Gotta change the house bulbs again?

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

Within a year they restructured the billing system such that now the monthly connection fee is triple the cost of the power I use!

Well, they do have a point. The cost to maintain the power lines really has nothing to do with how much electricity you use.

[j12piprius]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Well, they do have a point. The cost to maintain the power lines really has nothing to do with how much electricity you use.

The city does this with the water. I use less than 1/15 of the average, but the city charges me 75 percent of the average. People who use 5 times the average only pay 50 percent more. Thus those of use who conserve are paying for those who use excessive amounts. The city's excuse is that most of the cost is for infrastructure. This is wrong, and I wish there was some way to make the cost more equitable.

Imagine if gasoline pumps charged everyone for infrastructure, and you paid about the same regardless of how many gallons you filled up. If you got only 5 gallons, you'd pay almost as much as someone who filled up a truck. Likewise, gas, electric and telephone bills would be almost the same for everyone, regardless of how much was used.

[spacemanspif]

I'm all about eliminating hazardous waste with the death of the CFL but does anyone know if LEDs will need special disposal due to whatever it is that they are made from?

[darcane]

Originally Posted by johnlvs2run

The city does this with the water. I use less than 1/15 of the average, but the city charges me 75 percent of the average. People who use 5 times the average only pay 50 percent more. Thus those of use who conserve are paying for those who use excessive amounts. The city's excuse is that most of the cost is for infrastructure. This is wrong, and I wish there was some way to make the cost more equitable.

Imagine if gasoline pumps charged everyone for infrastructure, and you paid about the same regardless of how many gallons you filled up. If you got only 5 gallons, you'd pay almost as much as someone who filled up a truck. Likewise, gas, electric and telephone bills would be almost the same for everyone, regardless of how much was used.

How is it "wrong"? Water is cheap, it literally falls from the sky. The majority of the cost is building/maintaining the system to clean/treat it and deliver it to your house.

Charge a flat rate per gallon, and your neighbors have to pay for your share of the infrastructure. That seems wrong to me.

I'm fine with that system of fees so long as the costs accurately reflect the per-household infrastructure costs.

[Frank Lee]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

Well, they do have a point. The cost to maintain the power lines really has nothing to do with how much electricity you use.

Nobody will be able to convince me the overhead costs suddenly tripled. I think even if I saw the books I wouldn't believe it, because a utility on the other end of the State still, several years after my coop's rate restructuring, charges a minimal rate like mine was 20 years ago.

[j12piprius]

Originally Posted by darcane

How is it "wrong"? Water is cheap, it literally falls from the sky. The majority of the cost is building/maintaining the system to clean/treat it and deliver it to your house. Charge a flat rate per gallon, and your neighbors have to pay for your share of the infrastructure. That seems wrong to me.

Water is not cheap. The cost of the infrastructure is for delivery of the water, and is directly linked to the amount of water that is used. If wasteful people didn't use water excessively, then most of the infrastructure would not be necessary and overall fees would be less. It is wrong for the 90 percent of people who use less than the average amount, to pay for the excess, because we are not the reason for the infrastructure needing to be built.

I'm fine with that system of fees so long as the costs accurately reflect the per-household infrastructure costs.

Well then you shouldn't be fine with paying fees for people who are the reason for them in the first place, and who don't pay their fair share. They should pay for my fees, but instead of that, it's the other way around.

[Frank Lee]

^I dislike paying the highest rate/Kwh of any class of users while also being among the most efficient (efficient subsidizing inefficient). But I've noted that before.

[user removed]

Reminds me of the bartender who shorted me ten bucks in Key West. Sadly that left me short $15 out of the $26 I had when he told me, "if the register is over $10 you'll get that $10". Sure buddy that's why you will stick it in your pocket.

My response, "I did not realize that every time I buy a drink I'm responsible for balancing your cash register".

regards
mech

[niky]

It's your civic duty to keep the beer flowing!

-

Never liked CFLs. I'm currently using LEDs to replace every single busted bulb in the house, and we've got fantastic 1w and 2w bulbs that provide a nice warm glow for night lights (2w, in fact, is overkill for a night light...). Most of my fixtures are 3-5w, with 7-9w bulbs for outdoor fixtures. I'd get better indoor light with 7w, but they're eye-searing to look at.

Technically, I should be using 18-25w bulbs for outdoor area lighting, but they are still ridiculously expensive. Mulling whether it's worth experimenting with multi-socket installations of really cheap bulbs, instead.

[j12piprius]

I like these 1 watt night lights, have three of them and might get some more.

They are bright white, with plenty of light.