Electric rate question

[Aerovette]

This is a dumb question but I asked the billing company and could not get a straight answer for some reason.

If I have a plan that is, for example...

11 cents - 500kwh
8.2 cents - 1000kwh
and
6.0 cents - 2000kwh

Does this mean that I pay all three rates up to each threshold? ie. for 2500kwh I would pay for 999 at 11 cents, the next 1000 at 8.2 cents and the last 501 at 6 cents?

OR

Once I hit 2000kwh, is my entire usage based on the 6 cents? 2500 x 6 cents?

OR

Are both of these wrong?

[DAB]

11 cents/kwh for 0-500

8.2 cents/kwh for 501-1000

6 cents/kwh for 1001-2000

so if you used 1250 kWh, your bill would be:

0.11x500=$55

0.082x499 (1000-501) = $40.92

0.06x249 (1250-1001) = $14.94

total: 55+40.92+14.94 = $110.86

[Bill]

Start your search here:

Power To Choose | Home (http://powertochoose.org/)

This is the official ERCOT (state of Texas) run site that lists every power provider and plan available to you.

You have to read the fine print on every plan from every company offering electric service. Generally, the differences based on usage stem from a "fixed cost plus price per kW model. The more energy you use, the fixed cost per month gets diluted, and your average price goes down. But again, read the fine print, which is presented in the "electricity facts" and "terms of service" for each provider and each plan.

I recently switched, since electric prices have fallen, and ended up with a fairly simple plan.....7.74 cents/kW, no fixed monthly fee, and no fee for not using a certain amount of energy in a month. Plans with a penalty for not using 1,000kW/month are common, and a concern for me because I generally do not use anywhere close to that, except during the brutal Houston Summers.

Read carefully. One company has a plan that charges a flat fee for 0-500 kW, a different flat charge for 500-1000, yet a different flat fee for 1000-1500, etc., which is absolutely crazy, but sounds good until you research exactly how your bill will be calculated.

Almost all of the plans and companies will have a fee for terminating the contract early.

[Burro (He/Haw)]

I blame the commercial nuclear power industry for this confusion.

[Bill]

I blame the commercial nuclear power industry for this confusion.

Texas has some nuke plants, as well as lignite/coal, but natural gas pretty much sets the price for electricity here, and with natural gas at the low end thanks to fracking, electric prices are more reasonable here in Texas then they have been in years.

Texas also has deregulated electric markets in most areas, so while the "poles and wires" company is a regulated monopoly, you can choose from hundreds of providers to purchase your electricity from. Some of those companies actually own power plants, and others just buy wholesale power and sell retail.

[mrvette]

Texas has some nuke plants, as well as lignite/coal, but natural gas pretty much sets the price for electricity here, and with natural gas at the low end thanks to fracking, electric prices are more reasonable here in Texas then they have been in years.

Texas also has deregulated electric markets in most areas, so while the "poles and wires" company is a regulated monopoly, you can choose from hundreds of providers to purchase your electricity from. Some of those companies actually own power plants, and others just buy wholesale power and sell retail.

How in hell THAT work, how can some company pay the local utility and tie into the grid, and prove that it's their plant powering your house.....that shit is a billing scam like that thing out in CA. some years ago, ENRON?? that cost Arthur Anderson to fold/change name as they in it up to their asses....to me the power company is like PEPCO in the DC region, or our Clay Electric Co op.....that buys off the grid and is just a billing operation, they do own/maintain the lines though....I dunno if they have any power plants, never heard of one anyway...... :issues:

[Aerovette]

Start your search here:

Power To Choose | Home (http://powertochoose.org/)

This is the official ERCOT (state of Texas) run site that lists every power provider and plan available to you.

You have to read the fine print on every plan from every company offering electric service. Generally, the differences based on usage stem from a "fixed cost plus price per kW model. The more energy you use, the fixed cost per month gets diluted, and your average price goes down. But again, read the fine print, which is presented in the "electricity facts" and "terms of service" for each provider and each plan.

I recently switched, since electric prices have fallen, and ended up with a fairly simple plan.....7.74 cents/kW, no fixed monthly fee, and no fee for not using a certain amount of energy in a month. Plans with a penalty for not using 1,000kW/month are common, and a concern for me because I generally do not use anywhere close to that, except during the brutal Houston Summers.

Read carefully. One company has a plan that charges a flat fee for 0-500 kW, a different flat charge for 500-1000, yet a different flat fee for 1000-1500, etc., which is absolutely crazy, but sounds good until you research exactly how your bill will be calculated.

Almost all of the plans and companies will have a fee for terminating the contract early.

I'm using the powertochoose site for shopping. My average monthly usage is around 2000kwh. Problem is, it dips way down in the winter and there are many with minimum usage fees OR their below 2000kwh price is stupid.

I can't find the right combo.

[Bill]

I'm using the powertochoose site for shopping. My average monthly usage is around 2000kwh. Problem is, it dips way down in the winter and there are many with minimum usage fees OR their below 2000kwh price is stupid.

I can't find the right combo.

This one looks decent for you:

https://signup.mypioneerenergy.com/PDFDocs/EFLPECNPSIMPSAVERFXR12031416-21541.pdf

Full disclosure: I have never had any experience with that company and do not have any financial interest in any electric retail provider. Just going with your basic parameters.

[Stangkiller]

Shocker....I have a spreadsheet on this at the house. If I can find it I'll send it to you. But every year when I shop for rates I download my power usage by month, and compare what each plan would cost for my specific scenario. ~2700sqft house with two AC systems and gas heaters. In the winter I typically incur fees related to too little usage, but I make up for it in the summer.

[Stangkiller]

Ok, sorry i'm late in getting back to this...I have my power history pulled...updating for current offers/rate, my current plan expired last month too.

[Stangkiller]

11 cents/kwh for 0-500

8.2 cents/kwh for 501-1000

6 cents/kwh for 1001-2000

so if you used 1250 kWh, your bill would be:

0.11x500=$55

0.082x499 (1000-501) = $40.92

0.06x249 (1250-1001) = $14.94

total: 55+40.92+14.94 = $110.86

Not necessarily in our area I really have to say it depends. Some offer minimum usage credits that apply up to a certain amount, others offer rebates within a certain range or up to a certain amount. Each of these scenarios will make that 500, 1000 and 2000 price absolutely garbage. You really need to calculate for your specific expected usage, using all of the nuances of each plan, located on the plan facts pdf. Yes it's a pain, yes you should be able to understand nested if statements in excel, but it's worth it in my opinion.

Most of the plans start with the transport fee of
$5.47 and .038779/kwh plus the rate per kwh, let's use .07 and then they throw in credits so say an 85 credit if you use more than 1000kwh in a month. When shopping rates today, i only found one plan that actually changed energy cost based on usage, all the other variations were done by the credits/fees.

Oh and be aware of the hidden fees, such as credit card fees, ect.

[snide]

The power company that services my house charges me for the delivery of the electricity. The delivery charge is more than the electricity itself. And yet, I never see the delivery truck. Are they stealing from me?

[VatorMan]

My facility uses over 24 MWH. :leaving:


That's MEGA watts.

[Cybercowboy]

Hmmm, for me this is simple. Do I want electricity?

Yes: Then buy it from Empire District.

No: Don't buy it from Empire District.

[VatorMan]

I don't dare ask for the power bill at work...we have a 40 Megawatt feed. :)

Ours typically runs between 1-1.5 MM a month. We pay a flat .11 cents a KWH

[Bill]

So Aero, what did you get?

:waiting:

[Aerovette]

So Aero, what did you get?

:waiting:

I'm still under contract. No changes yet. :seasix: