Has Your Utility Bill Gone Up?

[arthunter]

Am I the only one who opened my power bill last month to find that my rates had gone through the roof? Is it really necessary for pge to charge huge amounts of money to deliver Sonoma Clean Power to it's customers? What's going on here?

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5...nty?artslide=0

[natural home]

Yes, I am being charged just for the of 420.00 for the last three months..which did not show up on my previous bills..Also I don't have a smart meter so they estimate and then come out later! Sonoma clean power cost for one month 250.00! This is double what I paid last year. for the same period.

Who an we talk to about this?.There seems to be something wrong with this picture.

[Shandi]

I read about this, but can't recall if it was the Gazette or Sonoma West, but it's actually been in a lot of news media and on the radio, that rates were increasing about 7%, I believe. They may have sent a notice with the bill, but who reads these? I just searched "PGE raising rates" and see many references for it. Also, I think that the article I read mentioned that people were paying more for the "alternative" sources than they were led to believe. Maybe our wishful thinking and hoping for lower rates, along with our dislike of PGE influenced our decision to change companies, based on what we heard from the zealous reps. I don't know much about it, except I hear people saying that their bills are much higher than last year. What's new, and what isn't higher?, oh yeah, gas is at a shocking low of $2.19 last time I checked. Not sure if this is actually "good news" or not, but many seem to think so.

Most times it may not be "necessary" to charge a higher rate, but many will, if they can. Consider landlords raising rents because they can, and manufacturers charging more for a smaller container of something? They may be hoping that people don't notice, or if they do, so what? If the consumer is addicted, they'll keep buying at whatever it costs.

Am I the only one who opened my power bill last month to find that my rates had gone through the roof? Is it really necessary for pge to charge huge amounts of money to deliver Sonoma Clean Power to it's customers? What's going on here?

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5...nty?artslide=0

[Dustyg]

Yes, my bill doubled. I called Pg&e and the way they are setting up this billing (no smart meter) you cannot check the validity of your usage and your current bill....every other month is estimated then he says "we have to add more to the next bill because we underestimated etc...." and there's no way to truly check. I feel they are responsible for sending us bills we can understand, and question without hearing a scripted gobbly-de-gook!
[QUOTE=natural home;199820]Yes, I am being charged just for the of 420.00 for the last three months..which did not show up on my previous bills..Also I don't have a smart meter so they estimate and then come out later! Sonoma clean power cost for one month 250.00! This is double what I paid last year. for the same period.

Who an we talk to about this?.There seems to be something wrong with this picture.

[sharingwisdom]

I just recently emailed Josh Hart from Stop Smartmeters who was discussing about the rise in delivery costs and CPUC allowing PG&E to only read the meters every other month for opt-out customers. This would increase our tier levels and is gouging customers in Washington state also. https://stopsmartmeters.org/2016/02/...n-state-forum/ My January bill was really high and the PG&E rep said his was too...it was a cold month...but I wonder if he said all that was true.

This notice to opt-out customers actually happened last April, but it wasn't until this December when I no longer had to pay the $10/month opt-out fee, that I was told that it would be read every other month. So I asked permission to read it myself on the other months, which was approved and the rep took me step by step on how to read it (not difficult). I took care of calling in the reading and paying my bill for February this way... until I received a very strange call from a completely disconnective and irrational so-called supervisor from PG&E at 7:20 PM on a Sunday night. I'm not going to go into details now because I want to call PG&E again to go over what occurred. But it was way over the top...the guy sounded like a robotron with an slight accent. I wrote the conversation down after, so I'd be very clear when I spoke to a rep, anyone but him, at PG&E.

Yes, I am being charged just for the of 420.00 for the last three months..which did not show up on my previous bills..Also I don't have a smart meter so they estimate and then come out later! Sonoma clean power cost for one month 250.00! This is double what I paid last year. for the same period.

Who an we talk to about this?.There seems to be something wrong with this picture.

[Shandi]

Thank you for sharing these details which may be helpful for others.

I just recently emailed Josh Hart from Stop Smartmeters who was discussing about the rise in delivery costs and CPUC allowing PG&E to only read the meters every other month for opt-out customers. This would increase our tier levels and is gouging customers in Washington state also. https://stopsmartmeters.org/2016/02/...n-state-forum/ My January bill was really high and the PG&E rep said his was too...it was a cold month...but I wonder if he said all that was true.

This notice to opt-out customers actually happened last April, but it wasn't until this December when I no longer had to pay the $10/month opt-out fee, that I was told that it would be read every other month. So I asked permission to read it myself on the other months, which was approved and the rep took me step by step on how to read it (not difficult). I took care of calling in the reading and paying my bill for February this way... until I received a very strange call from a completely disconnective and irrational so-called supervisor from PG&E at 7:20 PM on a Sunday night. I'm not going to go into details now because I want to call PG&E again to go over what occurred. But it was way over the top...the guy sounded like a robotron with an slight accent. I wrote the conversation down after, so I'd be very clear when I spoke to a rep, anyone but him, at PG&E.

[joehogan]

The bigger question for PG&E is why do they make such an enormous profit? They make 10% profit most of the time. This profit is set by a state commission. There is one analyst who advises the Commission who sets this rate as a "fair profit". I know this because for many years my cousin was this person. The preferred stock is mostly owned by the very wealthy families who have owned this stock for generations. They claim that they need 10% to entice investors to put up their money. This is a very safe investment. There is very little risk, everyone needs electricity. The problem is the state government doesn't have the nerve to stand up to big business. As usual, the best thing to do is to follow the money.

[BobHeisler]

P G & E continues to raise their rates way more than the rate of inflation. Natural gas costs drop, so what does P G & E do? They raise their rates 7%. What's up with that? Every time they have to address their poor record of maintaining their infrastructure, they try to stick it to the ratepayers to pay for the costs. They're in bed with the California Public Utilities Commission, yet we're always the ones getting screwed!

Am I the only one who opened my power bill last month to find that my rates had gone through the roof? Is it really necessary for pge to charge huge amounts of money to deliver Sonoma Clean Power to it's customers? What's going on here?

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/5...nty?artslide=0

[Shandi]

As a child, I used to ask "why" about everything I didn't understand, and I notice a lot of people ask that question. But I've discovered that there can be many answers, and also learned that "why" is never the question. Why? Because an answer can always be given, even if it doesn't usually satisfy the questioner. Actually the why is asked and answered in this same post.

I've stopped asking "why", and now I ask other questions like "what" "who" "how much" and "when". These questions give me a platform for action, unlike "why".

I do agree in the premise of "follow the money" because that empowers my choices. But, I don't feel empowered with these answers as to "why" PGE makes such an enormous profit, even though the answer is very clear.

The bigger question for PG&E is why do they make such an enormous profit? They make 10% profit most of the time. This profit is set by a state commission. There is one analyst who advises the Commission who sets this rate as a "fair profit". I know this because for many years my cousin was this person. The preferred stock is mostly owned by the very wealthy families who have owned this stock for generations. They claim that they need 10% to entice investors to put up their money. This is a very safe investment. There is very little risk, everyone needs electricity. The problem is the state government doesn't have the nerve to stand up to big business. As usual, the best thing to do is to follow the money.

[Shandi]

Unfortunately, someone's always in bed with someone, while we get stuck changing the sheets for the next tryst.
I bet we could find these romantic alliances even with members of city councils, who secretly decide how to spend taxpayer money, starting with "room service".

P G & E continues to raise their rates way more than the rate of inflation. Natural gas costs drop, so what does P G & E do? They raise their rates 7%. What's up with that? Every time they have to address their poor record of maintaining their infrastructure, they try to stick it to the ratepayers to pay for the costs. They're in bed with the California Public Utilities Commission, yet we're always the ones getting screwed!

[arthunter]

so this month the cost of my electricity ( Sonoma Clean Power ) is $57. but the cost to deliver the electricity ( pge ) is $140. ... really? ... $140. to send electricity to my home? ... how is this regulated I wonder?

[Shandi]

I did a quick search and found this example of delivery on a bill. https://sonomacleanpower.org/billing/

More information at: https://calwatchdog.com/2014/04/09/w...at-pge-prices/

Includes a chart comparing cost of power and delivery.

so this month the cost of my electricity ( Sonoma Clean Power ) is $57. but the cost to deliver the electricity ( pge ) is $140. ... really? ... $140. to send electricity to my home? ... how is this regulated I wonder?

[arthunter]

Thanks Shandi ... I find the comments on your second link very interesting ...

...More information at: https://calwatchdog.com/2014/04/09/w...at-pge-prices/

[joloseb]

Independence from the grid can solve so much. Not saying these are the only answers... but food for thought for 'owners'/consumers. Includes car too in this guy's setup, good presentation. Can ditch some parts, sure.

Is it possible to get all your electricity,
heat and car fuel without tapping the
grid or the oil companies?

Yes, you can. People are doing it!
Like this guy - and he didn't have to head
for the woods to do it.

Video:
https://www.nextworldtv.com/page/29484.html