OMG! my electric bill doubled!

Chris Check your meter it seams that a lot of the really high bills lately have been estimates. They always estimate high, then the next month you get a low one. You still get screwed becaues the high one is based on over base rates for the month. But the low one does not take that into consideration.
 
at the top of your bill, by the meter reading, it will say 'estimated' or 'actual read'.

at my house, they scope my meter from my neighbors back yard due to my locked gate and dog.
 
i spoke to the sce today and was told that the rate for usage was increased from $0.19 to $0.31 per unit back in june/july.:mixed: :mad2:
 
Usage at what tier? And does that include generation AND delivery? If so, SCE or DWR generation? I really hope the rep ddn't make such a blanket statement.

'Taint no such this as the electricity "rate." You have to look at your bill and see what you paid for how much and when.
 
I say dump it all and use the money for something useful and fun. This is just so out of control. Even a hundred bucks (and I wish that was all it was) seems hard to justify when all the other expenses are factored in.


SteveU
 
No, because they block UV light, which your corals need. You can get them made without the UV coating. The intensity is not great through these things, so for a high-light reef it won't totally replace bulbs, even in sunny So Cal.
 
I have heard differently Especailly as our light do not even come close to the amount of light the sun has and the broad wave lengths. Don't most lights have UV shields on them?
 
I use a sunlight reflector supplemented with 4 250 watt mh, and my corals and colors are almost as bright as a tank supplemented with ZEO.
Check my gallery for pics.

6500 k light + 20k spectrum is proven by Steve Tyree as the best color light combination for usable light for corals.
 
since you guy and gals are in the subject of sun lighting here is some info I gathered my self with a par meter. At high noon the sun produces 1900par's now if take the par meter and place it right under the water it goes to 1400. Take the meter and lower it down to 12" it goes to 800. At 24" which is what most of us have terms of high in tanks. It drops down to only 400. So there is a huge loss of light going through the water. When I tested my lighting system at a depht of 24" lights up 9" from water I get 200-225 on a 10k 250de bubl. Not sure what a 400w would do but I think we can get realy close to getting the same reading as the sun. The best way IMO to use the sun would be a sky light not a solartube. Skylight are larger and more of a direct source of light. The solar tubes are depening installation more of a reflective source so you loose some light as it travels down the tube. JMHO
 
skylights, or windows could give you more light than a solar tube just because there is more surface area than in a solar tube.

Remember the sun moves all day so the optimum light with a solar tube may only happen for an hour a day...

My system is timed to get the morning sunshine with reflectors beaming into the tank when the sun moves with optimum light happening when sun is beaming directly into the tank, and when the sun moves higher I have other reflectors that kick in to get the afternoon and late afternoon light.

You should see the corals when the sunlight is on them, amazing... they just seem to expand and fully love it...

A lot of the most colorful corals are the ones that live in a few feet of water and there is a reason for this....But it is funny I have a few friends that used 400 watt's and when the lights were too close the corals actually got burned...

That is why I stick with multiple 250 watters,as compared with a few 400's...The sunlight is also never an issue, but much much brighter than the 250's could ever be...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8044708#post8044708 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Frankysreef
But it is funny I have a few friends that used 400 watt's and when the lights were too close the corals actually got burned...
Click to expand...

Also remmeber that the sun does move across the sky and as its moving from the east to west it will increase in strenght and decreas as it sets. So they are only getting full strenght light for a few hr. Unlike the 400w mh lights they are full blast for at least 8-10 a day. That is alot of light for corals. I dont remmber how much the sun was but at around 9am its only giving a reading of 1000 just straight no water to block abstruck it. I guess I need to take some measurements durring a whole day and see what I get. Now that I have some free time.
 
For all of you out there looking at solar electric, here is a link to avalible products.
www.aeesolar.com
looked into this some years back and normal 5' pannel was generating around 100watts. now it is up to 190watts. If you know you will be living in your home & runing your reef tank for the next 10 - 15years then it is worth checking out.
7 years ago a system to handel 3000kwh month would have paid for itself in 20 years, now the same system would do it in 8 - 10 years.
(Here is a good stock to add to ones collection ESLR)
I am working on using one 120 watt panel with an inverter to directly run some 52 watt top mount pumps. This way it simulates nature in that curents seem to be stronger during the day than at night.
here is a list of local dealers and instalers that they sent me if anyone else is interested.


DAVIS POWER SYSTEMS DESIGN
PO BOX 121
ACTON CA 93510
(661)-269-5410
_
GLOBAL ENERGY VISIONS INC
3401 INCLINE DR
BAKERSFIELD CA 93306
(661)-872-9321
_
BORREGO SOLAR
727 ALLSTON WAY
SUITE B
BERKELEY CA 94710
(510)-843-1113
(Also has office in El Cajon: 619-562-7183)
_
OFF GRID POWER SYSTEMS
42311 BEAN GULCH RD
COARSEGOLD CA 93614
(559)-641-6618
_
EMU PRODUCTS
3280 CALF CANYON HWY
CRESTON CA 93432
(805)-227-6200
_
SOLUTIONS IN SOLAR ELECTRICITY
BOX 5089
CULVER CITY CA 90231
(310)-202-7882
_
SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY LLC
PO BOX 1069
HANFORD CA 93232
(559)-212-7459
_
COMMON SENSE SOLAR
24772 HIDDEN HILLS #L
LAGUNA NIGUEL CA 92677
(949)-295-1147
_
JOHN DRAKE SERVICES
1427 E 68TH ST
LONG BEACH CA 90805
(562)-423-4879
_
PADDOCK SOLAR
1945 GLENDON AVE. # 304
LOS ANGELES CA 90025
(888)-793-9899
_
ROBERT D. NELSON
P.O. BOX 869
MURPHYS CA 95247
(209)-728-9445
_
GO SOLAR COMPANY
12439 MAGNOLIA BLVD #132
NORTH HOLLYWOOD CA 91607
UNITED STATES_
(818)-566-6870_
_
SUN WORKS, THE
PO BOX 1545
NILAND CA 92257
(760)-791-5011
_
ZIMMERMAN SOLAR
PO BOX 291880
PHELAN CA 92329
(760)-868-4400
_
MARK SNYDER ELECTRIC
12900 BROOKPRINTER PLACE
SUITE 200
POWAY CA 92064
(858)-748-4612
_
INFINIGI, INC.
30504 SANTA LUNA DRIVE
RANCHO PALOS VERDES CA 90275
(310)-308-9035
_
INNERGY POWER
9375 CUSTOMHOUSE PLAZA
BLDG.1, SUITE J
SAN DIEGO CA 92154
(619)-710-0758
_
SILVERWOOD ENERGY
6716 BESTWOOD COURT
SAN DIEGO CA 92119
UNITED STATES
(619)-501-2713
_
PACIFIC ENERGY COMPANY
2121 SANTA BARBARA STREET
SAN LUIS OBISPO CA 93401
(805)-544-4700
_
HORIZON SOLAR SYSTEMS
120 NO. PACIFIC ST, STE G-7
SAN MARCOS CA 92069
(760)-744-1001
_
RENEWABLE ENERGY CONCEPTS INC
684 CLARION COURT
SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA 93401
UNITED STATES
(805)-528-9705
(Grid Tie Only)
_
DUNSTONE ELECTRIC
1077 TORO CANYON RD.
SANTA BARBARA CA 93108
(805)-895-1030
_
JAY JOHNSON ELECTRIC
P.O. BOX 21903
SANTA BARBARA CA 93121
(805)-450-0925
_
R & M TECHNOLOGIES
P.O. BOX 418
SANTA BARBARA CA 93116
(805)-563-2434
_
RAIN OR SHINE
26581 BRIAN PLACE
TEHACHAPI CA 93561
(661)-821-1317
_
ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PRODUCTS
27412 ENTERPRISE CIRCLE WEST
SUITE 101
TEMECULA CA 92590
(951)-308-2366
_
ALTERNATIVE SOLAR PRODUCTS
27412 ENTERPRISE CIRCLE WEST
SUITE 101
TEMECULA CA 92590
UNITED STATES
(951)-308-2366
_
OJAI SOLAR INC
292 TELOMA DRIVE
VENTURA CA 93003
(805)-650-8700
_
A1 SOLAR SOLUTIONS
5218 VALLEY CIRCLE BLVD
WOODLAND HILLS CA 91367
UNITED STATES
(818)-300-3357
 
My bill last month: 675.

Looking into solar RIGHT NOW. And all that *****ing I've been doing about leaving the lights/stuff on? Now it would seem someone wants to listen...

Previous month was 500.

Yay...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=8048796#post8048796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kernelangus
My bill last month: 675.

Looking into solar RIGHT NOW. And all that *****ing I've been doing about leaving the lights/stuff on? Now it would seem someone wants to listen...

Previous month was 500.

Yay...
Click to expand...

And, oh, just wait until tier 5 kicks in... It'll be like thinking gas under three bucks was a bargain...

edited
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hi,

So this might be masocistic but I have been trying to calculate how much my current bill would be using the new rates in this chart:

rate_structure.jpg


This problem is that the numbers don't line up.

Are they talking about generation, delivery or both? The bill also hits me up for delivery across these tiers twice at different prices and across generation four times (twice for SCE generation and twice for DWR generation).

I am an engineer by trade and the math they are using is driving me nuts! I feel like there is something they aren't telling me.

--Rick
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
advice for frag tank lighting?
Replies
4
Views
1K
DesertReefT4r
DesertReefT4r
N
Neils in-wall 180 with basement fishroom
Replies
19
Views
4K
neilp2006
N
A
HELP: understanding my tank before dosing
Replies
1
Views
814
bertoni
B
S
The Sovereign Reef SPS ZeoVit system
Replies
5
Views
1K
Saltwaterwill
S
B
Are my lights too bright? Bleaching issues
Replies
7
Views
926
alton
alton
Back
Top