I just paid my combined Gas and Electric bill. $12.34 !!! That is the result of having surplus solar electricity AND taking warm (not hot!) showers after my morning Pedal Generator workout, AND pedaling an electric blanket to warm the bed every night, AND having south facing windows, AND insulating like crazy, AND living in the Bay Area instead of Fairbanks.
So - I look over the bill. My helpful Electric Company (who will not credit me for the more than $150 of SURPLUS electricity my PV panels are giving them to SELL to my neighbors) wants me to understand my charges, so they carefully explain why I pay anything at all to them.
Here is the last sentence on the bill:
"DWR is collecting 6.932 cents per kWh from bundled customers for each kWh it provides plus the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment component of the Cost Responsibility Surcharge from direct access and transitional bundled service customers."
I will send $10 US to the first person who can fully explain that sentence to not just me, but this forum (I'll do a poll and we will decide collectively whether the sentence is fully explained).
These are some of the people who we are all TRUSTING to lead us forward through the Energy s**tstorm we are facing. I sense the "Mushroom Theory" at work. I am SO glad I am not contributing to the success of this company through rampant consumerism.
SolarDave
PeakOil is You
Power companies: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
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Power companies: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by SolarDave » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 01:52:17
100% of the electricity needed for this post was generated by ME.
http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/green_virtual_gym.html
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http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/green_virtual_gym.html
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SolarDave - Coal
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by Kristen » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 02:21:07
I don't know the answer to the question, but I have a question for you. Is there a way you could just get off the electrical grid but still use your solar panels to provide energy to your home? That seems like a solution to your annoyance.
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by Flowerr » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 03:03:13
they are not here to help you
They are here to make money.
So, just go complain a lot if you have nothing to do, if yo are busy forget it.
They are here to make money.
So, just go complain a lot if you have nothing to do, if yo are busy forget it.
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by SolarDave » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 04:17:46
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Kristen', 'I') don't know the answer to the question, but I have a question for you. Is there a way you could just get off the electrical grid but still use your solar panels to provide energy to your home? That seems like a solution to your annoyance.
I am one generation of battery technology away from that. I only use recycled batteries - the current pedal battery bank came used from an electric car - and recycled lead acid batteries are too large (due to their low capacity) for the space I have to run the house for 2-5 days of stormy weather. I don't want to own that much lead either.
I expect "tired" LiFEPO4 batteries will be the answer. I have several years to wait.
100% of the electricity needed for this post was generated by ME.
http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/green_virtual_gym.html
Posted from a Pedal Powered Computer
http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/green_virtual_gym.html
Posted from a Pedal Powered Computer
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SolarDave - Coal
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by jasonraymondson » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 04:31:53
Sure, I will take a crack at this.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')DWR is collecting 6.932 cents per kWh from bundled customers for each kWh it provides plus the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment component of the Cost Responsibility Surcharge from direct access and transitional bundled service customers."
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')DWR is collecting 6.932 cents per kWh from bundled customers for each kWh it provides plus the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment component of the Cost Responsibility Surcharge from direct access and transitional bundled service customers."
"We a is a goin rape you and laugh at you while we give you incomprehensible garbage to read"
That would be the exact translation, you can just send me money via paypal jeremiah@peakoil.com
For actuality
bundled customers = a group of customers who fit into a certain marketing and business plan, based on their usage as well as based on other factors such as income, age, location i.e. neighborhood, ethnic background *not sure about the last one
Cost responsibility surcharge
is a fancy confusing name for "a charge for people who get their primary electricity from anyone or anything other than their local or regional electric utility
Power Charge Indifference Adjustment component
Is a built in pricing policy that refers to the agreement that each utility has with the region, city, state, community that they do business with. The agreement in most normal circumstances is, that each member of the community should receive their electricity from and only from that company. This enables companies to make deals that allow them to offer electrical costs at lower rates, as their risks are lower. By choosing to receive your electricity elsewhere the utility has chosen to to charge you the built in agreed to cost responsibility surcharge that your city agreed to.
Plus the surcharge is added to everyones bill irregardless. They do this so that they can average out a higher return. Since each customer uses different amounts of wattage. In places like the midwest where I live, the surcharge is generally higher than places like the bay area which in most normal circumstances has a general year round temperature with less fluctuation.
I hope this answered your question
Last edited by jasonraymondson on Fri 29 Feb 2008, 13:15:22, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by jasonraymondson » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 13:10:52
So does this mean I win? lol
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by Ferretlover » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 13:15:55
This reminds of me when we lived in Wisconsin.
On our power bill was a monthly $3.50 charge.
The purpose? "To guarantee that the power company would be able to provide power."
I kid you not.
On our power bill was a monthly $3.50 charge.
The purpose? "To guarantee that the power company would be able to provide power."
I kid you not.
"Open the gates of hell!" ~Morgan Freeman's character in the movie, Olympus Has Fallen.
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by Pretorian » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 17:36:47
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('SolarDave', ' ')I am SO glad I am not contributing to the success of this company through rampant consumerism.
You contribute more than a few of your neighbours combined, in fact. How much do these $150 of electricity cost to you?- Pretorian
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by kpeavey » Fri 29 Feb 2008, 19:07:03
pay the bill
we keep giving you electricity
nobody gets hurt
we keep giving you electricity
nobody gets hurt
If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face--for ever."
-George Orwell, 1984
_____
twenty centuries of stony sleep were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, and what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
-George Yeats
-George Orwell, 1984
_____
twenty centuries of stony sleep were vexed to nightmare by a rocking cradle, and what rough beast, its hour come round at last, slouches towards Bethlehem to be born?
-George Yeats
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Re: Yes, there is a conspiracy.
by SolarDave » Sat 01 Mar 2008, 03:12:33
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jasonraymondson', 'S')ure, I will take a crack at this.
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')DWR is collecting 6.932 cents per kWh from bundled customers for each kWh it provides plus the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment component of the Cost Responsibility Surcharge from direct access and transitional bundled service customers."
$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', '"')DWR is collecting 6.932 cents per kWh from bundled customers for each kWh it provides plus the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment component of the Cost Responsibility Surcharge from direct access and transitional bundled service customers."
"We a is a goin rape you and laugh at you while we give you incomprehensible garbage to read"
That would be the exact translation, you can just send me money via paypal jeremiah@peakoil.com
For actuality
bundled customers = a group of customers who fit into a certain marketing and business plan, based on their usage as well as based on other factors such as income, age, location i.e. neighborhood, ethnic background *not sure about the last one
Cost responsibility surcharge
is a fancy confusing name for "a charge for people who get their primary electricity from anyone or anything other than their local or regional electric utility
Power Charge Indifference Adjustment component
Is a built in pricing policy that refers to the agreement that each utility has with the region, city, state, community that they do business with. The agreement in most normal circumstances is, that each member of the community should receive their electricity from and only from that company. This enables companies to make deals that allow them to offer electrical costs at lower rates, as their risks are lower. By choosing to receive your electricity elsewhere the utility has chosen to to charge you the built in agreed to cost responsibility surcharge that your city agreed to.
Plus the surcharge is added to everyones bill irregardless. They do this so that they can average out a higher return. Since each customer uses different amounts of wattage. In places like the midwest where I live, the surcharge is generally higher than places like the bay area which in most normal circumstances has a general year round temperature with less fluctuation.
I hope this answered your question
Oh man, that's close. I see the dots, but they are not quite connected. Does it mean:
The Department of Water Resources is DWR is collecting 6.932 cents per kWh from a specific target group of customers [probably YOU SolarDave, since you dare to generate your own power] for each kWh it provides plus the [buy-it-from-us-or-else-we-will-stick-it-to-you fee component] of the [yes, we will bill you for NOT using our power! surcharge] from {direct access and transitional bundled service customers}.
If you can tackle the last part in braces, I'll be pressing Enter on that payment. How does this sentence work with "bundled customers" mentioned in it twice? Even if the words made sense the sentence does not. Is the first group of "bundled customers" different than the second group of "bundled customers?"
Is this all one clause:
the Power Charge Indifference Adjustment component of the Cost Responsibility Surcharge from direct access and transitional bundled service customers
in other words "that chunk of cash we get because you are either a transitional or bundled service customer and we have monopoly power over you thanks to the agreements we have with your community, and by generating your own power, you guarantee us that cash" - do I have that right?
<shakes piggybank>
100% of the electricity needed for this post was generated by ME.
http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/green_virtual_gym.html
Posted from a Pedal Powered Computer
http://www.los-gatos.ca.us/davidbu/pedgen/green_virtual_gym.html
Posted from a Pedal Powered Computer
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SolarDave - Coal
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