Electricity bills ...

The consumer-as-punching-bag is about to take another hit, a big one. If Dominion Virginia Power gets its way with state regulators, electricity bills will go up, by an average of 18 percent.

[Just a thought]

Or we could just use nuclear power.

[RRice]

Typical liberal trash- hike prices up so that we use less. Yes I have become more aware of leaving lights on when they are not needed, and I have replaced my lightbulbs (when needed) but that was because I wanted to that. Consummers should decided to do this not forced into by government allowing a company to raise its prices without proving a real need.

[Where is the Beef]

So why is the Government Regulating this at all?

Sorry, but a "Liberial" desires Regulation. If the Government allows this rate increase it does not sound like a "Liberial" thing to me, instead if they disallow the rate increase it would be a "Liberial" form of Government Interference into the Electric Generation Industry.

The price of Coal, Oil and Natural Gas have all Gone up. If it cost more for the Utility Company to Purchase they need to be able to pass that price increase along and not be driven out of business.

The Cost of building a Nuclear Power Station is also very high and no it is not what most people think. One of the Monster cost involves the Use of Special "High Density Concrete" that is resistant to early decay cause by Nutron Radiation, the use of special "HY" steels in piping systems and so on.

[ABC]

Where is the Beef wrote:

So why is the Government Regulating this at all?
Sorry, but a "Liberial" desires Regulation. If the Government allows this rate increase it does not sound like a "Liberial" thing to me, instead if they disallow the rate increase it would be a "Liberial" form of Government Interference into the Electric Generation Industry.
The price of Coal, Oil and Natural Gas have all Gone up. If it cost more for the Utility Company to Purchase they need to be able to pass that price increase along and not be driven out of business.
The Cost of building a Nuclear Power Station is also very high and no it is not what most people think. One of the Monster cost involves the Use of Special "High Density Concrete" that is resistant to early decay cause by Nutron Radiation, the use of special "HY" steels in piping systems and so on.

I agree 100%, Why is the government regulating this? The fairtax would solve the problem here and allow deregulation of production and prices to have true market value, excellent point beef, fairtax is the answer!

[Richard Harris]

Just remember that at some point as the cost of heating/cooling more than doubles in the next ten years, your ability to pay for your home (mortgate, taxes, maintenance) will rapidly vanish - creeping costs like this may mean the end of private home ownership.

[Where is the Beef]

ABC wrote:

<quoted text>
I agree 100%, Why is the government regulating this? The fairtax would solve the problem here and allow deregulation of production and prices to have true market value, excellent point beef, fairtax is the answer!

Talk Fair Tax else where. This is about Energy.

[Where is the Beef]

Richard Harris wrote:

Just remember that at some point as the cost of heating/cooling more than doubles in the next ten years, your ability to pay for your home (mortgate, taxes, maintenance) will rapidly vanish - creeping costs like this may mean the end of private home ownership.

Quick Tips.

Unplug your TV and Computer when you are gone longer then 24 hrs. Remote control TVs, suck power even when turned off. Plus in Thunder Storm this can save you a lot of money due to replacement cost.

Change over to CFL's when you run out of your regular lights bulbs.

Up grade your AC system if it is 12 years or older.(We did and we saw a $40 drop in our monthly electric bill)

In the Summer pull your blinds closed during the heat of the day.

In the winter open you south facing blinds during Sunny days.

Replace your old Thermostat with a Programable Thermostat.

Clean the coils on the back or under your Refrigerator every three to six months depending on if you have indoor pets or not.

Cook outdoors on a grill in the summer to reduce the amount of AC needed to cool down a Hot Kitchen.

These are all proven to work and only requires a little effort except for the AC replacement which is between $1,000 and $2,000 depending on the size of your home.

[Traffic]

Every heard of that good ol' standby, the clothesline? I have had a line out back for 7 years now, and to be honest, the cost if phenomenol. In the months I use the line and drying rack, we see $20-30 drop in our power bill.

Start-up cost:$10, the savings, insane!

[Opionator]

Richard Harris wrote:

Just remember that at some point as the cost of heating/cooling more than doubles in the next ten years, your ability to pay for your home (mortgate, taxes, maintenance) will rapidly vanish - creeping costs like this may mean the end of private home ownership.

Maybe at that point you should buy a smaller house? Maybe you shouldn't over extend yourself?

When the price of fuel goes up, it has to be passed on. Dominion has suffered the higher prices losing profits for plenty of time. Do you know the key money maker of Dominion is actually not in Virginia at all?
And as far as regulation goes, why not try the Maryland market which isn't regulating...would you like those energy prices. Regulation is needed in order to give companies some management to their risk when they decide to build a 5 billion dollar power plant.

[Numbersguy]

A few comments/questions:

Why bash Virginia? We have fairly average power consumption?

Many Virginians use heat pumps as a primary heating source, which skews the electrical consumption data.

Northern Virginia is a popular site for network server farms (that serve people all over the country.) Again, skewing the data.

What's your source for caulk, insulation, and CF bulb usage?

What's the payback on energy saving initiatives? My father put solar panels on our house in the late '70s because it had a fair payback (with generous tax credits.)

Lights on the highway are intended to improve public safety. Driven on roads in NJ, PA, and NY recently?

I guess we're all a bunch of ignorant hicks here. Enjoy your relocation to California.

[scottt66]

you really think the rate hike is for fuel costs. just ask any va dominion employee about the 10K plus success share bonuses they recieved this year. that is where the money is going. can you say ENRON.

[Marsha Gohsman]

We live in a rural area, and added a yard light to our power pole last fall. It sheds light for the people who turn our corner and for us if we get home after dark. Rate changes and rate control need not be scapegoated by labelling it 'liberal minded'; we all use, therefore we should pay. Cutting back intelligently is right, but it is hard to do, for it takes constant vigilance and attention to details.
Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs; do care about usage. If we don't care, think about places in the world that have regular black outs or brown outs SCHEDULED; we could be there. Then go out and buy candles and start cooking outside on a charcoal grill a few more times this summer, and think if it was necessary in January!

[MANnVA]

When we walk into a room and hit the light switch we want light. When we get cold or hot we want relief. We want our appliances and electronics to function. We are dependant on electricity and compared to the other essentials we are dependant on, we are getting a good deal on electricity. Dominion is a large company and they have their problems but compared to most, they treat everyone right. "Period, the end"

[BuBBa]

MANnVA wrote:

When we walk into a room and hit the light switch we want light. When we get cold or hot we want relief. We want our appliances and electronics to function. We are dependant on electricity and compared to the other essentials we are dependant on, we are getting a good deal on electricity. Dominion is a large company and they have their problems but compared to most, they treat everyone right. "Period, the end"

Agree! Dominion Virginia Power has spoiled the majority with their reasonable rates over the years. However the world energy prices for fuel is finally showing it's ugly head driven by the greed of the American Pension Funds aided by the futures traders who are themselves getting rich in the process with their millions of dollars in bonus money.

If anyone doubts the reasonable rates, try generating your own power. Generators, wind turbines and solar all are out of reach of the majority to afford. My 5KW Honda burns 4.5 gallons in 5 hours at full load. You do the math at gas being $3.69/gal.

[Wheres HG]

Virginia has some of the lowest utility bills in the country. So why gripe? My brother lives in San Diego where his monthly bill exceeds $400 EVERY month.
I made a few upgrades to my home over the last few years, installed new sorm windows - instant monthly savings. Upgraded my Central Air and heat pump last year and saw an immediate drop in my monthly bill.
True...Dom employees did recieve a handsome success share this past year, that compensation is part of their salary package. A few years ago they that got NOTHING, because the stock performance did not meet the minimum requirements for payout. You're overeacting with your blanket statement that that's where your money is going. That's false and inaccurate, stop misrepresenting yourself. Makes you look foolish. Fossil fuel prices have continued to sky rocket over the last 6 years and Dominion has set by quietly taking it on the chin and absorbing the cost of the inflated market hoping that it would eventually stabilize and fall a bit. If you were running a business and the cost of your product continued to rise for you to produce it eating into your profit and causing your bottom line to suffer, would you be so willing to say "OH well, what can I do?" and not act or attempt to pass on the added cost to your consumers? Of course you would, because at some point you'd be run out business if you didn't. The SEC controls the rates, it isn't any grand scheme by Dominion to get one over on their consumers. I think it's a modest request and quite frankly I am surprised that it has taken this long for the request to hit the market. You need to remember that Dom initiated a self-imposed rate freeze in an attempt to help with the de-regulation of electricity in our commonwealth. Any idea why that didn't pan out? Because Dom's competitors couldn't compete with the rates that were already in place. They didn't want to get into a market that their prices would be continuously beaten to death. Belittle Do all you'd like but the stone cold truth of the matter is, Virginians have a very respectable and affordable electric rate.

[HG Rubitinsome]

Coal and nuclear prices have not increased. This is a scam.

Wheres HG wrote:

Virginia has some of the lowest utility bills in the country. So why gripe? My brother lives in San Diego where his monthly bill exceeds $400 EVERY month.
I made a few upgrades to my home over the last few years, installed new sorm windows - instant monthly savings. Upgraded my Central Air and heat pump last year and saw an immediate drop in my monthly bill.
True...Dom employees did recieve a handsome success share this past year, that compensation is part of their salary package. A few years ago they that got NOTHING, because the stock performance did not meet the minimum requirements for payout. You're overeacting with your blanket statement that that's where your money is going. That's false and inaccurate, stop misrepresenting yourself. Makes you look foolish. Fossil fuel prices have continued to sky rocket over the last 6 years and Dominion has set by quietly taking it on the chin and absorbing the cost of the inflated market hoping that it would eventually stabilize and fall a bit. If you were running a business and the cost of your product continued to rise for you to produce it eating into your profit and causing your bottom line to suffer, would you be so willing to say "OH well, what can I do?" and not act or attempt to pass on the added cost to your consumers? Of course you would, because at some point you'd be run out business if you didn't. The SEC controls the rates, it isn't any grand scheme by Dominion to get one over on their consumers. I think it's a modest request and quite frankly I am surprised that it has taken this long for the request to hit the market. You need to remember that Dom initiated a self-imposed rate freeze in an attempt to help with the de-regulation of electricity in our commonwealth. Any idea why that didn't pan out? Because Dom's competitors couldn't compete with the rates that were already in place. They didn't want to get into a market that their prices would be continuously beaten to death. Belittle Do all you'd like but the stone cold truth of the matter is, Virginians have a very respectable and affordable electric rate.

[Wheres HG]

Less than 20% of the electricity in this country is produced from Nuclear. Rub on that - eventually the stinging will subside....four reactors in VA is hardly enough to supply the entire state of VA - educate yourself friend.

[Wheres HG]

And the actual fact of the matter is the fuel sources mined today for use in reactors has also increased by almost 40% - another cool fact for you to rub on....

[Wheres HG]

Here's something for you to rub on my friend...easy to read graph, it's even in color for your elementary noodle...
http://www.dom.com/about/companies/vapower/im...

[HG Robinson]

What about the working poor and those who are living on fixed incomes? Such an increase has a huge negitive impact on these people.

Maybe some of the suggestions you people are dicussing will work in the long run, but raising rates on already poor, oppressed people is only going to make matters worse.

If electrical power rates rise, poorer people can't afford a/c. That means they end up chilling outside at night. That is when problems start happens and tempers flare because of the heat and someone gets shot.

Vepco needs to come up with a better solution. Maybe they should charge for power based on the zip code. That way the poor would pay a reduced rate while the rich neighborhood would make up the difference (they probably wouldn't notice anyway).