PG&E electricity costs (Grass Valley, Nevada City: RV park, how much, house)

[509]

When I lived in California in the late 60's PG&E advertised that they had some of the lowest electric rates in the nation. I do not remember even paying attention to the utility bill in those days.

We are currently staying in a RV park and we have to pay for our own electricity use. Which I thought was odd.

Our electric bill for January for our house in eastern Washington caught up with us here. For a 3 bedroom, 2 bath....2200 square foot house all electric with the original electric water heater and furnance the bill is $100.28. The house was built in 1990 so nothing special in the way of energy conservation. Climate is very similar to Nevada City or Grass Valley. Right at snowline.

I took the PGE electric rate schedule the RV owner gave me and applied to my house in Washington. We used 3714 Kilowatts. Our bill without taxes and fees, just for electricity in Washington $100.28. The similar calculation for California: $1,131.14 and that does not include taxes!!! Over ELEVEN times higher!!!

So what happened?? What do retired people do?? Who can afford these rates??

On a related note given the high electric rates why are everybodies lights and signs ON at night?? With those bills I would be switching lights off at every opportunity!! No conservation measures??

[Fontucky]

We use gas.

[jw2]

Originally Posted by 509

When I lived in California in the late 60's PG&E advertised that they had some of the lowest electric rates in the nation. I do not remember even paying attention to the utility bill in those days.

We are currently staying in a RV park and we have to pay for our own electricity use. Which I thought was odd.

Our electric bill for January for our house in eastern Washington caught up with us here. For a 3 bedroom, 2 bath....2200 square foot house all electric with the original electric water heater and furnance the bill is $100.28. The house was built in 1990 so nothing special in the way of energy conservation. Climate is very similar to Nevada City or Grass Valley. Right at snowline.

I took the PGE electric rate schedule the RV owner gave me and applied to my house in Washington. We used 3714 Kilowatts. Our bill without taxes and fees, just for electricity in Washington $100.28. The similar calculation for California: $1,131.14 and that does not include taxes!!! Over ELEVEN times higher!!!

So what happened?? What do retired people do?? Who can afford these rates??

On a related note given the high electric rates why are everybodies lights and signs ON at night?? With those bills I would be switching lights off at every opportunity!! No conservation measures??

You used 3791 kwh in one month? The average in Washington is 1030/month and the average in California is 562kwh/month. Natural gas is used more frequently than electricity for heating, hot water, and clothes drying.

California penalizes high resource users. The average California electric residential bill for 2010 was $82.85

I guess the answer to your question is Californians don't waste as much electricity as you do so they are not going to be hit with a $1,131.14 bill.

link for usage and rate statistics How much electricity does an American home use? - FAQ - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA)

[Bulldogdad]

3714 kwh? turn off some lights.

Who in the heck uses that much electricity in a 30 day period and not have a pot farm in the basement.

Are you sure you use 3714 kwhs in a month?

I have a family of five plus a dog. Four of my family members are female not including me and our highest Kwh month I can remember was 600+ that was with the AC running constantly for an entire month of July when we had a streak of 20 days over 100 degrees.

BTW I ran your numbers through my three tier rate structure for my area and came out with $1019 so your numbers on the surface appear correct. I just find it hard to believe a residential 2200 sqft house uses that much electricity even at snow line.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

We use gas.

With as much Mexican food as you eat I'm sure you do.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by Bulldogdad

3714 kwh? turn off some lights.

Who in the heck uses that much electricity in a 30 day period and not have a pot farm in the basement.

Are you sure you use 3714 kwhs in a month?

I have a family of five plus a dog. Four of my family members are female not including me and our highest Kwh month I can remember was 600+ that was with the AC running constantly for an entire month of July when we had a streak of 20 days over 100 degrees.

BTW I ran your numbers through my three tier rate structure for my area and came out with $1019 so your numbers on the surface appear correct. I just find it hard to believe a residential 2200 sqft house uses that much electricity even at snow line.

Grow house, indeed!

[Dean Trails]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

We use gas.

Most of us have gas. Laughs,,oh yes and our water heaters and furnaces use it as well!

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by Bulldogdad

With as much Mexican food as you eat I'm sure you do.

Frijoles de la olla.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Frijoles de la olla.

con jalapenos y tortillas de harina.

[jeffredo]

Originally Posted by Fontucky

Frijoles de la olla.

Basically Okie beans without the hamhock (dad loved them). We just didn't like to be in the same room as him afterward.