Use less electricity and get charged more for it

[eunhye]

Analysis | With new charge, saving electricity could end up costing Missourians - Kansas City Star

Gotta love the gubment.

[kuronosan]

heh. Glad I don't live in Missouri.

[Qalbert]

loooooooooooool

[kuronosan]

Just another example of why it's pointless to do anything to save money, because they'll always find a way to save you less.

"Hey! Become energy efficient and get a tax break as well as save energy and money!"

"lol, no, sorry... it costs money to make energy so if you're not using it we're going to charge you for not using it"

"lol wtf"

[Mizango]

LOL I'm glad I left Missouri.

[Bikpik]

“It’s one of those rare utility bills that actually works out to everyone’s benefit,” said Missouri Public Counsel Lewis Mills, the state’s official consumer advocate.

lol

[LD]

They did that with water here in Atlanta during the drought.
Turns out we were so good at conserving, the water company was losing money, so they upped our rates.

The reservoirs were getting closer and closer to full pool, so it definitely wasn't for a lack of water.

[Diamicles]

GDI

If Jay Nixon approves that bill, he will become a bigger joke than Matt Blunt, both figuratively and literally.

[Dimmauk]

They did that with water here in Atlanta during the drought.
Turns out we were so good at conserving, the water company was losing money, so they upped our rates.

The reservoirs were getting closer and closer to full pool, so it definitely wasn't for a lack of water.

Why not sell the water to areas that dont have a good water supply? Why not do the same with electricity? It makes no sense to punish the people for conserving.

[kuronosan]

Because companies are greedy and just like to make money off of smart people.

"Oh, so you won't use our overpriced energy eh? Well then we'll just charge you anyway!"

[Jube]

The water company, where i live just did this to me. The town of Danvers MA, last year had a level 4 drought out of 5 levels. They imposed fines for using sprinklers and washing cars and could only water plants and lawns every tues, thurs. Our town is 1 of 4 other towns that share the same water supply here. Yet we were the only ones who had a water ban. You could even drive to the next town during a downpour and see who streets having their sprinklers going off.

The fines ranged from 150$ first time offense to 500$ 3rd time offense. Now the water company has said we did so well conserving water, that they are going to double our water bills to offset the lack of usage from last year. While the other towns get a reduction of their bills. If this was any other form of utilities i would switch to a competitor, but sadly their is only 1 company for all the towns. Forces us to say wtf every time you water our lawn now.

[LD]

Correction: It was actually a little after the drought (in Atlanta), but that's just as fucked up.

[Dimmauk]

The water company, where i live just did this to me. The town of Danvers MA, last year had a level 4 drought out of 5 levels. They imposed fines for using sprinklers and washing cars and could only water plants and lawns every tues, thurs. Our town is 1 of 4 other towns that share the same water supply here. Yet we were the only ones who had a water ban. You could even drive to the next town during a downpour and see who streets having their sprinklers going off.

The fines ranged from 150$ first time offense to 500$ 3rd time offense. Now the water company has said we did so well conserving water, that they are going to double our water bills to offset the lack of usage from last year. While the other towns get a reduction of their bills. If this was any other form of utilities i would switch to a competitor, but sadly their is only 1 company for all the towns. Forces us to say wtf every time you water our lawn now.

We have the same thing going on in S.A., I just ninja water the lawn at 2am.

[Tomk]

It's funny because a lot of the "programs" electricity providers have aren't for energy efficiency. They are for peak demand load shedding which has more to do with inefficient power grids than energy savings.

I understand that shedding peak load saves energy but it does nothing to address inefficiently operating buildings nor does it address the inherent problem with peak demand cycles given the fact that peak load itself is not the problem.

I don't think that Energy Star rebates would apply because they would be charging you for a rebate and that's counterproductive. (also illegal)

[Takedown3]

this sounds so great, wonder when it will pass and when all other states will adopt the same plan

[Nightbreed]

Same thing here in Staten Island, NY. Less water has been used and now the company is raising prices due to lost revenue. They already have another increase set for 2011. No matter what you do they will always find a way to fuck you.

[Bingbong]

One of the company’s more popular energy-saving initiatives has provided free programmable thermostats to about 34,000 residential customers in Missouri and Kansas. KCP&L can remotely control the devices to reduce the frequency at which air conditioners run during peak demand times. The power company overrode customers’ air conditioners four times last year and twice so far this summer

WTF?!?!?

[ozz]

Water company did that in south florida during water restrictions from drought...drought is over, restrictions+20% increase in price stuck

Electric company moving to do the same

[Ramor]

What's that? Companies want to make money?

What do you mean they don't always do it in an honest fashion?

Well, I guess it's about time I outgrew these boxers, went to briefs and finally graduated from the 5th grade where hopefully I'll learn something about the world.

[archibaldcrane]

Don't get too caught up in the headline. I'd consider this to be the pertinent paragraph:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that energy-saving programs offered by utilities will add about 3 percent to the average electricity rates. But it says customers who participate in the programs could save 10 percent to 20 percent on their energy bills, and even those who don’t participate might save if utilities don’t have to buy more energy or build new power plants.

“It’s one of those rare utility bills that actually works out to everyone’s benefit,” said Missouri Public Counsel Lewis Mills, the state’s official consumer advocate.