Cheesy FL-Vol
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Post by Cheesy FL-Vol on Feb 17, 2021 14:46:01 GMT -5
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Feb 17, 2021 18:48:34 GMT -5
Yikes!!!
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Cheesy FL-Vol
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Post by Cheesy FL-Vol on Feb 17, 2021 18:49:23 GMT -5
One guy ended up with a bill over 5k!
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laterbloomer
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Post by laterbloomer on Feb 17, 2021 18:51:35 GMT -5
How can the company do this? I don't understand how this happens?
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Feb 17, 2021 18:54:35 GMT -5
Got my utilities bill yesterday. It was typically high for this time of year in the electricity area. But it was for the time frame January 10 through February 09, one day before this wicked cold, ice and snow storms moved in which will still be here until this Saturday.
Can't wait to see what it is going to be next month.
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teen persuasion
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Post by teen persuasion on Feb 17, 2021 22:44:59 GMT -5
Wow! That's absolutely crazy.
I was reading an article earlier about Texas's power grid being different from the rest of the country - they deregulated utilities, and it's a wild wild west situation. Then, their electric power generation isn't able to meet demand in an extreme cold snap (normal peak season is summer cooling, that's what they are max sized for), so demand exceeded max capacity. And some generation was offline for repairs (in prep for max cooling season). Then demand for natural gas spiked, cutting the power supply to electric plants. And wind turbines stopped turning due to ice (utilities didn't invest in heating units like in the colder Midwest).
So if climate change causes an extreme cold snap/storm - demand skyrockets, supply is hampered, and deregulation allows resellers to sell at market costs you get this...
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justme
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Post by justme on Feb 17, 2021 22:56:21 GMT -5
I mean, deregulation basically means companies can do whatever the fuck they want. Including charging you $5000 to not die in a cold snap.
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oped
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Post by oped on Feb 18, 2021 4:09:09 GMT -5
It’s less about their normal capacity not being enough than it is a lack of winterization.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Feb 18, 2021 4:37:00 GMT -5
I hope its a billing snafu and gets reversed.
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Cheesy FL-Vol
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Post by Cheesy FL-Vol on Feb 18, 2021 12:19:12 GMT -5
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Feb 18, 2021 12:25:44 GMT -5
Sigh. I hope something happens for those people. Even double is too much for some.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Feb 18, 2021 12:28:14 GMT -5
I wonder if some energy profiteers are making significant money off this disaster. Those trade costs are just crazy.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Feb 18, 2021 15:10:22 GMT -5
I wonder if some energy profiteers are making significant money off this disaster. Those trade costs are just crazy. Of course. This is capitalism. If you haven't made a provision for this, why are you so entitled? The world doesn't owe you electricity at a reasonable rate. Supply and demand.
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laterbloomer
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Post by laterbloomer on Feb 18, 2021 15:52:14 GMT -5
I mean, deregulation basically means companies can do whatever the fuck they want. Including charging you $5000 to not die in a cold snap. Just wow! My brain can not take this in. Utilities need gov't approval for rate increases here.
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justme
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Post by justme on Feb 18, 2021 16:32:29 GMT -5
I mean, deregulation basically means companies can do whatever the fuck they want. Including charging you $5000 to not die in a cold snap. Just wow! My brain can not take this in. Utilities need gov't approval for rate increases here. They do in most of the US. But I guess Texas kept their electricity (maybe others?) independent and deregulated. Honestly the first I'm learning of this. In my state they have to ask the government when they want to raise rates - or ask for temporary fees like they did a while back when we got hit by several hurricanes.
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Feb 18, 2021 16:56:14 GMT -5
Free Market!!!! This is the world that many on these boards have dreamed off! Completely private services with no government interference. Can't you see what a utopia it is?! Can't you see how well regulated these companies are and how they moderate themselves to stay competitive? No company would fuck over little people or provide poor service, they will always do the right thing because that's what makes them money. Regulations are for chumps who can't handle being in business.
People will surely respond and boycott electricity therefore the market will correct itself. Nothing to see here.
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bean29
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Post by bean29 on Feb 18, 2021 17:12:31 GMT -5
Free Market!!!! This is the world that many on these boards have dreamed off! Completely private services with no government interference. Can't you see what a utopia it is?! Can't you see how well regulated these companies are and how they moderate themselves to stay competitive? No company would fuck over little people or provide poor service, they will always do the right thing because that's what makes them money. Regulations are for chumps who can't handle being in business. People will surely respond and boycott electricity therefore the market will correct itself. Nothing to see here. I'm sure they will expect the federal gov't to give them a handout, and I am sure they will pony up. I personally would rather let the a-H*les suffer the consequences of their selfishness.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Feb 19, 2021 13:24:41 GMT -5
There is another disaster for people who own animals/animal parks not accustomed to the cold weather ever in their lives. Not to mention the disasters in the zoos.
So heart breaking all around.
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Tiny
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Post by Tiny on Feb 19, 2021 13:32:28 GMT -5
Just wow! My brain can not take this in. Utilities need gov't approval for rate increases here. They do in most of the US. But I guess Texas kept their electricity (maybe others?) independent and deregulated. Honestly the first I'm learning of this. In my state they have to ask the government when they want to raise rates - or ask for temporary fees like they did a while back when we got hit by several hurricanes. There's often a push for deregulation in my State/county when the utilities ask to increase rates or add a fee. Because everyone is "Oh No! it's so expensive! it's because there is no competition! We should deregulate! Prices will go down!". Um. yeah, no... that's not the big picture how it works. that's the I'm only looking at today how it works. I'm starting to wonder if maybe adding solar panels to my house might not be such a bad idea - if deregulation does happen - the panels might help me "diversify" how I get some of my electricity... rather than being 100% tied to the electric company. I get it that the electric company and the solar panels are tied together. I'm just wondering if having solar would put me in a different "tier" of consumers that would get different treatment from the electric company(s) if deregulation happens/really takes off. The solar push might be part of the "not having a regulated by the local government provider". I should look into it more again.
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Feb 19, 2021 14:16:53 GMT -5
They do in most of the US. But I guess Texas kept their electricity (maybe others?) independent and deregulated. Honestly the first I'm learning of this. In my state they have to ask the government when they want to raise rates - or ask for temporary fees like they did a while back when we got hit by several hurricanes. There's often a push for deregulation in my State/county when the utilities ask to increase rates or add a fee. Because everyone is "Oh No! it's so expensive! it's because there is no competition! We should deregulate! Prices will go down!". Um. yeah, no... that's not the big picture how it works. that's the I'm only looking at today how it works. I'm starting to wonder if maybe adding solar panels to my house might not be such a bad idea - if deregulation does happen - the panels might help me "diversify" how I get some of my electricity... rather than being 100% tied to the electric company. I get it that the electric company and the solar panels are tied together. I'm just wondering if having solar would put me in a different "tier" of consumers that would get different treatment from the electric company(s) if deregulation happens/really takes off. The solar push might be part of the "not having a regulated by the local government provider". I should look into it more again. If you do get them, spend the extra money to get the switch that will make it so you can jump off the grid. If the power goes out and you are tied in, they still turn off your electricity because otherwise excess power would go into the lines and then they can't work on them. If you get a battery, you could probably make it through the night if there is an overnight outage. But those batteries cost a lot. The switch makes it so you can stay tied in so you can a) sell power back and b) pay for power if you aren't generating and storing enough.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Feb 19, 2021 21:02:31 GMT -5
I'm starting to wonder if maybe adding solar panels to my house might not be such a bad idea -
We've had solar for about 2 years now. We also spent the additional $5K for the battery pack that goes with it. Stores up power for evening use.
A solar water heater is an independent system and we've had one for about 12 years. No problem
The up-front cost of the water heater was around $4800 in 2008, but with all all of the rebates and such, the final out-of-pocket was about $950. And that was paid off in less than 2 years from lower electric bill.
Up front cost of our whole house solar was just under #20K in 2019. We live in AZ so have sun more that 300 days per year. At our age we won't see a return on our investment ...... unless it adds that much to the sale price when the time comes.
I do feel horrible for Texas. Close friends were without power for more than a week, and finally have electricity today. Miserable.
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djAdvocate
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Post by djAdvocate on Feb 19, 2021 21:50:09 GMT -5
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on Feb 20, 2021 13:17:56 GMT -5
A nice story coming out of Texas. Austin delivery driver gets stuck in the storm. She stayed with strangers for 5 daysWhen a delivery driver's car began sliding down on an icy Texas driveway, the driver closed her eyes, praying she wouldn't hit the client's home. She didn't hit the house but Chelsea Timmons' car crushed a flowerbed outside an Austin, Texas, home as a snowstorm paralyzed the state last Sunday. She didn't know it yet, but she would soon be grateful to end up in this particular driveway. Homeowners Doug Condon and Nina Richardson checked on Timmons to try to help get her Toyota Rav4 up the driveway, but it was stuck. They invited her to wait for a tow truck inside their home. "I'm just extremely fortunate that this is where my car crashed," Timmons told CNN. "It was in their flower bed. It wasn't in a ditch. It wasn't on the side of the road ... I was stuck someplace safe and warm." The bad weather persisted a lot longer than any of them thought. Five days later, Timmons was still living with the couple. Complete article here: link
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Feb 20, 2021 13:36:15 GMT -5
Wow, what a nice couple. It looks like she definitely lucked out given her place had no power.
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 20, 2021 17:05:01 GMT -5
If I lived in Texas, I wouldn't even worry about the crazy electricity bill. First order of business would be to get back to some semblance of normalcy. I've always said I'm not going to worry about crazy bills. If someone sends me a $5,000 electricity bill, I would just not pay it. If I ever get into an emergency room and I get a crazy $20,000 for an out of network anesthesiologist or some such, I would just not pay it.
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dondub
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Post by dondub on Feb 20, 2021 18:11:38 GMT -5
If I lived in Texas, I wouldn't even worry about the crazy electricity bill. First order of business would be to get back to some semblance of normalcy. I've always said I'm not going to worry about crazy bills. If someone sends me a $5,000 electricity bill, I would just not pay it. If I ever get into an emergency room and I get a crazy $20,000 for an out of network anesthesiologist or some such, I would just not pay it. Sent to collection and there goes the credit score...wheeeeeee!
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Ava
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Post by Ava on Feb 20, 2021 19:11:07 GMT -5
If I lived in Texas, I wouldn't even worry about the crazy electricity bill. First order of business would be to get back to some semblance of normalcy. I've always said I'm not going to worry about crazy bills. If someone sends me a $5,000 electricity bill, I would just not pay it. If I ever get into an emergency room and I get a crazy $20,000 for an out of network anesthesiologist or some such, I would just not pay it. Sent to collection and there goes the credit score...wheeeeeee! The least of my worries. I refuse to become a slave to a credit score. It's not that important. I wouldn't pay a completely crazy and unfair bill just to keep a good score. It goes down, it will go back up again.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Feb 20, 2021 19:54:34 GMT -5
How can the company do this? I don't understand how this happens? The free market is awesome!!!!!!!!
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dondub
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Post by dondub on Feb 20, 2021 20:08:33 GMT -5
Sent to collection and there goes the credit score...wheeeeeee! The least of my worries. I refuse to become a slave to a credit score. It's not that important. I wouldn't pay a completely crazy and unfair bill just to keep a good score. It goes down, it will go back up again. Not necessarily. Without paying the collection, now with added charges, you would stay a slave to your tattered score. Either pay now and save the credit. Pay more later and slowly rebuild the score over a number of years. Or stay in the dead zone.
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Opti
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Post by Opti on Feb 20, 2021 20:15:00 GMT -5
Sent to collection and there goes the credit score...wheeeeeee! The least of my worries. I refuse to become a slave to a credit score. It's not that important. I wouldn't pay a completely crazy and unfair bill just to keep a good score. It goes down, it will go back up again. I agree with you on he credit score. The issue really though is would they cut off your power over it?
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