> << Another part of the law allows a "streamlined" building process for new
> plants. No where was nuclear mentioned but I suspect that is the next
> step. >>
>
> Power prices are going
> up quickly and will negate or even overtake the cost-of-living raises
I would be interested in knowing what sort of prices and price increases
are going on and where, if you don't mind sharing that information. My
state is cheerfully selling deregulation to the public as a way to lower
costs and save the planet, but any half-wit knows that the lowered costs
will be enjoyed only by those purchasing in huge blocks, while the
higher costs in air pollution and other disutilities will be enjoyed by
all of us.
I am in Middlesex County, NJ (USA) and the price of electricity on my
last bill of August 2000 was 11.6 cents per kWh for the first 600 kWh
and 13.0 cents per kWh for the next 28 kWh. My total usage was 628 kWh.
The bill has recently become more difficult to understand. I have
continuous records for the last 8 years, so I have a pretty good basis
for saying so. You know something is up when there is an insert with
your bill which begins with "We have made it easier for you to
understand your bill.."
There is a supply charge and a delivery charge. Both appear to be based
on usage, they are roughly equal, so my figures above are the sum of
both. There is also a service charge and who knows what that's based
on, and a "restructuring rate reduction," also with no information
provided.
Now for the gas bill. The unit used is the "therm" which is not a
familiar unit to me. I suppose it is cubic feet corrected for
temperature. The first 11.102 therms was billed at 67.9 cents per therm
and the next 11.897 therms was billed at 63.6 cents per therm. About a
third of that is the delivery charge. The cost differential for
quantity is based on delivery, not usage; that is, the gas costs the
same no matter how much I use but the price per unit goes down as I use
more because the unit delivery charge goes down. There is also a
service charge.
In August 1999, my gas charges were 66.8 cents per therm for the entire
21.05 therms. The service charges were the same.
In August 1999, my electric charges were really amusing.
For the first 280 kWh, 12.2 cents per kWh
For the next 68 kWh, 13.4 " " "
For the next 320 kWh, 11.2 " " "
For the next 79 kWh, 12.7 " " "
For a grand total of 747 kWh
There's also a service charge and a "rate reduction" credit.
Plus some happy marketing blather about how wonderful the new bill
format is and how great savings from the impending deregulation.
We do not have any vendors of "green energy" to choose from. So much
for the happy predictions about how we could all switch to solar
electric once we got the wonderful deregulation.
Relative to the hair raising costs of housing and the property tax
increases where I live, utilities are a pittance which nobody who isn't
looking for it would even notice. Since I am interested in the
environmental impacts, and not on how much things cost in dollars, I
notice.
Hoping for some info from other places!
Loren Muldowney
