It's not just up there, folks. Our electric and gas bills have tripled this winter and this is the mildest winter I can recall. Which companies posted record quarterly profits? Again?
Mark
Mark
Energy Consumption question *please read*
- Thread starter beezer720
- Start date
I think we need to find a way to put our fish on tread-mills so they can generate the power needed to sustain the tank. This might be a good use for the “Rock w/ String”. Put the string around a turbine and when the fish pulls the string, we get electricity. My electric bill is going through the roof and now they are talking about another rate hike. You’ve got to love what Mr. Bush has done to help the good old USA.
Our electric bill was up as well from last year, and there has been no significant change in the tanks. Plus our winter to date has been quite mild. Our base rates are up and the add-on fees are way up.
worldwide demand
The demand for energy has spiked around the world. When supply is low, prices go high.
Look at developments in Brazil, China, and India to see where energy use is climbing. Those areas, while they have spiked in use, they are still using only 1 to 3 barrels of oil equivalent per person. Here in the US we use 25 barrels per person per day. There isn't enough energy in the world to provide oil equivalents at 25 bbl/person for everyone. The more WE use, the more the price goes up for everyone.
Thank God that winter has been mild because US companies that typically suppliment natural gas with LPG bought overseas and delivered by tankers to special LPG ports have been outbid on contracts and many of those ports are underutilized right now. That LPG has gone to Europe, perhaps to make up for the gas not leaving Russia that ususally goes to Europe since the folks in Russia are freezing to death in the dark in worst winter since WWII. Or to Asia, where business is booming making cheap shoes and computers for us.
Our country has "protected" huge portions of the oil and gas bearing properties that might be drilled for production, so the production companies have gone overseas (where most of those profits actually were produced). Foreign countries encourage investment, then retroactively change the tax rates or just nationalize and steal all the equipment that was brought in.
Prices look to be moderating now, as the economy in China slows a bit. They had been running factories and hospitals on diesel generators when they could not keep up with domestic energy needs a few months back. But, beware, hurricane season is not that far away, and the Mid East could blow up at any time. Concerns over supplies is what drives the traders in New York who set the market prices, so weather and politics is what is in control of prices you and I pay.
The demand for energy has spiked around the world. When supply is low, prices go high.
Look at developments in Brazil, China, and India to see where energy use is climbing. Those areas, while they have spiked in use, they are still using only 1 to 3 barrels of oil equivalent per person. Here in the US we use 25 barrels per person per day. There isn't enough energy in the world to provide oil equivalents at 25 bbl/person for everyone. The more WE use, the more the price goes up for everyone.
Thank God that winter has been mild because US companies that typically suppliment natural gas with LPG bought overseas and delivered by tankers to special LPG ports have been outbid on contracts and many of those ports are underutilized right now. That LPG has gone to Europe, perhaps to make up for the gas not leaving Russia that ususally goes to Europe since the folks in Russia are freezing to death in the dark in worst winter since WWII. Or to Asia, where business is booming making cheap shoes and computers for us.
Our country has "protected" huge portions of the oil and gas bearing properties that might be drilled for production, so the production companies have gone overseas (where most of those profits actually were produced). Foreign countries encourage investment, then retroactively change the tax rates or just nationalize and steal all the equipment that was brought in.
Prices look to be moderating now, as the economy in China slows a bit. They had been running factories and hospitals on diesel generators when they could not keep up with domestic energy needs a few months back. But, beware, hurricane season is not that far away, and the Mid East could blow up at any time. Concerns over supplies is what drives the traders in New York who set the market prices, so weather and politics is what is in control of prices you and I pay.
Energy costs vary monthly and by region. It's really not fair to bring actual cost ($) into the discussion at all, you really need to discuss usage. Look over the previous bills and see if your usages for the same month of the last few years are comparable. If you're only looking at one year, consider things such as cooling and heating (if using electric). For example, if this Jan was colder than the last, odds are you're using more now. It's almost a given that the cost will go up from year to year, but you can control the usage.
If you're really interested in finding out what anything is costing you, buy a "kill-a-watt" for $30ish. It will let you measure the true power consumption. Odds are you can change something and recoupe your $30 soon enough. Often people overlook devices that have standby such as TV's, which can have a significant draw even when "off".
Another thing is to consider is efficiency. The better power supplies for computers can have an efficiency of ~80%. So a 500 Watt power supply may actually be pulling 625W from the wall. Granted this isn't much of an issue for water heaters (power lost to heat is useful), but for any AC -> DC conversion you'll take a hit.
-lurking mode re-engaged.
If you're really interested in finding out what anything is costing you, buy a "kill-a-watt" for $30ish. It will let you measure the true power consumption. Odds are you can change something and recoupe your $30 soon enough. Often people overlook devices that have standby such as TV's, which can have a significant draw even when "off".
Another thing is to consider is efficiency. The better power supplies for computers can have an efficiency of ~80%. So a 500 Watt power supply may actually be pulling 625W from the wall. Granted this isn't much of an issue for water heaters (power lost to heat is useful), but for any AC -> DC conversion you'll take a hit.
-lurking mode re-engaged.
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