Energy Bills Send Shivers in New England

[dmcowen674]

12-14-2014

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/u...y-bills-send-shivers-in-new-england.html?_r=1

Energy Bills Send Shivers in New England



John York, who owns a small printing business here, nearly fell out of his chair the other day when he opened his electric bill.
For October, he had paid $376. For November, with virtually no change in his volume of work and without having turned up the thermostat in his two-room shop, his bill came to $788, a staggering increase of 110 percent. “This is insane,” he said, shaking his head. “We can’t go on like this.”


For months, utility companies across New England have been warning customers to expect sharp price increases, for which the companies blame the continuing shortage of pipeline capacity to bring natural gas to the region.

New England already pays the highest electricity rates of any region in the 48 contiguous states because it has no fossil fuels of its own and has to import all of its oil, gas and coal. In September, residential customers in New England paid an average retail price of 17.67 cents per kilowatt-hour; the national average was 12.94 cents.

National Grid, the largest utility in Massachusetts, expects prices to rise to 24.24 cents, a record high.

 

[dmcowen674]

Curious to see what New Englanders do about this.

Once upon a time they started a Revolution.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I feel sorry for those who live up there and don't have alternate means of heating their houses (wood stoves). Even if funding was put in place to build additional natural gas pipelines right now they would be lucky if they're online by winter next year.

 

[DrPizza]

Older inadequately insulated buildings. Heating with electric - one of the least efficient methods to heat a house in the northeast, an area where it's particularly cold. Heating with gas - 90% efficiency. Heating with coal, wood pellets, etc. - higher efficiency. Heating with electric: while nearly 100% efficient at the home, the process to convert fossil fuels to electricity is far from 100% efficient. Very few people in the northeast heat with electricity. I don't feel too sorry for the ones who do. There are plenty of alternatives. And, for the price of the one month increase in heating costs in the article, the R-value of the insulation in the attic could be increased significantly.

 

[Bitek]

I feel sorry for those who live up there and don't have alternate means of heating their houses (wood stoves). Even if funding was put in place to build additional natural gas pipelines right now they would be lucky if they're online by winter next year.

Wood heat should be relatively plentiful in in the NE due to all all the hardwoods.

I love my stove, but it's not for everyone. It's a lot of work and it's messy compared to just firing up the furnace.

Not only that, it takes planning and space to have a good wood pile. I'll burn at least 3 cords this winter, and I have racks for storing another 2-3 for seasoning for next year.

Nothing beats a roaring fire in the stove tho. I've been waiting for it to get cold enough to fire it up.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

My City changed electric companies, rate is essentially the same rate as it was before the price hike. 4 year price guarantee and the town is not committed to use them (no termination clause)

 

[boomerang]

Curious to see what New Englanders do about this.

I don't see any reason why they'd do anything. The entire area voted for Obama in both elections. This is what they wanted and they're getting it. They should smile as they write the checks. It's not like he didn't tell the world this was his plan.

 

[Chaotic42]

Our flood insurance costs went up to absurd levels after Katrina and we were told that's what we get for living somewhere prone to floods. If I were an ass I might suggest that's what they get for living somewhere so cold, but I won't.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I don't see any reason why they'd do anything. The entire area voted for Obama in both elections. This is what they wanted and they're getting it. They should smile as they write the checks. It's not like he didn't tell the world this was his plan.

Or like my City change electric companies.

 

[feralkid]

I don't see any reason why they'd do anything. The entire area voted for Obama in both elections. This is what they wanted and they're getting it. They should smile as they write the checks. It's not like he didn't tell the world this was his plan.

You are such a goober.

 

[LTC8K6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regional_Greenhouse_Gas_Initiative

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2014/12/coming-soon-to-a-utility-bill-near-you.php

A year ago, the governors of the six New England states agreed to pursue a coordinated regional strategy, including more pipelines and at least one major transmission line for hydropower. The plan called for electricity customers in all six states to subsidize the projects, on the theory that they would make up that money in lower utility bills.

But in August, the Massachusetts Legislature rejected the plan, saying in part that cheap energy would flood the market and thwart attempts to advance wind and solar projects. That halted the whole effort.

 

[OverVolt]

Older inadequately insulated buildings. Heating with electric - one of the least efficient methods to heat a house in the northeast, an area where it's particularly cold. Heating with gas - 90% efficiency. Heating with coal, wood pellets, etc. - higher efficiency. Heating with electric: while nearly 100% efficient at the home, the process to convert fossil fuels to electricity is far from 100% efficient. Very few people in the northeast heat with electricity. I don't feel too sorry for the ones who do. There are plenty of alternatives. And, for the price of the one month increase in heating costs in the article, the R-value of the insulation in the attic could be increased significantly.

It looks like Nat Gas capacity is actually the reason and they would save a boatload of money heating with electric and cutting down the number of rooms they heat in winter... from the sounds of it.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Very few people in the northeast heat with electricity. I don't feel too sorry for the ones who do. There are plenty of alternatives.

Hmm. I'm in an apt, that has electric heat. Thankfully, the price of the electricity is included in the rent.

I do DC in the winter, it heats the apt. I have the heat set at a very minimal level (60F). It's fairly comfortable in here.

 

[cabri]

Implement nuclear energy to provided electricity.

But you have the NIMBY issue to kill those ideas.

 

[dfuze]

Last year wasn't too bad because I was able to offset the cost a bit with litecoin mining, so I made some money and added a little extra heat with the video cards. Back to usual now, keep the temp down in the house, curtains open during the day to capture plenty of sunlight, and keep stocking up on oil while the price is currently "low".

 

[Jaskalas]

Let's close another coal plant, just in case you still had the lights on.

 

[OutHouse]

blame it on Obama and his renewable energy plan.

 

[Blanky]

Questionable article. Rates didn't go up 110% in Salem, nh over a one month period.

Edit: googled it. Wow yeah that is nasty, some customers are getting hit with a huge increase but it is not the entire bill--only the supply. Salem electricity bills did not increase 110%, though. Less if you do the math but the article didn't bother.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

I guess the availability of natural gas won't get better anytime soon

http://www.nofrackedgasinmass.org/the-proposed-pipeline/

They may want to look into building LNG terminals and having the LNG shipped in via tankers.

 

[glenn1]

I guess the availability of natural gas won't get better anytime soon

http://www.nofrackedgasinmass.org/the-proposed-pipeline/

They may want to look into building LNG terminals and having the LNG shipped in via tankers.

But that would generate carbons emissions. Let the fuckers freeze, they can warm themselves by knowing how much they're helping the environment and stopping global warming.

 

[Drako]

Blame the Carbon Tax Thugs.

 

[QuantumPion]

For October, he had paid $376. For November, with virtually no change in his volume of work and without having turned up the thermostat in his two-room shop, his bill came to $788, a staggering increase of 110 percent.

Wait, you mean it's colder outside in November than October? Holy shit, stop the presses.

Besides, isn't this exactly what Obama wanted?

"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times, That's not leadership. That's not going to happen."

 

[shira]

Let's close another coal plant, just in case you still had the lights on.

Yeah, let's convert all power plants back to coal. Because the only valid consideration is the direct cost of energy, and coal is cheap. Just ask the Chinese; they know.

Come to think of it, we could drastically reduce the cost of automobiles if we got rid of all those pesky safety standards. And what about those OSHA standards and child-labor laws? We could make things MUCH cheaper if only we allowed American companies to follow the third-world-country model.

Yep, cheaper should always be the determining factor in any decision.

 

[Sir Thumpsalot]

Wait, you mean it's colder outside in November than October? Holy shit, stop the presses.

Besides, isn't this exactly what Obama wanted?

"We can't drive our SUVs and eat as much as we want and keep our homes on 72 degrees at all times, That's not leadership. That's not going to happen."

Jimmy Carter 2.0. Nothing more can be said. And for those who lived through Jimmy Carter 1.0's presidency, you likely know what I'm talking about.

Neither one knows anything about leadership.