IT Jobs (Houston, Dallas, Austin: job market, professionals, centers)

[Cookiekaikai]

Originally Posted by texanborn

I just want to know how you people are getting these low light bills? 1450 square feet bill runs around 275 a month set at 79 degrees , what am I doing wrong ? Daughters house 1950 square feet last months bill 375.....hers has been as high as 450...help us, please...

My electric provider is Sparks Energy. I am paying 11.8c/kw. I have a 2007 3500sqf house built by David Weekly Homes with 18' ceiling in family room. It is energy star certified. My highest bill so far was for September when we lowered the thermostat to 77 from 78, my bill went up from 140-150 to 163. I think energy efficiency is more important the how much you pay for electricity, as long as you don't pay too much.

[robertsd247]

Originally Posted by Mom2Feebs

ENERGY, HEALTH CARE, and AMBULANCE CHASERS all have IT departments and need Network Admins.

Period. Fact.

Conversation over. Now stop wasting bandwidth.

WELL DUH! Read what I said! Thanks for repeating it for me.

[robertsd247]

Originally Posted by tstone

Not all of TX is deregulated yet, but it could be in theory.

And for whom did it go up this high? When they first started this it went up a bit for us, but has been going down every year since 2003 IF YOU KNOW HOW TO WORK THE FREE MARKET. If you're getting ripped off this bad, it's your own fault as a poor consumer.

My 2200 sq ft house, 1 story+10 ft ceilings throughout, is now running about $160 in the peak of the summer.

Congratulations on gaming the power scheme in Texas. Not sure how exactly you are pulling that off, but good job.

I am curious how long you are going to be able to keep up with that game. After the state deregulated, I went through 7 "power companies" in less than a year in southeast Houston, each bill worse than the previous. Living in a rented townhouse did not help. The complex just signed up to whomever, screwing everyone. During the summer of 2003, my power bill exceeded my $675/month rent for two months in a row.

Deregulation is a scam. Here is Ohio, deregulation is suppose to start in Jan 2009 and I hope like hell I am either gone or they delay it. Scum capitalists do not care if people freeze to death in the winter here if they cannot pay the power bill, which what will happen if the deregulated Ohio. Homeless people freeze up here all the time during the winter months.

[tstone]

I don't know how long I'll be able to keep up with the game. We ARE getting taken advantage of due to de-regulation -- welcome to America! At least it has finally gotten better since it started. I will say I sign the one-year contracts and I do have to analyze the rate comparisions every year by reading all that fine print. Then I have to run with a decision. So far, so good. If I let it slide like everyone else, then I'll get taken advantage of like everyone else. Isn't that how capitalism works? Better that than socialism.

[Wysiwyg]

and BANKING/FINANCE/TRADING. Meryll and Deutsche are currently moving some of their IT into houston

$50-120 on electricity here with Spark and 2600sqft home.

[Cookiekaikai]

Originally Posted by Wysiwyg

and BANKING/FINANCE/TRADING. Meryll and Deutsche are currently moving some of their IT into houston

$50-120 on electricity here with Spark and 2600sqft home.

I think the people who are having trouble with high electric bill either have old houses or live in condo/townhouse/apartment.

[Wysiwyg]

Originally Posted by Cookiekaikai

I think the people who are having trouble with high electric bill either have old houses or live in condo/townhouse/apartment.

or people who think sweatshirts and other 'active' wear makes them look good and they can do all sorts of house chores inside and outside and maybe do some shopping and also sleep in with the same do-it-all clothing. they also adore bed-in-a-bag stuff even if its not winter temps outside. faux-suede furniture or something with warm covers. they also like 'shears' for window treatments. ya know, kinda like my mom in cypress, driving my sisters electric bill thru the roof :P
my wife is japanese and were both from the northeast and we're minimalist when it comes to decor and essentials. and we look good in t-shirts!

[texanborn]

Originally Posted by Cookiekaikai

I think the people who are having trouble with high electric bill either have old houses or live in condo/townhouse/apartment.

You're right about that, my house is 30 years old and I bet that is part of the problem...but one thing....it is paid for....;>)...I will look into up grading my windows....AC unit is not that old.

[MrVegas]

Originally Posted by texanborn

I just want to know how you people are getting these low light bills? 1450 square feet bill runs around 275 a month set at 79 degrees , what am I doing wrong ? Daughters house 1950 square feet last months bill 375.....hers has been as high as 450...help us, please...

Do you maintain a pool or spa? What you guys are paying is pretty steep.

I remember when I moved to vegas I had to stay in an apartment for a time. Apt was 900 sf. electric bills were on average 275 a month. When I finally bought my house, 2400 sf, my power bills averaged about 90 bucks a month. And it doesn't even have a very energy efficient ac unit and I know it gets hotter here than in Houston.

-MrVegas

[KerrTown]

Originally Posted by robertsd247

Houston is packed with Southern Baptists who want every gay and Muslims tortured and killed.

Again, I never said you could not find an IT job...but your chances are WAY BETTER in Dallas. Houston's IT is drying up faster than water in the Sahara. Corporations are not going to insure data centers in Houston where the gulf coast is expected to have 4 to 7 major hurricanes a year.

About those Southern Baptists, unlike Houston, Dallas and Waco is in the Bible Belt. In fact Waco is nicknamed "The Vatican of the Baptists." Baylor University ring a bell? So it's much worse there than here.

Concerning #2, I don't think those insurers would insure Los Angeles or San Francisco with earthquake and more recently wildfire risks. One Wilshire is not a good place to put equipment. Those wildfires were making me wonder if Los Angeles had already burned down. That New Madrid Fault could cause a scare (or at least a shake) in Dallas.