Why San Diego Gas and Electric is expensive?

[Opt_10]

Originally Posted by citizensadvocate

One thing I notice about electric companies in CA is that the smaller municipal electric companies such as Los Angeles department of power and water seems always cheaper than the big companies i.e Pacific Gas and Electric and Southern California Edison. Though it appears San Diego Gas and electric is just the opposite way around. In the recent years it not only did SDG&E outpriced Southern California Edison the prices also eclipsed Pacific Gas and Electric as well. I wonder is this caused by the shutdown and decommissioning of the San Onefre nuclear power station which I read is a very expensive project to undertake? That is in addition to the need to obtain new power source to fulfill the gap due to the shutdown of that power plant.

That's contradictory to what the landlords are telling me. SDGE shouldn't exceed $30-$40 a month for a studio or one bedroom. That's what I am being told. Is this not true?

[Jenkay]

Originally Posted by Opt_10

That's contradictory to what the landlords are telling me. SDGE shouldn't exceed $30-$40 a month for a studio or one bedroom. That's what I am being told. Is this not true?

I pay around $30 most months, more if I run my portable AC a lot (hardly ever do) and a bit more in winter if I have the space heater on much (hardly ever do). My place is 550sf and I work full-time and am often not home until 7-8 at night, and I turn lights off when I leave the room. YMMV.

But it's not necessarily a contradiction. The rates may be high but we don't use as much energy (no huge heating bills in winter, no huge cooling bills in summer (near the coast) as in a lot of other areas) so we spend less.

[citizensadvocate]

It's pretty obvious that a one bedroom studio would pay a fraction in energy costs when compared to a five bedroom house. I recently explored some five bedroom model homes at a new development somewhere in the county, there was a chart in front of each home showing the estimated monthly energy bill which happens to be $184 or roughly $31 per bedroom for the five bedroom. New homes these days are built with better energy technologies than older ones. Otherwise it can be $40 per bedroom or higher. Therefore $40 isn't really as cheap as it appears if the place being powered is only 500sq. As the average home is around 2200sq it wouldn't be a surprised that figure is at least tripled if not quadruped particularly as a large family lives in it with all that many tvs, computers, loads of laundry to wash and dry.

[1AngryTaxPayer]

2400 sqf and never had over 200 bill even with the pool filter running. Maybe run AC once a year.

[citizensadvocate]

Originally Posted by 1AngryTaxPayer

2400 sqf and never had over 200 bill even with the pool filter running. Maybe run AC once a year.

I see, though I believe the figure pretty understandable as if it averages $30-$40 for a 500 square feet one room apartment It will likely to average $140 for a 2400 home. The model home I used for the example happens to be a 2900 sq house and the projected energy usage is $184 though the home does have new energy technologies. Of course the figure only included energy use within the house and as expected the model home did not have a pool.

Now the way to compare different utility companys' rates are to compare per kilowatt cost, other fees and tariffs(in addition to kilowatt rates), price per 500, 1000 kilowatt hours after tiered market rates are factored in. Ie in LA or SMUD the rate for 1000 KW is around $120. But with PG&E, SCE, and SDG&E its is almost doubled that figure or well over $200.

To the poster who wrote that he was told that the rate averages $30-$40 for the apartment he is considering, I suggest requesting a record of utility bills from the previous owner to make sure to avoid nasty surprises. Sometimes poor wiring, even electricity wire tapping l, or mistakes in billings would result in outrages bills. Checking the bills will help defend you in the event of unrealistic spikes in pricing or usage.