices may increase./snip

I dont like the cancellation fees.

I use very little electric. My hot water is gas. Will this be like the phone company plans were- to switch?

What do you think?
Based on our records as of 12/12/2009, this is 27 days into your current billing cycle.

Usage-To-Date: 125 kWh

Bill So far: $20

Average Daily Cost: $0.75/da
http://dom.com/products/energy-offers/ppl-offer.jsp

http://www.pplelectric.com/

< Message edited by pahunkboy -- 12/14/2009 3:51:18 PM >

Profile

Post #: 1

RE: Should I switch power cos? - 12/14/2009 10:34:16 PM

Termyn8or

Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline

Ideally, if you can, get both. But not if the minimum or billing charge is too high. Here we have the option of CPP which used to actually generate, but basically now just buys power off the PASNY grid, and CEI which I think is on the TVA grid, or a leg thereof. CPP has historically been cheaper than CEI, but on any given Sunday one or the other could have an outage.

Local industry, back when it existed, mainly used CPP. The power was cheap and dirty. By dirty I mean it had more fluctuations and harmonics in it. This runs incandescent bulbs and a few other things a bit harder. Power from CEI was cleaner, that is more closely regulated and closer to the ideal sine wave, which it is supposed to be.

Most people's heat is depenent on electricity, if you don't get a generator or something, get a kerosene heater, propane, whatever. Remember a few years ago when the power went out ? People were lost. It's a good thing that it happened during non-fatal weather. Moaning about no fans and no AC is not as bad as freezing to death.

I still have heat in my suite if there is no power. As long as there is gas that is. Refrigerators, put the shit outside in the shed. Got gas the stovetop will light, and that's good enough. It's dark alot but so what ?

But all of us do forget how much it really sucks to be without electricity.

T

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Profile

Post #: 2

RE: Should I switch power cos? - 12/14/2009 11:55:28 PM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline

.. the 1st link .. 3 years rate lock 9.9 cents kwt

but if one cancels a $300 early termination charge. That comes to $8ish a month. I did get a reply from Chapman- he thinks a rate lock is the way to go.

(in reply to Termyn8or)

Profile

Post #: 3

RE: Should I switch power cos? - 12/15/2009 3:27:45 PM

LookieNoNookie

Posts: 12216
Joined: 8/9/2008
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

http://residential.directenergy.com/EN/Energy/Pennsylvania/Pages/ELE/res-ele-default.aspx

You may have heard about the lift of the rate cap in Pennsylvania, so it is expected that electricity generation prices may increase./snip

I dont like the cancellation fees.

I use very little electric. My hot water is gas. Will this be like the phone company plans were- to switch?

What do you think?
Based on our records as of 12/12/2009, this is 27 days into your current billing cycle.Usage-To-Date: 125 kWhBill So far: $20Average Daily Cost: $0.75/da
http://dom.com/products/energy-offers/ppl-offer.jsp

http://www.pplelectric.com/

Chill....my electricity bill averaged $650.00 a month this year.

You got off lucky.

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Profile

Post #: 4

RE: Should I switch power cos? - 12/15/2009 3:47:39 PM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie

quote:

ORIGINAL: pahunkboy

http://residential.directenergy.com/EN/Energy/Pennsylvania/Pages/ELE/res-ele-default.aspx

You may have heard about the lift of the rate cap in Pennsylvania, so it is expected that electricity generation prices may increase./snip

I dont like the cancellation fees.

I use very little electric. My hot water is gas. Will this be like the phone company plans were- to switch?

What do you think?
Based on our records as of 12/12/2009, this is 27 days into your current billing cycle.Usage-To-Date: 125 kWhBill So far: $20Average Daily Cost: $0.75/da
http://dom.com/products/energy-offers/ppl-offer.jsp

http://www.pplelectric.com/

Chill....my electricity bill averaged $650.00 a month this year.

You got off lucky.

Wow. I do not earn much more then $650 in a month. This is before the price increases planned.

(in reply to LookieNoNookie)

Profile

Post #: 5

RE: Should I switch power cos? - 12/15/2009 4:04:28 PM

littlewonder

Posts: 15659
Status: offline

geez..youonly pay $20 a month???

I won't tell you what I pay a month. I think you would go into total shock.

Nevermind...I think I just went into shock with $650 a month. Daamn

< Message edited by littlewonder -- 12/15/2009 4:07:22 PM >

(in reply to pahunkboy)

Profile

Post #: 6

RE: Should I switch power cos? - 12/15/2009 9:28:59 PM

Termyn8or

Posts: 18681
Joined: 11/12/2005
Status: offline

I seem to have had a misconception, sorry. This is a change of vendors only. Just like what they do with the gas now. It's different here, if you switch they actually have to bring wires to your house, a whole different subject.

I have always been reluctant to go with alternate vendors on utilities. I don't have the time right now to explain why, but suffice it to say that Murphy's Law is involved. What's more your local utility company ends up just being a carrier, like a transport. How can this be ? Simple, they trade paper money and paper gold, paper damnear everything. Now you are trading paper electricity. Will wonders of the new millenium ever cease ?

Also note that your local carrier, once vendor does charge for their carrying services. These charges may vary of course. Find out how much before making your final calculation. I've had offers that looked good but with the carrying charge would have come to more than I was paying.

There are fees that won't disappear, and a new one or two might appear. With all this, put it in perspective. How much do you save ?

T

(in reply to littlewonder)

Profile

Post #: 7

RE: Should I switch power cos? - 12/15/2009 10:17:55 PM

ThatDamnedPanda

Posts: 6060
Joined: 1/26/2009
Status: offline

650 dollars a month?!? Good lord, do you live in a football stadium? I know marijuana growers who don't even pay a third of that, and you can't even go into their basements without sunglasses!

_____________________________

Panda, panda, burning bright
In the forest of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Made you all black and white and roly-poly like that?

(in reply to Termyn8or)

Profile

Post #: 8

RE: Should I switch power cos? - 12/16/2009 12:36:31 AM

pahunkboy

Posts: 33061
Joined: 2/26/2006
From: Central Pennsylvania
Status: offline

Term- the price is not known on PPL as they do not post it. We are supposed to get a 42% increase 1-1-10. So the others ARE cheaper then the new price.

Jenny says she will make the same choice that I do. (tho she heats water w elect)

Every year- both gas an electric do a 5%-12% increase.

So the key is (per Chapman) to lock in the rates for 3 years.... but to do so- means $300 cancellation fee is early end.

PPL will deliver whoever.

Due to the strategic location of this town- we are the LAST in the valley to lose power. History shows this- due to 7 massive pumps the run the flood wall that need power. There is also 2 high rises for the elderly-The 96 flood- the power flickered- where as homes in pricey subdivisions lost power for days.

I tend to doubt a new supplier would be black outs.

Note that I used very little power. This is because, I am just one person. I do not run a TV, a dryer, and so on. My hot water is gas- so that cost goes to the gas.

(in reply to ThatDamnedPanda)

Profile

Post #: 9