New Member from SoCal

[slinthicum]

I'm a new member located where the cost of electricity is the highest in the Nation. I detail that cost in an article I wrote that can be viewed HERE. Through effective long-term planning and completion of projects, I've managed to stay financially ahead of the increased costs.

Steve

[Mike 134]

Whoa....... glad I'm in the midwest with our nuke plants.

[slinthicum]

I live about 20 miles south of the San Onofre Nuclear Powerplant, which permanently closed in 2013. Yes, one of the items on my bill relates specifically to the costs associated with decommissioning the plant.

[RichardCullip]

I live about 20 miles south of the San Onofre Nuclear Powerplant, which permanently closed in 2013. Yes, one of the items on my bill relates specifically to the costs associated with decommissioning the plant.

I wouldn't worry about the Nuclear Decommissioning Charge as it is so tiny ($0.00007/kWh). It typically adds a penny to my SDG&E bill.

[J.P.M.]

I'm a new member located where the cost of electricity is the highest in the Nation. I detail that cost in an article I wrote that can be viewed HERE. Through effective long-term planning and completion of projects, I've managed to stay financially ahead of the increased costs.

Steve

While the rates are certainly high in CA, at least for the I.O.U.'s, I believe that statement could use some clarification.
Residential rates ? commercial rates ? T.O.U. customers ? Tiered rate customers ?

For residential rates (which is what most of the readers of this forum are concerned about). and as an example, I have homes in zips 92026 (N. county San Diego) and 92253 (La Quinta, CA).

For SDG & E residential tariffs and schedules in 92026, the average rates per kWh for those on some T.O.U. schedule are pretty dependent on which schedule and also usage patterns.
As such they may be higher or lower than rates and resulting bills in other areas or states.
Some parts of New England come to mind as does Hawaii.

Also, there are many (non I.O.U.) CA POCOs with rates and rate schedules that can result in bills that would generate residential bills substantially below the same bills incurred by customers of one of the big 3 CA I.O.U.'s.

As an example, for my 92026 residence, if I didn't have PV, using my immediately prior 12 month usage and most recent SDG & E rate schedule I'm on (schedule DR), based on (total bill/total usage) my average cost per kWh would be $0.40288/kWh.
For the 92253 residence and service from IID (Imperial Irrigation District), if I had the same usage and usage pattern as my San Diego co. residence, the current average cost per kWh would be about $0.23210/kWh.

[Mike 134]

While the rates are certainly high in CA, at least for the I.O.U.'s, I believe that statement could use some clarification.
Residential rates ? commercial rates ? T.O.U. customers ? Tiered rate customers ?

For residential rates (which is what most of the readers of this forum are concerned about). and as an example, I have homes in zips 92026 (N. county San Diego) and 92253 (La Quinta, CA).

For SDG & E residential tariffs and schedules in 92026, the average rates per kWh for those on some T.O.U. schedule are pretty dependent on which schedule and also usage patterns.
As such they may be higher or lower than rates and resulting bills in other areas or states.
Some parts of New England come to mind as does Hawaii.

Also, there are many (non I.O.U.) CA POCOs with rates and rate schedules that can result in bills that would generate residential bills substantially below the same bills incurred by customers of one of the big 3 CA I.O.U.'s.

As an example, for my 92026 residence, if I didn't have PV, using my immediately prior 12 month usage and most recent SDG & E rate schedule I'm on (schedule DR), based on (total bill/total usage) my average cost per kWh would be $0.40288/kWh.
For the 92253 residence and service from IID (Imperial Irrigation District), if I had the same usage and usage pattern as my San Diego co. residence, the current average cost per kWh would be about $0.23210/kWh.

Thanks for the followup. I see he's trying to pedal "moneysaving" devices if you read his article.

Shouldn't his post get moved to the vendor section?

[slinthicum]

I resent the comment "I see he's trying to pedal "moneysaving" devices." As you will note in my LinkedIn profile, I'm a college professor, finishing up that teaching career at the end of this Spring Semester. I received no compensation for writing what is a truthful and factually based article. I was asked by the people by Emporia if it was OK to post the article on their blog. As a teacher, always interested in providing accurate information designed to educate others. Hence the reason I agreed to its publication.

As to J.P.M's comment, the basis for my comment, as noted in the article, was:
"According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Diego has the highest energy rates in the United States."

Sure there are programs out there designed to provide lower costs based upon situations (e.g. SDG&E's CARE program). but I believe it is reasonable and appropriate to reference BLS reported findings.

[SunEagle]

I resent the comment "I see he's trying to pedal "moneysaving" devices." As you will note in my LinkedIn profile, I'm a college professor, finishing up that teaching career at the end of this Spring Semester. I received no compensation for writing what is a truthful and factually based article. I was asked by the people by Emporia if it was OK to post the article on their blog. As a teacher, always interested in providing accurate information designed to educate others. Hence the reason I agreed to its publication.

As to J.P.M's comment, the basis for my comment, as noted in the article, was:
"According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Diego has the highest energy rates in the United States."

Sure there are programs out there designed to provide lower costs based upon situations (e.g. SDG&E's CARE program). but I believe it is reasonable and appropriate to reference BLS reported findings.

No problem. The reason they may have mentioned your post that way is because we have had other people make posts with links that are selling something so it is possible that poster may be a little touchy.

[slinthicum]

Thanks for the reply.

[Mike 134]

I resent the comment "I see he's trying to pedal "moneysaving" devices." As you will note in my LinkedIn profile, I'm a college professor, finishing up that teaching career at the end of this Spring Semester. I received no compensation for writing what is a truthful and factually based article. I was asked by the people by Emporia if it was OK to post the article on their blog. As a teacher, always interested in providing accurate information designed to educate others. Hence the reason I agreed to its publication.

As to J.P.M's comment, the basis for my comment, as noted in the article, was:
"According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Diego has the highest energy rates in the United States."

Sure there are programs out there designed to provide lower costs based upon situations (e.g. SDG&E's CARE program). but I believe it is reasonable and appropriate to reference BLS reported findings.

If you don't want to be mistaken for a peddler post a link to your work without merchandise for sale attached to it.

I look forward to your contributions to the site without links to peddle merchandise. I'll then apologize.

[J.P.M.]

As to J.P.M's comment, the basis for my comment, as noted in the article, was:
"According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, San Diego has the highest energy rates in the United States."

Sure there are programs out there designed to provide lower costs based upon situations (e.g. SDG&E's CARE program). but I believe it is reasonable and appropriate to reference BLS reported findings.

I'd suggest the BLS data is valid as far as it goes, but there are several if not many other sources of such data probably just as valid (cf EIA data being one such source) that use different parameters.
I'm not taking issue with the BLM data. Hell, its # for San Diego gets pretty close to my actual, current per kWh cost. I also like other sources (cf. EIA data as one example).
Meant as constructive criticism , one source for a blanket statement seems a bit thin for backup.

What I am suggesting is that since it's only one source with a particular (and at this time unknown to this forum) method to calculate the cost of a delivered kWh of electricity, and since other methodologies used by other sources are probably different, until examined and shown invalid, those other sources of data can also be considered as valid.

Bottom line, I think you're either cherry picking, or parochial about your POCO, or not as informed about utility rates, policies and available data sources as might be necessary discuss the matter in a more informed way.

I'm sure not a fan of SDG & E, but having studied CA POCO policies and tariffs for quite a while, my somewhat informed but still ignorant opinion is that, on balance, most all the customers of the big 3 CA I.O.U.'s, on average, pretty much all pay about the same price per kWh for power +/- a bit. Meanwhile, most all the customers of the smaller, coops and such pretty much pay quite a bit less per delivered kWh. So, what's so special about SDG & E ?

BTW: "Those who can, do. Those who can't, teach." Seen that all my adult life.

Take what you want of the above. Scrap the rest.

[slinthicum]

Solar Fanatic, I suspect that if there was a problem with BLM's information, SDG&E is certainly capable of voicing objection to the designation, but as far as I've been able to ascertain, sources like San Diego's Channel 8 making claim to this designation have gone unanswered.

Mike 134, I suggest that you reread SunEagle's response. I take value in their decision, not your incorrect conclusion.

[Ampster]

I have tried a lot of devices and for real time management I have found the Emporia to be very useful. I often charge my EVs during the day and it is helpful to vary the charging current as the solar production varies. Emporia offers a charger that can do that automatically.
The process discussed by bcroe and J.P.M. are also useful to reduce vampire loads.

[J.P.M.]

Solar Fanatic, I suspect that if there was a problem with BLM's information, SDG&E is certainly capable of voicing objection to the designation, but as far as I've been able to ascertain, sources like San Diego's Channel 8 making claim to this designation have gone unanswered.

As I wrote, I'm not a fan of the POCOs, but if SDG & E took time to respond to all negative comments, they'd be fools indeed. What would be the point ? They already know no one likes them. And, that no one likes them makes them easy targets for the media slugs.

As for the CA I.O.U. POCO rates being high, while that is probably true, my opinion, FWIW, is that similar to gasoline prices, most folks are abysmally ignorant about electricity rates and the rate setting process with the real rub being the bottom line of a monthly bill. All that ignorance makes such folks vulnerable to peddlers selling useless stuff.

One rather simple (if partial) answer to both situations is to be proactive, get informed about energy use and use less of the costly product rather than simply bitching about how badly we're all getting screwed, feeling helpless and in our search for simple answers falling prey to those hucksters and conmen peddling complicated, costly and unnecessary stuff that has dubious effectiveness.

In a very real sense, such stuff enables us to remain ignorant of or ignoring what the real problem is while allowing us to think we know what the problem is, that being simple, profligate waste of resources. That's the real con.

[slinthicum]

What is clearly evident is the political winds dictate where rates fall. I'm on an ad-hoc committee for my HOA, charged with the responsibility of determining if it makes sense to install a rooftop solar system on our clubhouse. If the charge for utilities provided by SDG&E were at the same level residential customers pay it would be easy to support the installation. That isn't the case as the commercial rates paid by the HOA last month averaged $0.26/kWh for electricity and $1.57/therm for natural gas.