How Are Southern Members Doing?

[Bill Lins]

Friends,

CEO of our electric company said on the news they are working a plan to allow customers to pay off the cost of this winter event... something we'll be paying off for 10 to 15 years. Price of energy increased 15K%. Yep. you read correctly.
Ron

Griddy?

 

[Tractorat]

CEO of our electric company said on the news they are working a plan to allow customers to pay off the cost of this winter event... something we'll be paying off for 10 to 15 years. Price of energy increased 15K%. Yep. you read correctly.

Wow !!! If I did the math correctly, based on my last one month power bill, it would be $34,500. for the month.

 

[JR]

This is criminal stuff. I can't even begin to wrap my head around it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/us/texas-storm-electric-bills.html

 

[NIsaacs]

This is criminal stuff. I can't even begin to wrap my head around it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/us/texas-storm-electric-bills.html

Oklahoma too. I wonder how long the bills will stay up like this? Natural gas and propane prices will be stupid too. It sounds like you will have no choice but to disconnect and go off grid with your own system.

 

[GAmes]

It sounds like you will have no choice but to disconnect and go off grid with your own system.

Plenty of choices in my zip code.
https://shop.comparepower.com/enrol...c5YTdiZjY.#/compare/76543/3/1000/0/0/00///0/0

 

[NIsaacs]

Plenty of choices in my zip code.
https://shop.comparepower.com/enrol...c5YTdiZjY.#/compare/76543/3/1000/0/0/00///0/0

Are those prices/choices, pre or post storm? I think location will also play a big part in price gouging.

 

[GAmes]

That is today's prices. I wouldn't be surprised if they go up. There is a lot of pressure on the power companies to winterize their systems. Just like the government they will raise prices instead of budgeting their assets.

 

[NIsaacs]

Are those prices/choices, pre or post storm? I think location will also play a big part in price gouging.

I have a niece that lives in Austin that had a 60 hr outage. It will be interesting if her power goes up and how much. She is taking it in stride, so far. Grew up in Montana so she wears big girl boots

 

[mwilson]

Just for comparison, our electricity prices in Maine.

 

[endoscott]

Quote:This is criminal stuff. I can't even begin to wrap my head around it.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/20/us/texas-storm-electric-bills.html

Yep. And what do you wanna bet that all the Griddy executives are getting giant bonuses for increasing their revenue.....love the part from the guy who planned this system, Hogan, who says "its working perfectly!". Huh, that sounds right to me....

 

[Wayne M.]

Consider the source of that news link. The Gray Lady has become a propaganda site. What, are they setting the stage for the “new deal”?

 

[GAmes]

Just for comparison, our electricity prices in Maine.

My calculator says that comes to 16.9 cents per KWH. When the power is flowing perhaps the rates here aren't that bad.

 

[endoscott]

Quote "Consider the source of that news link. The Gray Lady has become a propaganda site. What, are they setting the stage for the “new deal”?"

Always a good question for sure, maybe some of the Texas people can comment as to the veracity of the information. OTOH, I highly doubt the wind and solar operations were the "cause" of the energy disaster in Texas. Maybe a small percentage of the problem, but it looks to me like the people in charge of the grid did nothing to protect the grid after the last "disaster". And I would bet you a large pizza and a growler of beer that the executives running things are getting their million $ bonuses right along.

 

[Timd32]

Just for comparison, our electricity prices in Maine

NJ all in with all the stuff.

12.52 cents DEL + USE, Tax, Tags, Reg.

A few townships out this way have some sort of co-op agreement, forget exactly how it works, your automatically enrolled and can chose to opt out if you want too and pick your own supplier.

Nearby they have a PJM set up that varies and is demand driven, it can save and cost you, 2018 local drag strip that's been there since the 50s got hit with $16k in bills based on the demand charges from the PJM agreement, they had to go to the board of public utilities and public shaming route of the local utility to get a pardon for the charges. It worked, or they would have to close the place, it was a complete scam on the power companies and the PJM company side.

https://www.dragzine.com/news/nj-dragway-hit-with-16000-light-bill-leaving-future-uncertain/

Hope things are getting back to "normal".

 

[Tuesdak]

Quote "Consider the source of that news link. The Gray Lady has become a propaganda site. What, are they setting the stage for the “new deal”?"

Always a good question for sure, maybe some of the Texas people can comment as to the veracity of the information. OTOH, I highly doubt the wind and solar operations were the "cause" of the energy disaster in Texas. Maybe a small percentage of the problem, but it looks to me like the people in charge of the grid did nothing to protect the grid after the last "disaster". And I would bet you a large pizza and a growler of beer that the executives running things are getting their million $ bonuses right along.

I don't get what is so special about Texas. They were NOT alone in rolling blackouts as Oklahoma had them as well. Every single major storm brings power outages everywhere in the USA it hits. Falling tree's and tree branches, power poles breaking, ice snapping lines. Even the wind blowing brings outages to California. Major Storm = The power IS out somewhere. Earthquakes take out natural gas and trip off nuke plants.

It's a 50 year event. Do you think the ratepayers want to spend big bucks on a 50 year event? Even then the ice is going to break power lines and make it a big waste of money anyway as the power still goes out.

IMO hurricanes are more of a concern even though it's a smaller area that gets washed clean off the map.

Yeah they could have done some things different. That doesn't mean they need the incompetent Feds to get involved now adding MORE expensive paperwork, stuffed suit empty heads at a desk, etc. Again how well is this working out for other states where the power still goes out including rolling blackouts?

Generac stock is through the roof even more now over this nearly nationwide mess. This shows us people are realizing they got to take care of themselves. It was given a prior big boost over the "Criminal Probation" PG&E is under due to their criminal neglect of gas lines blowing up houses and now the wildfires their neglected power lines sparked. They have to shut down their power in high winds due to a court order. PG&E is a state authorized and regulated monopoly and are helpless due to political reasons.

I grow tired of reading about CA wildfires and CA power outages as it's simply SSDD. Until something changes it will be SSDD. Wildfires are not limited to CA, but, it's relation to power outages may have that stupidity (and neglect of the power system) spread out of CA. (2020 had my RV ready to go if we ever got the "GO" alert as 3 separate fires were within 6 miles of my home at different times.)

 

[mwilson]

My calculator says that comes to 16.9 cents per KWH. When the power is flowing perhaps the rates here aren't that bad.

Power is expensive here, has been since they shut our Nuke power plant down years ago..

 

[Tractorat]

My niece lives in Houston. Her husband called her at work and said the power and water was out. She immediately got a hotel room across the street from where she works (so she can get to work), drove the 45 minute drive home to get her husband and baby, and back to the hotel. No water or food at the hotel. But at least they were warm. They have since gone back home. Her 2 dogs survived the cold at home alone, but were happy to see my niece and family when they returned.

 

[Wiredawg]

I don't get what is so special about Texas. They were NOT alone in rolling blackouts as Oklahoma had them as well. Every single major storm brings power outages everywhere in the USA it hits. Falling tree's and tree branches, power poles breaking, ice snapping lines. Even the wind blowing brings outages to California. Major Storm = The power IS out somewhere. Earthquakes take out natural gas and trip off nuke plants.

It's a 50 year event. Do you think the ratepayers want to spend big bucks on a 50 year event? Even then the ice is going to break power lines and make it a big waste of money anyway as the power still goes out.

IMO hurricanes are more of a concern even though it's a smaller area that gets washed clean off the map.

Yeah they could have done some things different. That doesn't mean they need the incompetent Feds to get involved now adding MORE expensive paperwork, stuffed suit empty heads at a desk, etc. Again how well is this working out for other states where the power still goes out including rolling blackouts?

Generac stock is through the roof even more now over this nearly nationwide mess. This shows us people are realizing they got to take care of themselves. It was given a prior big boost over the "Criminal Probation" PG&E is under due to their criminal neglect of gas lines blowing up houses and now the wildfires their neglected power lines sparked. They have to shut down their power in high winds due to a court order. PG&E is a state authorized and regulated monopoly and are helpless due to political reasons.

I grow tired of reading about CA wildfires and CA power outages as it's simply SSDD. Until something changes it will be SSDD. Wildfires are not limited to CA, but, it's relation to power outages may have that stupidity (and neglect of the power system) spread out of CA. (2020 had my RV ready to go if we ever go the "GO" alert as 3 separate fires were within 6 miles of my home at different times.)

Im not sure its about being SPECIAL, Did you or anyone listed in your state get a $16K power bill? I think this is waht is making it SPECIAL. I think weather events, acts of God, happen, the outragious billing not so much. Despite you're appearant lack of empathy here, I wish you and all Americans have minimal imact from the storms and a get a FAIR bill.

Cheers, Ron

 

[Wiredawg]

So, we are all learning what happened and partially why. There is one comment in this article that mentions price gouging, which possibly could be likened for a store in a disaster are selling bottled water $5 per bottle as demand based pricing.

Texas Power Grid Run by ERCOT Set Up the State for Disaster (msn.com)

 

[Tractorat]

I probably missed this. But didnt the storm just happen maybe a week or so ago ? How did that guy get a bill so soon ? Especially as big as it is ?