[LUconn]

25% higher bills from now on. How about those apples? I don't like it one bit. Can anyone say cost of living raise?

[LUconn]

here's the story by the way

http://www.newsadvance.com/servlet/Sate ... ws!archive

edit: whatever I cant get the stupid thing to link right. just copy and paste

[El Scorcho]

That's okay, for now. We're approaching the time of year when all of my money goes to Columbia Gas of VA instead of AEP. Come spring I'll be hating it.

[Sly Fox]

Don't you guys have choice of providers in Virginia?

[SuperJon]

Nope.

[Sly Fox]

Ouch. I thought you guys had a Republican governor. That's surprising.

[Jasmen8182]

We have a pellet stove that helped cut down our gas bill big-time. Pellets have gone up and we need to start purchasing them in July....

[TallyW]

Virginia has had Democratic govenors the last two times around. Not since George Allen have we had a Republican. Politically the state has been much more of a toss-up.

[Purple Haize]

Can a brother get a nuclear power plant for crying out loud??? Oh noo wouldn't want cheap SAFE source of energy!!!

[LUconn]

seriously. nuclear is the way to go you freaking hippies.

[vastrightwinger]

I agree, nuclear power is the most efficient and cheapest form of power. We have several down here in Florida including one that took a direct hit during Hurricane Andrew and there was never a worry. I say bring it on!

[El Scorcho]

There was a nuclear power plant about 10 minutes down the road from where I grew up. It's all good until they test the local emergency sirens. Then it just becomes unsettling.

Having said that, I still like the nuclear option.

[ATrain]

My family is happy under Southside Electric Cooperative (uses coal and hydro-electric power).

And actually, the last Republican governor was Jim Gilmore.

[LUconn]

Just got my electric bill at the new rate. Maaaaaaaaaaaan, that's like twice as much as before.

[SuperJon]

Ours went from $60 this time last year to $112 in the apartment. I'm scared to know what it's going to be this month in the house.

[Sly Fox]

The good news is that the price of oil & natural gas has been dropping the past few days. Its down now to its lowest level since January 2005. That will eventually be reflected to some extent in your monthly bill.

Don't you guys have several energy companies to choose between? We regularly jump from company to company to get more competitive rates.

[LUconn]

well, isn't texas just the greatest thing since the invention of the iPhone.

[JDUB]

HAHA

[Sly Fox]

That wasn't my point. I thought everyone had competitive utility companies these days. If they don't in Virginia I'd be shocked.

[LUconn]

no, I've never even heard of such a thing. Even in Connecticut, a very densely populated area, they only have 2 carriers and they stay out of eachother's territory.

[SuperJon]

NC it's one carrier per region.

[Sly Fox]

We have choices between about 16-20 different companies. That's become the norm in most places where I do consultant work for the communications firm. You have the same people out working on your lines you just buy your energy units from different companies offering different rates and some of them only use alternative power sources (wind & solar). It changed down here several years ago. We probably have 15-20 energy companies based here in Houston selling power across the nation.

[LUconn]

Is there some sort of mini windmill power thing I can put in my yard? That would be interesting. Someone should invent that.

[Sly Fox]

Living on a mountaintop would make it feasible. But I'm not sure the reliability would be what you were looking for. It would have to store energy in some type of battery system that wouldn't make it as cost effective as it might sound.

[El Scorcho]

First of all, for Sly's benefit:

The Southside Electric Cooperative

You can find out all about "the benefits of choice" there.

And for LUconn, personal wind turbine generators are out there a'plenty. (For example, the SkyStream) In fact, in all but a few states, if your wind generator is cranking out more power than you're using, it actually inputs electricity to the grid and you get a credit on your electric bill. The only downside to the things is that they have to be pretty tall and most neighbors don't want to see one standing in your backyard. So, if you live on a few acres, it's an option. In the city? Notsomuch.