Electric rates... make me feel good (or bad)ff

[Chili]

My last invoice was for right at 1200 kWh as well, and the TDSP charges were about $44 as well. Here is the breakdown of mine:

Amount Description
$0.78 Customer Charge - Basic Customer Charge
$2.28 Metering Charge - Delivery Point Charge
$22.34 Distribution System Charge - Distribution Charge
$0.79 System Benefit Fund (SBF)
$0.20 Nuclear Decommissioning (NDF)
$0.73 Distribution System Charge
$1.09 Transition Charge (TC2)
$2.19 Advanced Metering Cost Recovery Factor
$1.23 Energy Efficiency Cost Recovery Factor (EECRF)
$0.04 Rate Case Expense Surcharge 2
$12.68 Transmission Cost Recovery Factor

[SSMAN]

The kicker to those rates is, they are based on 2000 kwh usages. I am at 7.5 cents, but that is based on 2000 kwh. Most of the time that puts me at different tier of around 8.4 cents at 1000 kph. But I am sure a lot of you can and will hit the 2000 kwh range.

[jyro]

I have gas heating (propane)

But I am sure a lot of you can and will hit the 2000 kwh range.

My biggest energy hog is the electric drier, refrigerator , freezer and all the parisitic transformers and tv's that draw when off. At least when I'm not in my shop with the welder and lights on that's about it. My largest kw hits in July and it's around 1850.

Chili, the botom line question is, do you pay about the same as me or can I get a locked in 12 month plan for less than I pay now. In my area, is the delivery charge the same for all the different providers, or do all providers cut different delivery fee contracts from TXU even for the same areas. Looking at all the different plans, it appears that all the delivery fees are different even within the same service area from different providers.

[Chili]

My biggest energy hog is the electric drier, refrigerator , freezer and all the parisitic transformers and tv's that draw when off. At least when I'm not in my shop with the welder and lights on that's about it. My largest kw hits in July and it's around 1850.

Chili, the botom line question is, do you pay about the same as me or can I get a locked in 12 month plan for less than I pay now. In my area, is the delivery charge the same for all the different providers, or do all providers cut different delivery fee contracts from TXU even for the same areas. Looking at all the different plans, it appears that all the delivery fees are different even within the same service area from different providers.

No, I pay much less, but what I pay is not necessarily what is commercially available as I get my energy from my employer.

The price is kind of small on the invoice you posted but it appears you are paying over 9 cents plus TDSP charges, which is too high IMO. Based on current prices you should be able to get somewhere between 7 and 10 cents all in, depending on the term and provider.

Your TDSP charges are the same regardless which provider you use, but as I mentioned earlier, some retailers build a portion, or all, into the price and some do not.

You should not pay more than about 9 cents (including tdsp charges) for a 12 month fixed price contract right now. Go to powertochoose.org and do some shopping. If you have a couple that you want to compare appples to apples then look at their EFLs.

[kpc01]

[QUOTE=Chili;941960]No, I pay much less, but what I pay is not necessarily what is commercially available as I get my energy from my employer.

The price is kind of small on the invoice you posted but it appears you are paying over 9 cents plus TDSP charges, which is too high IMO. Based on current prices you should be able to get somewhere between 7 and 10 cents all in, depending on the term and provider.

Your TDSP charges are the same regardless which provider you use, but as I mentioned earlier, some retailers build a portion, or all, into the price and some do not.

You should not pay more than about 9 cents (including tdsp charges) for a 12 month fixed price contract right now. Go to powertochoose.org and do some shopping. If you have a couple that you want to compare appples to apples then look at their EFLs.[/QUOTE/]

Chili,

I have a different question for you that a lot of folks can't help me with. I recently (August) installed solar panels. My current provider is locked in until March at .08 kwh which was a decent deal when I locked in. Unfortunately for me there is no mandate on buying back energy from residents like CA has and there aren't many that do.

I have my own spreadsheet I'm using to try to calculate what I would save if I switch but the only ones I know of charge a higher kwh price then what I pay now. Do you know if/when the law will come into TX to force providers to buy back energy? Also any recommendations as far as providers being that I have panels. I make a decent amount of excess energy each day.

[Blackpony]

Went and checked our last bill, used 649 kw and the bill was $69... I have no choice on electricity, have to use coserv... fml

[Rick Modena]

I'm getting fucked! I'm paying $0.12, and I just got locked in for 12 months and have to pay $150.00 if I want out, SHIT!

[The King]

8.9 cents per kwh, all fees included, regardless of usage.

New Leaf Energy, an Obammy-endorsed green energy provider.

[mstng86]

I'm getting fucked! I'm paying $0.12, and I just got locked in for 12 months and have to pay $150.00 if I want out, SHIT!

Over a years time, that $150 is nothing in savings.

[crapstang]

8.7 with the small town I live in

Whitesboro is worse than Gainesville....leave asap

[Chili]

Chili,

I have a different question for you that a lot of folks can't help me with. I recently (August) installed solar panels. My current provider is locked in until March at .08 kwh which was a decent deal when I locked in. Unfortunately for me there is no mandate on buying back energy from residents like CA has and there aren't many that do.

I have my own spreadsheet I'm using to try to calculate what I would save if I switch but the only ones I know of charge a higher kwh price then what I pay now. Do you know if/when the law will come into TX to force providers to buy back energy? Also any recommendations as far as providers being that I have panels. I make a decent amount of excess energy each day.

That is a very unique scenario and one that can trip up many people. The biggest issue of it is that you need to find a supplier that has a buy back program, otherwise the best you can hope for is a zero usage charge for the periods that you produce more than you consume. The guys out there that are selling the solar power equipment will often tell you that you can get credit for the power you put back onto the grid but rarely let you know that you have to find a retailer with that kind of product available in order to cash in.

As for any indication that laws will change to mandate that kind of program, your guess is as good as mine, but I would not count on it happening any time soon. Your best bet is going to be to put in the time on researching and contacting providers that may offer that type of program, and find out their program parameters.

A couple of things to consider...

Wholesale electricity prices change every hour of every day in Texas. Not only do they change 24 times a day, but every zone and hub has a different wholesale price. The trouble with electricity is that it is not able to be stored and cannot be saved for future use. So when there is low demand and excess energy is being produced prices will plummet, and the opposite is also true.

Even when you are able to produce more than you use, the time of day that you produce that excess energy will significantly impact what kind of credit you may receive. Peak usage hours will always net the highest price, and often during the off peak times, wholesale prices are next to nothing. So if you are producing excess energy during those off peak hours, you really are not going to see much benefit.

You will find that it will be very difficult to forecast actual cost savings since you would need to estimate what prices WILL be, and like many commodity markets, nobody can really see the future. If you go to http://ercot.com/ and look at the real time market settlement prices you will be able to get an understanding of how prices can fluctuate throughout the day.

I wish I could tell you more but what you are doing is still pretty uncommon in the Texas market and the complexity can create significant variances based on a number of variables. At best, I would say that you should only ever hope that you are realizing a net zero consumption from the grid and make all of your financial projections based on that assumption.

[mikeb]

I sure miss the 8.1 cents a minute that I was paying in Texas.

In California they have a tiered rate deal based on usage. Tier 1 is up to about 300kwh and it costs .13/kwh. Then you go into tier 2 which is about 95kwh @ .16kwh. Tier 3 comes up next - about 250kwh @ .26kw. There is also a tier 4 (@ .29/kwh) and a tier 5 (@ .33kw) but luckily I have stayed out of those.

I now understand the California hype about energy efficient appliances, weird light bulbs, and turning off lights.

I also saw gas today at 3.93/gallon

[Chili]

I sure miss the 8.1 cents a minute that I was paying in Texas.

In California they have a tiered rate deal based on usage. Tier 1 is up to about 300kwh and it costs .13/kwh. Then you go into tier 2 which is about 95kwh @ .16kwh. Tier 3 comes up next - about 250kwh @ .26kw. There is also a tier 4 (@ .29/kwh) and a tier 5 (@ .33kw) but luckily I have stayed out of those.

I now understand the California hype about energy efficient appliances, weird light bulbs, and turning off lights.

I also saw gas today at 3.93/gallon

California is actually partially deregulated. We have some business there.

[mikeb]

California is actually partially deregulated. We have some business there.

I'd much rather be in Texas, but the job is here. At least it pays enough to live out here. There is a lot to like, and a lot not to like about it.

[Chili]

I'd much rather be in Texas, but the job is here. At least it pays enough to live out here. There is a lot to like, and a lot not to like about it.

Oh I know all about that. I am from California and most of my family still lives there. There is a reason I have lived in Texas the last 13 years, and it is not because of my awesome job.