Electric cost in Pittsburgh

[brad]

I've been in this hobby since 2001, have a 300 gallon reef and live between Ohio and Akron (Hudson). Google is giving me a phone screen Thursday. I realize it is a little soon to plan a move over 1 phone call, but wanted to ask what electric rates were and how much it varies by neighborhood. I never considered this buying my current house, and could live just a few miles away and pay half as much.

 

[MondoBongo]

ah man, good luck!

i hear their interviews are intense. quite a lot about b-trees and the like.

i had the pleasure of visiting their offices last year. quite a cool place.

i'm aiming for an application there myself at some point in the future, but have quite a bit of studying to do in the mean time.

at any rate, our electric here isn't too bad. i'll see if i can find a bill when i get home. i'm with duquesne light, and my tanks have added about $40 - $50 a month to my elec bill.

not too bad for a 20L QT, 75G DT with associated pumps, heaters, and lights.

 

[MondoBongo]

My compare rate is 6.59/kWh. Says it changes June and December.

 

[brad]

Thanks, but is it like Ohio, where you could be paying 50% more or 50% less than the neighborhood next to yours? Or does everyone pay about the same?

 

[Misled]

I am north of Pittsburgh and have Allegheny Power as a supplier. Mine is 5.55/kwh. Those are the two major suppliers around here. You could check their websites and get some info there.

 

[BeanAnimal]

The total kWh cost is going to come in between 10 and 15 cents. (the rates Jesse and others have posted are just the energy cost, not the transmission cost).

While we have two or three major suppliers:
Allegheny power
Duquesne Light

Deregulation has allowed 3rd party energy suppliers to sell you the electricity (Rate to Compare) portion of your monthly bill.

We moved from Duquesne Light to a 3rd party and are saving about 20% on the energy portion of the bill. Duquesne is still the transmission vendor. I think I was at about .14 per kWh and am down to .09 per kWh total.

 

[brian3]

Bean,
Can I ask who are you with for a 3rd party to get .09 per KWH total with DL? Currently their transmission is 5.32 cents and it seems no supplier has been below 6 cents within the last couple years. Currently DL supply price is 6.59 cents.

 

[BeanAnimal]

Brian,

I just looked at our current bill and you are correct:

Duquesne Light (Distribution)
5.3247

First Energy (Generation Transmission)
6.35

So

11.675 per kWh

I think when we first switched DL was a bit less per kWh of distribution and First Energy had a 3 or 6 month promotional rate on top of their fixed rate. We were (total) closer to maybe 10 cents...

Our First Energy is going up to 7.5 this summer, but DL has requested a 25% increase, where the PUC has offered a compromise of 15% if they approve the deal. So if the rate increase goes through (they always do) then the DL rate will be around 7.5 as well.

 

[brian3]

Duquesne Light just got approved by the PUC for an 11% increase to the distribution rates so overall this will add about 5% or so to a persons overall bill. Got to love America, an 11% increase in one year. At least they did not approve the full amount, 17.6%.......

Brian,

I just looked at our current bill and you are correct:

Duquesne Light (Distribution)
5.3247

First Energy (Generation Transmission)
6.35

So

11.675 per kWh

I think when we first switched DL was a bit less per kWh of distribution and First Energy had a 3 or 6 month promotional rate on top of their fixed rate. We were (total) closer to maybe 10 cents...

Our First Energy is going up to 7.5 this summer, but DL has requested a 25% increase, where the PUC has offered a compromise of 15% if they approve the deal. So if the rate increase goes through (they always do) then the DL rate will be around 7.5 as well.

 

[BeanAnimal]

The PUC didn't do crap, the fix was in from day one. DL got exactly what they wanted. The original "rate" proposal was high so that the PUC could be seen as demanding a smaller rate increase on behalf of the customer. DL will come back after the next profit statement and say they did not get everything they needed and ask for another interim rate increase to cover the losses in upgrading infrastructure, again getting what they want. THEY ALWAYS DO.

But hey, "Wattley" will give you free CFL bulbs that crush the generation stations power factor ratio and drive up generation costs for all of us... of course in the name of saving a few apparent Watts.

The POCOs (long ago) jumped into the political fray (with their hands out) and don't play be real world logic. They promote and invest in "green" stuff that hurts their efficiency and drives their costs through the roof. At the same time it satiates the brain dead greenies and puts a smile on governments face... allowing the POCO to play both on both sides of the energy, environmental and political game boards.

Bleh...

 

[brian3]

It is about to get a whole lot more expensive for those not under an alternative supplier contract.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/05/21/electric-rates-about-to-go-up-for-many-local-customers/

Brian,

I just looked at our current bill and you are correct:

Duquesne Light (Distribution)
5.3247

First Energy (Generation Transmission)
6.35

So

11.675 per kWh

I think when we first switched DL was a bit less per kWh of distribution and First Energy had a 3 or 6 month promotional rate on top of their fixed rate. We were (total) closer to maybe 10 cents...

Our First Energy is going up to 7.5 this summer, but DL has requested a 25% increase, where the PUC has offered a compromise of 15% if they approve the deal. So if the rate increase goes through (they always do) then the DL rate will be around 7.5 as well.

 

[SVTour]

It is about to get a whole lot more expensive for those not under an alternative supplier contract.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2014/05/21/electric-rates-about-to-go-up-for-many-local-customers/

Tad confused by the article - as we just locked in a long term contract with Duquesne Light for 5.3247 kWH

I did some math the other day on some upgrades I recently did -

Swapped out a 300W main pump for a 98W high flow pump (7.2kWh per day to 2.35kWh)
swapped out 440W VHO lighting with 156W LED lighting strips (5.28kWh per day to 1.87kWh)
Swapped out 900W of MH lighting with 495W LED pendants (10.8kWh per day to 5.94kWh)
Removed 4 individual MaxJet pumps (20W each) with a manifold off the main pump. (1.92kWh to 0)

In total - 25.2kWh to 10.16 at our rate of 5.3247 cents per kWh, I'm saving about 80 cents a day or $292 a year. With an electric bill around $400 per month, it's almost getting a free month. Seems worth it

 

[brian3]

It seems you are only looking at the actual electric charge. Don't forget the distribution charge to get the electric to your house, currently it is 5.671 cent / KWH which nearly doubles your calculations. Also you cannot lock in if you go with Duquesne light as the default provider. They update their pricing every six months and this article shows the new price. Perhaps you locked in with another supplier?? Since DL announced the price increase most bumped up their rates as well.

Tad confused by the article - as we just locked in a long term contract with Duquesne Light for 5.3247 kWH

I did some math the other day on some upgrades I recently did -

Swapped out a 300W main pump for a 98W high flow pump (7.2kWh per day to 2.35kWh)
swapped out 440W VHO lighting with 156W LED lighting strips (5.28kWh per day to 1.87kWh)
Swapped out 900W of MH lighting with 495W LED pendants (10.8kWh per day to 5.94kWh)
Removed 4 individual MaxJet pumps (20W each) with a manifold off the main pump. (1.92kWh to 0)

In total - 25.2kWh to 10.16 at our rate of 5.3247 cents per kWh, I'm saving about 80 cents a day or $292 a year. With an electric bill around $400 per month, it's almost getting a free month. Seems worth it

 

[SVTour]

It seems you are only looking at the actual electric charge. Don't forget the distribution charge to get the electric to your house, currently it is 5.671 cent / KWH which nearly doubles your calculations. Also you cannot lock in if you go with Duquesne light as the default provider. They update their pricing every six months and this article shows the new price. Perhaps you locked in with another supplier?? Since DL announced the price increase most bumped up their rates as well.

See...this is what happens when I never pay a bill. :thumbsup: There is a second charge on this...which you need to flip to page 3 to see -

We are still with DLC - and the basic service charges are the 5.3247 cents kWH, as listed above - then we have a Supplier charge - also DCL, which is 7.35 cents kWH

Now, the wife is stating that she locked in with Duquesne Light - but since she is blonde, I'll need to see the next bill to verify that.

Good news - is that the power savings about would be over double what I listed