Electric rates... make me feel good (or bad)ff

But I probably have a little bigger house

You tryin' say say you're better than me, boy?

[mstng86]

Last month was $32.94. This month $32.42. Love having gas heat. This house is awesome.

I have gas as well.

Looking at $100 for electricity and $70 for gas.

But I probably have a little bigger house and there is three of us.

Last month was $32.94. This month $32.42. Love having gas heat. This house is awesome.

[01vnms4v]

Here is what I pay...

Energy Charge $0.0668
Fuel Adjustment $0.00941
Regulatory Adj $0.00523
Total would be: .08144 kWh

[blue85350]

My bill says .051/kwh.

[Chili]

I'd much rather be in Texas, but the job is here. At least it pays enough to live out here. There is a lot to like, and a lot not to like about it.

Oh I know all about that. I am from California and most of my family still lives there. There is a reason I have lived in Texas the last 13 years, and it is not because of my awesome job.

[mikeb]

California is actually partially deregulated. We have some business there.

I'd much rather be in Texas, but the job is here. At least it pays enough to live out here. There is a lot to like, and a lot not to like about it.

[Chili]

I sure miss the 8.1 cents a minute that I was paying in Texas.

In California they have a tiered rate deal based on usage. Tier 1 is up to about 300kwh and it costs .13/kwh. Then you go into tier 2 which is about 95kwh @ .16kwh. Tier 3 comes up next - about 250kwh @ .26kw. There is also a tier 4 (@ .29/kwh) and a tier 5 (@ .33kw) but luckily I have stayed out of those.

I now understand the California hype about energy efficient appliances, weird light bulbs, and turning off lights.

I also saw gas today at 3.93/gallon

California is actually partially deregulated. We have some business there.

[mikeb]

I sure miss the 8.1 cents a minute that I was paying in Texas.

In California they have a tiered rate deal based on usage. Tier 1 is up to about 300kwh and it costs .13/kwh. Then you go into tier 2 which is about 95kwh @ .16kwh. Tier 3 comes up next - about 250kwh @ .26kw. There is also a tier 4 (@ .29/kwh) and a tier 5 (@ .33kw) but luckily I have stayed out of those.

I now understand the California hype about energy efficient appliances, weird light bulbs, and turning off lights.

I also saw gas today at 3.93/gallon

[Chili]

Chili,

I have a different question for you that a lot of folks can't help me with. I recently (August) installed solar panels. My current provider is locked in until March at .08 kwh which was a decent deal when I locked in. Unfortunately for me there is no mandate on buying back energy from residents like CA has and there aren't many that do.

I have my own spreadsheet I'm using to try to calculate what I would save if I switch but the only ones I know of charge a higher kwh price then what I pay now. Do you know if/when the law will come into TX to force providers to buy back energy? Also any recommendations as far as providers being that I have panels. I make a decent amount of excess energy each day.

That is a very unique scenario and one that can trip up many people. The biggest issue of it is that you need to find a supplier that has a buy back program, otherwise the best you can hope for is a zero usage charge for the periods that you produce more than you consume. The guys out there that are selling the solar power equipment will often tell you that you can get credit for the power you put back onto the grid but rarely let you know that you have to find a retailer with that kind of product available in order to cash in.

As for any indication that laws will change to mandate that kind of program, your guess is as good as mine, but I would not count on it happening any time soon. Your best bet is going to be to put in the time on researching and contacting providers that may offer that type of program, and find out their program parameters.

A couple of things to consider...

Wholesale electricity prices change every hour of every day in Texas. Not only do they change 24 times a day, but every zone and hub has a different wholesale price. The trouble with electricity is that it is not able to be stored and cannot be saved for future use. So when there is low demand and excess energy is being produced prices will plummet, and the opposite is also true.

Even when you are able to produce more than you use, the time of day that you produce that excess energy will significantly impact what kind of credit you may receive. Peak usage hours will always net the highest price, and often during the off peak times, wholesale prices are next to nothing. So if you are producing excess energy during those off peak hours, you really are not going to see much benefit.

You will find that it will be very difficult to forecast actual cost savings since you would need to estimate what prices WILL be, and like many commodity markets, nobody can really see the future. If you go to http://ercot.com/ and look at the real time market settlement prices you will be able to get an understanding of how prices can fluctuate throughout the day.

I wish I could tell you more but what you are doing is still pretty uncommon in the Texas market and the complexity can create significant variances based on a number of variables. At best, I would say that you should only ever hope that you are realizing a net zero consumption from the grid and make all of your financial projections based on that assumption.

[crapstang]

8.7 with the small town I live in

Whitesboro is worse than Gainesville....leave asap

[mstng86]

I'm getting fucked! I'm paying $0.12, and I just got locked in for 12 months and have to pay $150.00 if I want out, SHIT!

Over a years time, that $150 is nothing in savings.

[The King]

8.9 cents per kwh, all fees included, regardless of usage.

New Leaf Energy, an Obammy-endorsed green energy provider.

[Rick Modena]

I'm getting fucked! I'm paying $0.12, and I just got locked in for 12 months and have to pay $150.00 if I want out, SHIT!

[Blackpony]

Went and checked our last bill, used 649 kw and the bill was $69... I have no choice on electricity, have to use coserv... fml