How close are these electric rates?

[mavei511]

Gas service in apartments in metro New Orleans

n most areas of metro New Orleans,gas is not allowed to be used in apartments because of fire codes. They don't want to have a leaky pipe under a floor or in a wall in between apartments to cause an explosion. So most apartments are built all electric. Matter of fact,as part of condo conversions some older buildings are actually being converted to-all electric . There is a way around this.
Some larger multi-building complexes have gas on site but it is still not allowed to be piped directly into the apartments.
Gas-fired water heaters and boilers are installed in separate buildings for domestic hot water and heating, as well as the laundry rooms which have commercial gas dryers and their own separate water heaters. Some complexes also had gas grills in the patios for tenants to use and outdoor GAS LIGHTING.But you will always find an electric stove in the kitchen. The only other way one can have gas in an apartment is to have the pipes run externally along the outside of the building and come in through the wall. Most apartment builders didn't like that because it was considered aesthetically unpleasing and costly. They also get a volume discount on electric appliance packages. As a result,only about maybe,say,5% of the buildings actually have gas in the apartment itself.

 

[sudsmaster]

In my area we get the first 300 kWH or so for about $.12. Above that but below about 500 kWH, it's about $.16. Above about 500 kWH, it's more like $.20 and up. And so on. So there is a strong incentive to conserve electricity (although I think I've thrown out that incentive during this holiday when I have xmas lights outside (albeit mostly LED) and lots of bright compact flourescents inside to drive away the winter blues.

My last combined gas/electric bill was about $120. I figure the next one will be over $150, because the heater's been running a lot and the aforementioned lighting.

 

[DADoES]

Theater's bill arrived today.

*Building Main, period of 11/28 to 12/22 (only 25 days)
KWH used = 8,040
Generation Charges:
Energy 8040 KWH x 0.03257 = $261.86
Demand 69.360 KW X 2.00 = $138.72
Cost Recovery Factor 8040 KWH X -0.01583 = $-127.32
Generation Provider Transmission, Distribution:
Energy 8040 X 0.01604 = $128.96
Demand 69.360 KW x 0.2500 = $17.34
Cost Recovery Factor 8040 X -0.00066 = $-5.32
Local Distribution:
Customer Charge = $42.00
Demand 69.36 KW X 1.310 = $90.86

Total: $547.10
State Sales Tax: $34.19
City Sales Tax: $8.21
County Sales Tax: $2.74
City Franchise Fee: $10.94

Total Due: $603.18

Cost per KWH *before taxes*: $0.06805

*Parking lot lights are metered/billed separately

 

[exploder3211]

My bill for last month was $196.42... 10.95 cents per kwh.. Used 2125 kwh's... Includes a new meater installed

 

[tolivac]

My electric bill averages $120 per month.where I work-the transmitter site-it averages about $35,000 per month.And another $10,000 per month load management gen lease.If we didn't have the genset-would be about $50,000per month more.

 

[sudsmaster]

Toggle's NYC Energy Rules

The situation here is similar to Toggle's rules...

If at all possible, we heat our homes, cook our food, and heat our water with natural gas. In the SF Bay Area by the water, most homes do not have central A/C. It really is not needed. There are maybe three weeks a year where the temps are over 90, and it's usually a "dry heat". There is geenerally a cool-down overnight and running a fan to blow cool night air into the home, and then shuttering the home during the day, generally takes care of these high temps. However this winter I am probably going to purchase a window A/C unit for those few times when it's simply too hot inside even with night air.

Our electric rates are lower than Hawaii but higher than most of the nation. We also get a "baseline" lowest rate for minimal usage; here it's about 330 kWH/month. That's about $.12/kWH. More than that, it jumps to about $.16. Above about 500 kWH, it jumps to around $.20. Above that tier, which I've never reached, it's even higher (I think). I think my average cost is around $.15 kWH.

Nearly all my lighting is flourscent; it's been that way since before our "energy crisis" of 2000. I also shut off all vampire loads wherever possible; I figure that has saved the equivalent of a full-size refrigerator's energy consumption. I also replaced older pre-90's fridges to energy star in 2001; that has helped to cut my electric consumption in half (from about 1,000 kWH/month to about 500 kWH/month. I could go lower if I pared down to one fridge and got rid of the chest freezer, but with two kitchens I don't want to . Also, a fish pond pump uses about the same as a energy star fridge. It's either that or no koi. I choose the koi.

 

[DADoES]

Personal bill:

Period of 11/20 to 12/18

Generation --
  Energy: 1046 KWH x 0.03605 = $37.71

Generation Provider Transmission, Distribution & Ancillary --
  Energy: 1046 KWH x 0.01256 = $13.14

Local Distribution --
  Customer Charge: $15.00
  Minimum: 475 KWH x 0.03089 = $14.67
  Distribution: 571 KWH x 0.01380 = $7.88

Notice there's no Cost Recovery Factor on this billing for my residential rate.

Residential is not charged demand (not directly) or sales taxes.

Total Due: $88.40

Cost per KWH: $0.08451

 

[washoholic]

A simple way to find out exactly how much you are paying including taxes and hidden charges is to take the total bill divided by the KWH used. This gives you the TOTAL price per KWH that you are paying. Many times the bill is confusing and charges 2 different rates, then adds taxes for state, city, and fuel charges etc. This takes all of that into account.

This equation calculates how much you actually pay per KWH:

TOTAL BILL divided by KILOWATT HOURS USED equals TOTAL PER KWH YOU ACTUALLY PAY

Here is mine in Virginia Beach, VA:
OCT. 10/13/05 to 11/10/05 $125.14/1544 KWH= .0810
JAN. 1/17/06 to 2/14/06 $85.66/934 KWH= .0917
FEB 2/14/06 to 3/16/06 $97.37/1113 KWH= .0874
MAR. 3/16/06 to 4/13/06 $97.50/1115 KWH= .0874
APR. 4/13/06 to 5/24/06 $151.23/1816 KWH= .0832
MAY 5/24//06 to 6/23/06 $150.80/1588 KWH= .0949

Here is mine in Austin, TX:
JUL. 7/27/06 to 7/31/06 $67.47/595 KWH= .1133
AUG. 7/31/06 to 8/29/06 $294.07/2568 KWH= .1145
SEP. 8/28/06 to 9/28/06 $231.44/1871 KWH= .1236
OCT. 9/28/06 to 10/26/06 $154.78/1525= .1014
NOV. 10/26/06 to 11/28/06 $154.98/1527= .1014

This proves, EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS, including the power bill. I still love Texas! It’s worth paying more to be here, YA’LL!

Jeff

 

[dalangdon]

In Seattle, we pay the following

(Summer: April-September)
First 10 kWh per day at 3.76¢ per kWh
All additional kWh per day at 7.93¢ per kWh

(Winter: October - March)
First 16 kWh per day at 3.76¢ per kWh
All additional kWh per day at 7.93¢ per kWh
Base Service Charge: 9.73¢ per meter per day

And there is a special rate schedule for low-income people.

 

[appnut]

Jeff, who is your electric provideer? That's like two to four cents per KWH less than mine!!! I may need to put an extension chord down I35 to your house lol.

 

[DADoES]

Jeff, I'm in TX (as you know!) and my rate (currently) is on-par with what yours was in VA. And note what the theater pays! I don't consider sales taxes to be part of the cost/KWH being as it's calculated as an add-on percentage of the billed amount.

Both my house and the theater are served by the local rural cooperative, which opted not to join in the retail competition scheme. It's my understanding that only one electric cooperative (Nueces?) in the state opted-in.

My grandmother's latest bill for 967 KWH clocked-in at a base rate of $0.168! There were some one-time adjustments that brought it down to $0.116, and then *another* one-time credit that further reduced it to $0.08. An insert advises that the "Price to Beat" program is ending and the average for 1000 KWH usage will be $0.152.

 

[blackstone]

Just finished paying electric bills for last month. The rate is above 11 cents/kWh, plus $8.50 monthly charge. Same rate for electricity in the store, but the monthly charge is $32.00, even though it's in the same building. Average bill in the summer, with 3 air conditioners running, goes over $100.

When I work on the walls and ceilings of my old house, I still see the old gas lines that were used for lighting, long ago. Gas prices are relatively cheap this winter; too bad I couldn't also use it for lighting.

 

[washoholic]

Bob, I have Austin Energy, and in VA I had Dominion VA Power. The rates aren’t really that much higher in TX. The bills are because we have to run the A/C more, but I’m not complaining.

Glenn, I’m saying to compare what everyone is paying, it’s simpler to divide the total bill by the KWH usage. That’s how much we actually pay per unit when it’s all said and done. It appears that Austin Energy would like me to believe I’m paying .03634 per KWH, but by the time they add on 2 more charges per KWH, fuel charge sales tax, customer charge, anti-litter, comprehensive drainage, and transportation use; the price per unit is really $.1014.

I’m sure the power companies would like for people in different areas to look only at the price per KWH that they have provided when comparing bills, but I think dividing the KWH usage by the total bill really put it all into prospective.

Dominion VA Power bill break down
5/24/06 to 6/23/06 ¢/kWh
Jun-Sep 7.04 ¢
Oct-May 5.96 ¢
Annual Average 6.59 ¢
Total consumption kWh 1588
Distribution Service 34.79
Electricity Supply Svc 110.29
Sales and Use Surcharge 0.37
State/Local Consumption Tax 2.35
VIRGINIA BEACH Utility Tax 3.00
Total Current Charges 150.80
My calculated price per unit $.0949

Austin Energy bill break down
10/26/06 to 11/28/2006
Total consumption KWH 1527
500.00 @ $.0355 per KWH $17.75
1027.00@ $.0602 per KWH $61.83
1527.00 @ $.03634 per KWH $55.49
Fuel charge sales tax $1.41
Customer charge $6.00
Anti-Litter residential charges $2.60
Comprehensive drainage fee $7.15
Transportation user Fee $2.75
Total Current Activity $154.98
My calculated price per unit $.1014

Note that the VA bill is a “Summer Bill” and the TX bill is a “Winter Bill.”

My goodness Glenn, where does your grandmother live, those numbers seem very high?

 

[DADoES]

LOL, my grandmother lives a couple miles down the road from me, but is on a different retail provider.

 

[appnut]

Just wait until I get my 14.x cents per kilowatt bill this week!!!!

 

[washoholic]

Bob, your bills should be going down since you got the FL.

Glenn, from what you said earlier, it sounds like we’re all going to be paying more in TX.

 

[appnut]

I sur hope so Jeff. And with the "Price to Beat" going away, it made quite a bit of headlines last weekend. We shall see what we shall see. Yes it baffles my mind a load of sweats is dried in 37 minutes total. Towels are 42 to 47 minutes, depending on load makeup. Button down dress shirts 23-26 minutes total.

 

[geoff]

OHH I think I've got you beat..

As of January 1st all of United Illuminating's customers rates have been increased by 50%.. Oil is now cheaper than electricity. Thank God cause my heating and hot water are all oil. The only thing electric is the dryer.. Last electric bill was over $200. My projected electric bill for this upcoming summer is over $700. At least I don't live on Candlewood Lake, last September my stylists electric bill was $1200...'Nuff said

 

[DADoES]

My provider is raising base rates by a small amount, claimed to be their first increase in 6 or 9 years (I forget which). However, they also claim the effective rate won't go up due to reductions on other parameters, and it may even be lower. Remains to be seen what are the end results.

 

[washoholic]

Well, Glenn, you should be set for the winter anyway with that nice “heat pump.” I’ll bet that saves a lot of electricity. And it has those cool defrost cycles, too, where the steam is just rolling off the unit.

 

[washoholic]

Welcome to the world of front loaders, Bob. How does it feel to know that you’ll never be waiting on the dryer again?

 

[appnut]

I had no bog downs at all doing 10 loads today and that included hanging up PP shirts too!! I was able to fold and put awaay towel loads as the next load wasghed and still dind't miss any of the balance routines/spins thereafter. Each load is like a snowflake, each one is different due to balancing and stuff. (I know, I'm sick!!). I enjoy my laundry channel lol.

 

[appnut]

I got my bill today. It was $123.32 for 847 kwh. Last yeaer it was $129.05 for 890 kwh. Maybe the new washer IS helping, given I've been keeping the heat at 68 at night rather than off-setting it down.

 

[washoholic]

I just got mine today, too. It was $214.32 for 2202 kWh, and last year in VA it was $80.66 for 860 kWh. It’s so close per unit that it’s almost the same. I keep my heat (Electric heat, no heat pump) on 72F for an hour and a half in the morning when I get up, 62F while I’m at work, 72F when I get home, and 62F when I go to bed. My condo is all electric.

In VA my range, heat, fireplace, water heater, and dryer were gas; hence the lower kWh usage.

Jeff

 

[sudsmaster]

OK, I took another look at my latest energy bill and got out the trusty calculator.

Total use for month of Nov 7-Dec 7: 521 Kwh. Total charges including taxes: 66.78.

Average cost per Kwh: 12.8 cents. That's a lot lower than I estimated, so this was a worthwhile endeavor.

Actual electricity tiers for my area are:

Baseline, 391 KWh (last year it was 330): .1143/Kwh
101-130% of baseline: .12989/Kwh
131-200% of Baseline: .22986/Kwh

From PG&E's rate book:

201-300% of baseline: .32146/Kwh
Over 300% of baseline: .36969/Kwh

Back in '97, before I made some changes to consumption, the monthly electric use was about 1,000 Kwh/month. Using the above rates, my November bill would have been another $130, or a total of 196.88 (not including additional taxes).

What is kind of vexing about these tiered rates is the double-talk on the part of the utility company. They give lower rates to business customers, saying that business customers are cheaper to serve per Kwh because they use more energy. So, if using more energy makes it cheaper per Kwh to provide the service, then charging three times as much to residential users for using more electricity per month is counter-intuitive. I realize that conservation is important, but I think business as well as residential customers should be encouraged to conserve via increasing tiered rates, as well. Instead, medium business customers are charged a flat rate per Kwh. OK, end of rate rant ;-)