Damn, My power bill jumped
- Thread starter WarDaddy
- Start date
NicoleC
New member
There are more powerful systems, Rick, but they are considered commercial systems and there are more hoops to jump through to get one on the grid.
I know there's not shortage. It's the same crap that you see in the oil industry. My Dad worked in the oil pipeline industry all his life (maintenance and repair), and still does some consulting work for extra retirement cash. When they want to jack up prices, they just shut down a big refinery and declare a "shortage." There are a lot of perfectly functioning refineries in California that are mothballed, but then they justify high fuel prices in California for lack of refinery capacity. Meanwhile they run the most polluting and least efficient refineries to avoid having to comply with environmental laws requiring upgrades and maintenance.
I have no doubt the electricity industry is the same, but since our electricity generation is mostly dependant on the oil industry, it just compounds the problem.
I betcha in 10 years PV systems will be much cheaper and developers will be considering them standard equipment on new construction. THAT will be nice! There are plenty of folks in remote areas of Nor Cal that are totally off-grid and generate their own power. Granted, most of them are growing pot, but it IS feasible.
I know there's not shortage. It's the same crap that you see in the oil industry. My Dad worked in the oil pipeline industry all his life (maintenance and repair), and still does some consulting work for extra retirement cash. When they want to jack up prices, they just shut down a big refinery and declare a "shortage." There are a lot of perfectly functioning refineries in California that are mothballed, but then they justify high fuel prices in California for lack of refinery capacity. Meanwhile they run the most polluting and least efficient refineries to avoid having to comply with environmental laws requiring upgrades and maintenance.
I have no doubt the electricity industry is the same, but since our electricity generation is mostly dependant on the oil industry, it just compounds the problem.
I betcha in 10 years PV systems will be much cheaper and developers will be considering them standard equipment on new construction. THAT will be nice! There are plenty of folks in remote areas of Nor Cal that are totally off-grid and generate their own power. Granted, most of them are growing pot, but it IS feasible.
NicoleC
New member
There are options. They even have fuel cell generators now for your house, but talk about being on the bleeding edge...
Using almost 70 Kws per day is a LOT of power, though, for a house. I would look for where the energy is bleeding to first. Most applicances never turn off anymore, they stay on "standby" and suck up energy even when you think it's off. We've had the how-to-save-electricity discussion lots of times and it's all over the web. I know if my power bill were that high, I'd be willing to invest in some time researching and money buying some gadgets to figure out where the heck all that power is going.
And if it seems fishy after all that, check your meter!
Hmmm... this might be a good topic for a SCMAS meeting.
Using almost 70 Kws per day is a LOT of power, though, for a house. I would look for where the energy is bleeding to first. Most applicances never turn off anymore, they stay on "standby" and suck up energy even when you think it's off. We've had the how-to-save-electricity discussion lots of times and it's all over the web. I know if my power bill were that high, I'd be willing to invest in some time researching and money buying some gadgets to figure out where the heck all that power is going.
And if it seems fishy after all that, check your meter!
Hmmm... this might be a good topic for a SCMAS meeting.
ricka
New member
It has been a while since I checked, but when I checked I had a CL, chiller, 400W bulbs, etc. I've gone down to 250W, junked the CL for Tunzes and my vented reflectors push the hot air outside.
I'm going to run the numbers again (I tested in the summer time) to see if it has come down.
--Rick
I'm going to run the numbers again (I tested in the summer time) to see if it has come down.
--Rick
Kenfuzed
New member
I haven't seen any rate spikes (yet) here in the SGV and I'm under Edison as well. I've been able to trim my usage slightly this year by upgrading pumps, removing power heads, switching from 4 VHO to 3 T5 suppliments, and upgrading my CL. My next project is to wire all my fans into photocell parts taken from solar charged garden lighting. Using temperature controls to turn fans on/off saves as well rather than just letting them run all day while the lights are on.
gcarroll
Active member
I'd tell ya but then I'd have to kill ya! When I decided on the house and the tank I did everything I could to try and keep the temp down. This allowed me to have no need for a chiller in the summer. These things included 1300 sq ft of tile downstairs, A/C set a 76 year round except when it's really cold out. Open top canopy, Energy efficient return pump, 4-250 watt lights instead of 400 watters. Tunze 6080s for added flow (2250 gph w/ only 17 watts). My skimmer is a power hog but it's worth it.
WarDaddy
New member
My bill is not $568, but at over $350 I am reviewing my set up, and wondering what I can do cheaper... have the Tunze, my pumps are QuietOnes, and energy effecient. Where else can I cut...Time to look at the lighting choices...Pull any extra powerheads out.
Question about water storage, how much water movemment do I need in my storage containers? Do I need the power head going 24/7, or can I have it on 1 hour every 6?
SteveOhh
In Memoriam
Like I said before, don't blame SCE, blame Pete Wilson.
SCE had two of it's divisions broken up by deregulation. Under law, Edison is only allowed to charge a certain amount for power. While Bush's friend, Ken Lay, was selling power to SCE at $100 per kilowatt, Edison was only allowed to charge $8-$10 per kilowatt to thier customers. They were also contracted to provide power to most of So Cal, so they had to bite the bullet & take roughly a 900% loss on every kilowatt they sold. How many businesses that you know of would survive in that situation?
When Grey Davis asked Washington for help, Bush told him he wasn't getting involved. Of course not, his friend was making all the money. Recent laws have allowed Edison to raise thier rates to recoup thier losses & unfortunately, it's us that are assisting them.
So the blame goes to that great California governer, Pete Wilson.................still screwing Californians 10 years after he's out of office. Meanwhile, Ken Lay still walks the streets a free man.
If you really want to see how deregulation should work, look at Pennsylvania..............they deregulated the right way & thier rates have dropped 20%...
Steve
SCE had two of it's divisions broken up by deregulation. Under law, Edison is only allowed to charge a certain amount for power. While Bush's friend, Ken Lay, was selling power to SCE at $100 per kilowatt, Edison was only allowed to charge $8-$10 per kilowatt to thier customers. They were also contracted to provide power to most of So Cal, so they had to bite the bullet & take roughly a 900% loss on every kilowatt they sold. How many businesses that you know of would survive in that situation?
When Grey Davis asked Washington for help, Bush told him he wasn't getting involved. Of course not, his friend was making all the money. Recent laws have allowed Edison to raise thier rates to recoup thier losses & unfortunately, it's us that are assisting them.
So the blame goes to that great California governer, Pete Wilson.................still screwing Californians 10 years after he's out of office. Meanwhile, Ken Lay still walks the streets a free man.
If you really want to see how deregulation should work, look at Pennsylvania..............they deregulated the right way & thier rates have dropped 20%...
Steve
