Latest Breaking News

inanna

(3,547 posts) Sat Dec 13, 2014, 11:36 PM Dec 2014

Even Before Long Winter Begins, Energy Bills Send Shivers in New England

Source: New York Times

SALEM, N.H. — 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.

Now that the higher bills are starting to arrive, many stunned customers are finding the sticker shock much worse than they imagined. Mr. York said he would have to reduce his hours, avoid hiring any new employees, cut other expenses and ultimately pass the cost on to his customers.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/us/even-before-long-winter-begins-energy-bills-send-shivers-in-new-england.html?rref=us&module=Ribbon&version=context&region=Header&action=click&contentCollection=U.S.&pgtype=article

11 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Even Before Long Winter Begins, Energy Bills Send Shivers in New England (Original Post) inanna Dec 2014 OP

no kidding. NutmegYankee Dec 2014 #1

The New York Times has quite a conservative slant to the story progree Dec 2014 #2

When I was living in Downeast Maine nilesobek Dec 2014 #3

They Want More Pipelines. cynzke Dec 2014 #4

I beleive we can gain firm control of the energy beast by starving it. nilesobek Dec 2014 #5

With coal plants being knocked out, they are dependent on NG, Yo_Mama Dec 2014 #10

Was that bill for actual or estimated usage? PADemD Dec 2014 #6

They'll rip you off any way they can. Ineeda Dec 2014 #7

Really stupid comparison in the first few paragraphs karynnj Dec 2014 #8

such a scam heaven05 Dec 2014 #9

They should try this: DeSwiss Dec 2014 #11

NutmegYankee

(16,199 posts)

1. no kidding.

Reply to inanna (Original post)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 01:09 AM

Dec 2014

The electric rate just went up at an insane pace.

progree

(10,909 posts)

2. The New York Times has quite a conservative slant to the story

Reply to inanna (Original post)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 03:41 AM

Dec 2014

Last edited Sun Dec 14, 2014, 04:21 AM - Edit history (1)

The region has five pipeline systems now. Seven new projects have been proposed. But several of them — including a major gas pipeline through western Massachusetts and southern New Hampshire, and a transmission line in New Hampshire carrying hydropower from Quebec — have stalled because of ferocious opposition.

The concerns go beyond fears about blighting the countryside and losing property to eminent domain. Environmentalists say it makes no sense to perpetuate the region’s dependence on fossil fuels while it is trying to mitigate the effects of climate change, and many do not want to support the gas-extraction process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, that has made the cheap gas from Pennsylvania available.

...

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.

In other words, its all the environmentalist wackos' fault.

nilesobek

(1,423 posts)

3. When I was living in Downeast Maine

Reply to inanna (Original post)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 08:42 AM

Dec 2014

I was surprised to see that a lot of the property owners are building with solar. The homes are really nice, in the 300,000 to 700,000$ dollar range in value. Solar water heaters are common. Outhouses are the norm for waste but usually an indoor toilet is installed but rarely used.

It rains a lot there, more than I had ever seen in my life but they are hip to Con-Edison, and even though they are mostly professional contractors, they prefer alternate energy. They use wood heat, the New England forest there has an astounding regrowth rate. I noticed they were energy management conscious also, reminding me to turn off light switches etc.

With oil prices in decline, why the jacking of electric and gas rates again?

cynzke

(1,254 posts)

4. They Want More Pipelines.

Reply to nilesobek (Reply #3)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 08:56 AM

Dec 2014

Is there a shortage or is this an artificial ploy? Are they withholding product to force public approval?

nilesobek

(1,423 posts)

5. I beleive we can gain firm control of the energy beast by starving it.

Reply to cynzke (Reply #4)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 09:04 AM

Dec 2014

Good questions. Who knows how far they will go?

Yo_Mama

(8,303 posts)

10. With coal plants being knocked out, they are dependent on NG,

Reply to cynzke (Reply #4)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 01:09 PM

Dec 2014

and there are not enough pipelines to carry the needed fuel. It is very, very expensive to truck it in.

Solar is almost no help in an New England winter. The transmission line from the hydro source would help.

http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2014/11/electricity_supply_sufficient_but_region.html

PADemD

(4,482 posts)

6. Was that bill for actual or estimated usage?

Reply to inanna (Original post)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 09:15 AM

Dec 2014

The electric companies in PA only read the meters every other month, at best. The rest of the time the bills are sometimes over estimated. One acquaintance got a $1,800 monthly bill for a home where everyone was either at work or school during the day.

We got wise to this practice two years ago after receiving an estimated bill for over $200 and started reading our meter and phoning in the reading.

IMO, over estimating could result in a nice chunk of change for the electric company each month.

I pity the seniors who cannot get outside to read their meters.

Ineeda

(3,626 posts)

7. They'll rip you off any way they can.

Reply to inanna (Original post)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 10:15 AM

Dec 2014

Here in Florida, we're paying the electric company for a nuclear power plant that was never built (and probably never will be.)

karynnj

(59,504 posts)

8. Really stupid comparison in the first few paragraphs

Reply to inanna (Original post)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 11:09 AM

Dec 2014

Reading further the rate increase is 37% - which is huge, but not 110%. Therefore his usage actually DID increase substantially vs October.

The entire national electric grid is clearly not efficient - or you could not have prices in one area that are double the other. The problems with the national grid were raised at least 10 years ago by people like Al Gore and John Kerry.

heaven05

(18,124 posts)

9. such a scam

Reply to inanna (Original post)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 11:37 AM

Dec 2014

by these 'energy' giants. These companies are destroying americans ability to survive and hopefully prosper a little bit. What a scam!!!!

DeSwiss

(27,137 posts)

11. They should try this:

Reply to inanna (Original post)

Sun Dec 14, 2014, 01:34 PM

Dec 2014

- I know, I know, over-unity isn't possible. Except maybe in this case.......

K&R

BTW: Inanna (AKA: Lillith, Adam's 1st wife -- the one who wouldn't turn over) is one of my favorite goddesses.....

Reply to this discussion