Electricity

[Fox McCloud]

I had a quick question....if the price of everything is going up do to inflation, why not the price of electricity?

 

[RSLudlum]

be patient,,,it's coming

 

[coyote_sprit]

Are you worried that if you use too much of the sun it will run out?

I need some solar panels.

 

[Mahkato]

Are you worried that if you use too much of the sun it will run out?

Say what?

 

[coyote_sprit]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ9o1KHi-mY

 

[Kludge]

Are you worried that if you use too much of the sun it will run out?

I need some solar panels.

Sun can't burn forever....

 

[Acala]

In the pipeline

Increases in the price of electricity are in the pipeline (haha). They are often delayed by State laws regulating utilities. But they are coming. Here in Arizona a rate increase has just been approved and I believe they are working on a floating fuel surcharge.

That's why I just installed a 2kw solar electric system on my home. There is a $2000 Federal tax credit (which may not last). And in my location, there is also a $1000 State tax credit and a rebate from the power company of $3000 per installed kilowatt - plus they maintain the system for free! It still will cost me about $7000 bottom line. Even with energy costs at their present level, it is not a bad investment - 3-4% return on principal invested AND inflation proof. By contract, the electric company credits me 1:1 for all excess energy I feed into the grid and counts it against any power I pull out of the grid.

Plus, if the grid goes down totally, I have a source of power.

Of course Tucson is one of the sunniest places on earth. Your milage may vary.

 

[scooter]

Electricity increases have been happening all around for a few years now. Keep in mind that the United States still has a huge supply of the world's coal, so I don't think supply will be much of an issue. And if it is produced locally, weak dollar won't be a problem either.

 

[Acala]

Coal up too

Coal prices are going up as well, not just oil. Partly from increased world demand, partly from inflation, and partly from direct cost increases. Coal depends on oil for mining and moving the product to market. It is somewhat like agriculture in that regard. I don't see the trend of rising coal prices changing, although it may moderate some as coal producers increase their output. So although my utility generates with coal, it is raising its prices. And so will yours. AND as fossil fuel prices go up and up and up, expect the cost of solar panels to go up as well due to increased demand.

 

[wirenut]

Its been going up a lot here in maryland the past 2 years or so and expected to go higher in july.

 

[RSLudlum]

Its been going up a lot here in maryland the past 2 years or so and expected to go higher in july.

c'mon...with a name like "wirenut", you should have more to say about this subject than that

 

[tmosley]

My electricity co-op adds a rider based on their expenses to each customer's bill. That rider has been getting larger and larger each year.

 

[TruthisTreason]

TVA started an increace of 7% May 1st!

 

[RSLudlum]

Just got a notice from my electric provider today stating their rates are going up about 2%.

 

[yongrel]

wait for it.

 

[jkm1864]

mine went up about 40% and it seems to hover around 300 a month with the lights and crap off all the time. I grew up with all the lights blaring and now I leave them off all the time WTF.

 

[RSLudlum]

wait for it.

Already been preparing for it....We haven't turned the A/C on yet. We just have a couple of fans running in the house instead.

Based on last year's electric bills we've saved ~$350 so far this year, despite rate increases in the past year.