This was posted as a comment to an earlier blog article:
We also live on a small farm with a smart meter and have been paying out the nose monthly --having to dip into our mortgage funds to pay H1. Now we're in the process of loosing our house and they threw a deposit on us for 790 dollars because we were behind on our bill by 45 bucks. We were unable to pay the whole thing and were constantly threatened to be discontinued. Finally we got the deposit paid, and that 40 bucks of owing on our last bill increased to 500 owed for the month of use.Why are they allowed to do this??Why hasn't anyone started a civil action suit against H1? If you've been paying something every month ( even if not in whole) it shows that your trying and are NOT avoiding them. Any court would rule in the peoples favour. I'm so tired of being bent over the table from the GOV, H1, Bell Etc...and taking it up the tail pipe -- Canada needs its own tea party or someone needs to start an underground party and set anarchy into motion...
Sincerely,
Tired of Being Screwed!!!
September 3, 2010 8:07 AM
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Ontario hydro’s smart meters give dumb results: critics
McGuinty acknowledges people using electricity on off hours are getting higher electricity bills.
Karen Howlett
Toronto — From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2010 9:34PM EDT Last updated on Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2010 11:52PM EDT
The McGuinty government is looking at giving consumers a break on hydro prices under a program that critics say is not living up to its promise to save electricity users money and promote energy conservation.
Ontario is the first province in Canada to introduce time-of-use pricing designed to encourage electricity consumers to reduce consumption and run appliances during periods of lower demand, when power tends to come from cheaper, cleaner sources. The government has spent more than $1-billion on the program.
Premier Dalton McGuinty acknowledged on Tuesday that he is hearing the same complaints that opposition members are raising: many people who throw in a load of laundry late at night when electricity prices are lower are getting hit with higher hydro bills.
Under the current pricing system, he said, rates might not be low enough in off-peak hours to allow consumers to reap savings. Under time-of-use billing, consumers are charged 9.9 cents a kilowatt hour during peak periods (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the summer) and 5.3 cents during off-peak periods (9 p.m. to 7 a.m.).
“There should be an appropriate price differential in place that in fact rewards people for changing their behaviour,” Mr. McGuinty told reporters. “We want to make sure that the pricing signals are right so that there is a real savings associated with using electricity in off-peak periods.”
Opposition parties say the Green Energy Act, along with the harmonized sales tax that took effect July 1, adding 8-per-cent to bills, and higher prices for electricity during peak periods have all combined to drive up rates for consumers.
Mr. McGuinty did not say how his government plans to change the program. But Queen’s Park is grappling with the soaring cost of hydro amid worries that it will become a topic of debate during next year’s provincial election.
Opposition members are accusing the government of mismanaging the system. “Can the Premier explain why he spent a billion and a half dollars on a scheme that doesn’t conserve energy, but does raise people’s hydro rates?” New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath said during Question Period on Tuesday.
Norma-Jean Campbell, a dog breeder in St. Thomas in southwestern Ontario, said she got a rude surprise when she opened her latest hydro bill. It had increased to $130 from about $100.
“I just thought, when they put the smart meter in place and the HST on top of that, where is this going to go?” Ms. Campbell said in an interview. “I feel powerless.”
Local utilities have installed smart meters that allow consumers to monitor their electricity usage in 4.1 million homes in Ontario. The New Democrats released figures showing that 80 per cent of Toronto Hydro’s 500,000 customers on time-of-use billing have seen their electricity bills rise, and most are not changing their usage patterns.
A government official disputed that figure, saying 68 per cent of customers paid $2.79 more on average, while 32 per cent paid $7.40 less on average.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/ontario-hydros-smart-meters-give-dumb-results-critics/article1707808/
Karen Howlett
Toronto — From Wednesday's Globe and Mail Published on Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2010 9:34PM EDT Last updated on Tuesday, Sep. 14, 2010 11:52PM EDT
The McGuinty government is looking at giving consumers a break on hydro prices under a program that critics say is not living up to its promise to save electricity users money and promote energy conservation.
Ontario is the first province in Canada to introduce time-of-use pricing designed to encourage electricity consumers to reduce consumption and run appliances during periods of lower demand, when power tends to come from cheaper, cleaner sources. The government has spent more than $1-billion on the program.
Premier Dalton McGuinty acknowledged on Tuesday that he is hearing the same complaints that opposition members are raising: many people who throw in a load of laundry late at night when electricity prices are lower are getting hit with higher hydro bills.
Under the current pricing system, he said, rates might not be low enough in off-peak hours to allow consumers to reap savings. Under time-of-use billing, consumers are charged 9.9 cents a kilowatt hour during peak periods (11 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the summer) and 5.3 cents during off-peak periods (9 p.m. to 7 a.m.).
“There should be an appropriate price differential in place that in fact rewards people for changing their behaviour,” Mr. McGuinty told reporters. “We want to make sure that the pricing signals are right so that there is a real savings associated with using electricity in off-peak periods.”
Opposition parties say the Green Energy Act, along with the harmonized sales tax that took effect July 1, adding 8-per-cent to bills, and higher prices for electricity during peak periods have all combined to drive up rates for consumers.
Mr. McGuinty did not say how his government plans to change the program. But Queen’s Park is grappling with the soaring cost of hydro amid worries that it will become a topic of debate during next year’s provincial election.
Opposition members are accusing the government of mismanaging the system. “Can the Premier explain why he spent a billion and a half dollars on a scheme that doesn’t conserve energy, but does raise people’s hydro rates?” New Democratic Party Leader Andrea Horwath said during Question Period on Tuesday.
Norma-Jean Campbell, a dog breeder in St. Thomas in southwestern Ontario, said she got a rude surprise when she opened her latest hydro bill. It had increased to $130 from about $100.
“I just thought, when they put the smart meter in place and the HST on top of that, where is this going to go?” Ms. Campbell said in an interview. “I feel powerless.”
Local utilities have installed smart meters that allow consumers to monitor their electricity usage in 4.1 million homes in Ontario. The New Democrats released figures showing that 80 per cent of Toronto Hydro’s 500,000 customers on time-of-use billing have seen their electricity bills rise, and most are not changing their usage patterns.
A government official disputed that figure, saying 68 per cent of customers paid $2.79 more on average, while 32 per cent paid $7.40 less on average.
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/ontario-hydros-smart-meters-give-dumb-results-critics/article1707808/
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Have to sell the house
Hydro One billing is excessive and unreasonable. How is one to live and attempt to dig themselves out of debt when they cannot get ahead due to hydro ones pricing. The government needs to step up and reduce the amount of money it is STEALING from innocent people trying to make a living. Hydro is a necessity in todays world and therefore should be more reasonably priced. $900 for a single month? their excuse is a reading error? They demand this money or your cut off. Oh and god forbid you have a late payment or else they will add a $800 security deposit. If one is struggling to make the usage payment, how are they suppose to come up with the funds for a security deposit. Going to have to sell the house I guess. What kind of economic stimulus are these outrageous hydro billings?
From: hydro'>http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/outrageous-billing-c301140.html#c756101">hydro
From: hydro'>http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/outrageous-billing-c301140.html#c756101">hydro
Saturday, September 11, 2010
US Department of Energy wants 20% power by wind by 2030
This is an example of the magnitude of the problem with wind power.
http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/pdfs/20_percent_wind_2.pdf
This report wants the US to achieve 20% of their power by wind within the next 20 years. This is a similar goal for Ontario, though our size is obviously smaller, the scale of the ramp up would be relatively the same.
The goal is to have 230gigawatts of power by wind. What is interesting is the report does not note the number of turbines needed, nor the costs. It's simple enough to do.
The current output is 11.4gigawatts of capacity. Understand that capacity is not physical output, it's name plate. Turbines operate at less than 18% name plate 50% of the time.
To achieve that 230gW from the current 11.4gW would require a growth rate of construction of 16%. Now compare that to the US economy barely at 1% right now, 3% before the recession.
But this is the numbers:
http://www.windpoweringamerica.gov/pdfs/20_percent_wind_2.pdf
This report wants the US to achieve 20% of their power by wind within the next 20 years. This is a similar goal for Ontario, though our size is obviously smaller, the scale of the ramp up would be relatively the same.
The goal is to have 230gigawatts of power by wind. What is interesting is the report does not note the number of turbines needed, nor the costs. It's simple enough to do.
The current output is 11.4gigawatts of capacity. Understand that capacity is not physical output, it's name plate. Turbines operate at less than 18% name plate 50% of the time.
To achieve that 230gW from the current 11.4gW would require a growth rate of construction of 16%. Now compare that to the US economy barely at 1% right now, 3% before the recession.
But this is the numbers:
Year | GW | 1.5mW turbines per year | @18% name plate | 3mW turbines per year | @18% name plate | 1.5mW per day | 3mW per day | @ $3million for each 1.5mW |
2008 | 11.4 | 7,600 | 41,800 | 3,800 | 20,900 | 115 | 57 | $ 125,400,000,000 |
2009 | 13.2 | 8,816 | 48,488 | 4,408 | 24,244 | 133 | 66 | $ 145,464,000,000 |
2010 | 15.3 | 10,227 | 56,246 | 5,113 | 28,123 | 154 | 77 | $ 168,738,240,000 |
2011 | 17.8 | 11,863 | 65,245 | 5,931 | 32,623 | 179 | 89 | $ 195,736,358,400 |
2012 | 20.6 | 13,761 | 75,685 | 6,880 | 37,842 | 207 | 104 | $ 227,054,175,744 |
2013 | 23.9 | 15,963 | 87,794 | 7,981 | 43,897 | 241 | 120 | $ 263,382,843,863 |
2014 | 27.8 | 18,517 | 101,841 | 9,258 | 50,921 | 279 | 140 | $ 305,524,098,881 |
2015 | 32.2 | 21,479 | 118,136 | 10,740 | 59,068 | 324 | 162 | $ 354,407,954,702 |
2016 | 37.4 | 24,916 | 137,038 | 12,458 | 68,519 | 375 | 188 | $ 411,113,227,454 |
2017 | 43.4 | 28,903 | 158,964 | 14,451 | 79,482 | 436 | 218 | $ 476,891,343,847 |
2018 | 50.3 | 33,527 | 184,398 | 16,763 | 92,199 | 505 | 253 | $ 553,193,958,863 |
2019 | 58.3 | 38,891 | 213,902 | 19,446 | 106,951 | 586 | 293 | $ 641,704,992,281 |
2020 | 67.7 | 45,114 | 248,126 | 22,557 | 124,063 | 680 | 340 | $ 744,377,791,046 |
2021 | 78.5 | 52,332 | 287,826 | 26,166 | 143,913 | 789 | 394 | $ 863,478,237,613 |
2022 | 91.1 | 60,705 | 333,878 | 30,353 | 166,939 | 915 | 457 | $ 1,001,634,755,631 |
2023 | 105.6 | 70,418 | 387,299 | 35,209 | 193,649 | 1,061 | 531 | $ 1,161,896,316,532 |
2024 | 122.5 | 81,685 | 449,267 | 40,842 | 224,633 | 1,231 | 615 | $ 1,347,799,727,177 |
2025 | 142.1 | 94,754 | 521,149 | 47,377 | 260,575 | 1,428 | 714 | $ 1,563,447,683,525 |
2026 | 164.9 | 109,915 | 604,533 | 54,958 | 302,267 | 1,656 | 828 | $ 1,813,599,312,890 |
2027 | 191.3 | 127,502 | 701,258 | 63,751 | 350,629 | 1,921 | 961 | $ 2,103,775,202,952 |
2028 | 221.9 | 147,902 | 813,460 | 73,951 | 406,730 | 2,229 | 1,114 | $ 2,440,379,235,424 |
2029 | 257.3 | 171,566 | 943,613 | 85,783 | 471,807 | 2,585 | 1,293 | $ 2,830,839,913,092 |
2030 | 298.5 | 199,017 | 1,094,591 | 99,508 | 547,296 | 2,999 | 1,499 | $ 3,283,774,299,187 |
| Total: | 1,395,371 | 7,674,538 | 697,685 | 3,837,269 |
|
| $ 23,023,613,669,104 |
Note the last line under the number of 1.5mW turbines needed assuming an 18% capacity factor (50% of the time). That's 7.7 MILLION turbines. The per day, look at the year 2030. That's 3000 turbines completed and opperational EVER DAY for that last year. And the total costs at $3M each? That's $23 TRILLION!
So anyone wish to make a bet the US can do this?
Wish to bet we can in Ontario?
Oh, but someone will complain. That 230gW is CAPACITY the US wants. No, they want 20% of their POWER to come from wind, so in fact to get that means a capacify factor that adds up to 230gW. Hence the larger number of turbines. Othewise what's the point of putting all that in place for only 18% of that 20% they are targeting?
Now, add to this these new reports on what is happening in the EU with wind and solar. Read them, you will be very interested in this as this is the path Ontario is on right now.
Wind Energy’s House of Cards
http://www.energytribune.com/articles.cfm/5131/Wind-Energys-House-of-Cards
WIND ENERGY THE CASE OF DENMARK
http://www.cepos.dk/fileadmin/user_upload/Arkiv/PDF/Wind_energy_-_the_case_of_Denmark.pdf
Germany's Solar Cell Promotion: Dark Clouds on the Horizon
http://repec.rwi-essen.de/files/REP_08_040.pdf
Note this at the end:
From a social welfare perspective, we therefore recommend the rapid reduction of
these subsidies, taking account of recent estimates of annual reductions in
production cost, which are on the order of 12% to 15%.
They are recommending the German Government stop their FIT program. Yet we are racing ahead with one.
Global adjustment: a political time bomb in Ontario
http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=c928396d-91c8-4b60-a828-6d05ecc80eae
Prior to April, 2009, most Ontario electricity consumers probably paid little attention to the "Provincial Benefit" line item on their electricitybills. They had little reason to. Since its inception in 2005, the Provincial Benefit, known in Ontario's electricity industry as the GlobalAdjustment, was a relatively small adjustment on their electricity bills.
A drastic drop in market prices for electricity and increased governmental payment obligations have made this overlooked price adjustment a powder kegof political resentment and consumer backlash. In April 2009, for the first time ever, the Global Adjustment charged to Ontario electricity consumersexceeded the market price of the electricity they purchased. In every month since then the Global Adjustment has been significantly greater than themarket price for electricity purchased by these consumers
The Global Adjustment is the difference between the rates paid by Ontario governmental authorities to regulated and contracted electricity generatorsand the spot market prices for electricity consumed in Ontario. If the amount paid by Ontario governmental authorities for the generation of theelectricity is higher than the market price for the electricity, a positive Global Adjustment is charged to Ontario electricity consumers. If theamount paid by Ontario governmental authorities for the generation of the electricity is lower than the market price for such electricity, a negativeGlobal Adjustment is credited to Ontario electricity consumers.
The amounts paid by Ontario governmental authorities that are factored into the Global Adjustment fall into three categories: (1) amounts payable fornuclear and baseload hydroelectric generation by Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG), (2) amounts paid for non-utility generation administered by theOntario Electricity Financial Corporation (OEFC), and (3) amounts paid under agreements between the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and electricitygenerators and suppliers of conservation services. Each of these three categories of governmental payment is explained in more detail below.
In the case of OPG's regulated hydroelectric and nuclear generators, a fixed price for electricity is set by the OEB. If the net revenue earned fromthe sale of electricity produced by these regulated baseload generators is less than the regulated price, the difference is charged to electricityconsumers as part of the Global Adjustment. If the net revenue from OPG's sale of this electricity is more than the OEB's fixed price, the excess iscredited to consumers.
Non-utility generators (NUGs) are generators that are not owned by the former Ontario Hydro. These generators provide electricity at set prices underpower purchase agreements with what is now the OEFC. As is the case with the OPG base-load regulated generators, the difference between the OEFC's netrevenue from the sale of this electricity and the amount that it pays to the NUGs under power purchase agreements is charged to electricity consumersas a component of the Global Adjustment.
The final component of the Global Adjustment arises under OPA contracts for generation and demand management projects. Some of these projects were setup through the OPA's former "Request for Proposals" process while other projects resulted in power purchase contracts without recourse to the RFPprocess. The OPA provides guaranteed revenue to electricity suppliers under these agreements. If the project earns net revenue that is less than theguaranteed amount, the difference is made up from a charge to the Ontario consumer through the Global Adjustment.
April 2009 saw an unprecedented change in the Global Adjustment. Until then the Global Adjustment had never exceeded 1.44 cents per kWh, and in thevast majority of months it had been less than 1 cent per kWh. In April, 2009 the Global Adjustment shot up to 3.020 cents per kWh and has remainedabove 3 cents per kWh each month since, except for June 2009 when it dipped to the still relatively high amount of 2.79 cents per kWh.
By covering the gap between the market price for electricity consumed in Ontario and the amount Ontario governmental authorities contract to pay out inthe categories outlined above, the Global Adjustment reduces the volatility of electricity prices and passes the cost of new generation projects on toconsumers. This procedure enables the Ontario government to offer price certainty to new generation and demand management projects, spurring thedevelopment of new electricity supply projects in Ontario.
However, consumer resentment may be growing now that reduced economic activity, particularly in Ontario's flagging manufacturing sector, hascontributed to a steep decline in spot market electricity prices. The Global Adjustment has prevented the benefits of low electricity market pricesfrom being passed on to the Ontario consumers, many of whom badly need it, particularly in light of the rising Canadian dollar.
Hardest hit are consumers who signed retail contracts at locked-in prices before the electricity market price crashed. Retail contracts provide theconsumer a fixed price for electricity, subject to the floating Global Adjustment. Consumers that locked into fixed rates under retail contracts beforethe market prices crashed have experienced a double whammy - locked-in fixed rates that exceed the current market price, plus a drastically increasedGlobal Adjustment.
The guaranteed rates being offered by the OPA under its new Feed-In-Tariff program will put continued upward pressure on the Global Adjustment, byproducing a source of new governmentally-guaranteed pricing for electricity generation.
As a result, it appears Ontario electricity consumers are not going to experience relief from high electricity bills in the foreseeable future.
-------------
RW: The Global Adjustment is extra the producers of power get paid by you when demand is low and the spot price is down. Which is the case with this recession. The producers get paid for lost revenue due to lower demand. They get paid to not produce power.
Let me see if I have this right.
Every weekend you travel half a day with the kids to visit grandma. Before you head out you always fill the tank at the local station. But because you have been laid off, or are suffering increases in other costs, you decide to only go every other weekend.
But that poor gas station owner just lost half the money he normally gets from you. So to compensate him for that loss, the government forces you to pay him double on each visit for the gas to fill your tank, in lieu of the gas you would have used in the weekends you missed.
Get the picture now?
This is how the Provincial Benefit (Global Adjustment) has changed:
Canada November 25 2009
Prior to April, 2009, most Ontario electricity consumers probably paid little attention to the "Provincial Benefit" line item on their electricitybills. They had little reason to. Since its inception in 2005, the Provincial Benefit, known in Ontario's electricity industry as the GlobalAdjustment, was a relatively small adjustment on their electricity bills.
A drastic drop in market prices for electricity and increased governmental payment obligations have made this overlooked price adjustment a powder kegof political resentment and consumer backlash. In April 2009, for the first time ever, the Global Adjustment charged to Ontario electricity consumersexceeded the market price of the electricity they purchased. In every month since then the Global Adjustment has been significantly greater than themarket price for electricity purchased by these consumers
The Global Adjustment is the difference between the rates paid by Ontario governmental authorities to regulated and contracted electricity generatorsand the spot market prices for electricity consumed in Ontario. If the amount paid by Ontario governmental authorities for the generation of theelectricity is higher than the market price for the electricity, a positive Global Adjustment is charged to Ontario electricity consumers. If theamount paid by Ontario governmental authorities for the generation of the electricity is lower than the market price for such electricity, a negativeGlobal Adjustment is credited to Ontario electricity consumers.
The amounts paid by Ontario governmental authorities that are factored into the Global Adjustment fall into three categories: (1) amounts payable fornuclear and baseload hydroelectric generation by Ontario Power Generation Inc. (OPG), (2) amounts paid for non-utility generation administered by theOntario Electricity Financial Corporation (OEFC), and (3) amounts paid under agreements between the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) and electricitygenerators and suppliers of conservation services. Each of these three categories of governmental payment is explained in more detail below.
In the case of OPG's regulated hydroelectric and nuclear generators, a fixed price for electricity is set by the OEB. If the net revenue earned fromthe sale of electricity produced by these regulated baseload generators is less than the regulated price, the difference is charged to electricityconsumers as part of the Global Adjustment. If the net revenue from OPG's sale of this electricity is more than the OEB's fixed price, the excess iscredited to consumers.
Non-utility generators (NUGs) are generators that are not owned by the former Ontario Hydro. These generators provide electricity at set prices underpower purchase agreements with what is now the OEFC. As is the case with the OPG base-load regulated generators, the difference between the OEFC's netrevenue from the sale of this electricity and the amount that it pays to the NUGs under power purchase agreements is charged to electricity consumersas a component of the Global Adjustment.
The final component of the Global Adjustment arises under OPA contracts for generation and demand management projects. Some of these projects were setup through the OPA's former "Request for Proposals" process while other projects resulted in power purchase contracts without recourse to the RFPprocess. The OPA provides guaranteed revenue to electricity suppliers under these agreements. If the project earns net revenue that is less than theguaranteed amount, the difference is made up from a charge to the Ontario consumer through the Global Adjustment.
April 2009 saw an unprecedented change in the Global Adjustment. Until then the Global Adjustment had never exceeded 1.44 cents per kWh, and in thevast majority of months it had been less than 1 cent per kWh. In April, 2009 the Global Adjustment shot up to 3.020 cents per kWh and has remainedabove 3 cents per kWh each month since, except for June 2009 when it dipped to the still relatively high amount of 2.79 cents per kWh.
By covering the gap between the market price for electricity consumed in Ontario and the amount Ontario governmental authorities contract to pay out inthe categories outlined above, the Global Adjustment reduces the volatility of electricity prices and passes the cost of new generation projects on toconsumers. This procedure enables the Ontario government to offer price certainty to new generation and demand management projects, spurring thedevelopment of new electricity supply projects in Ontario.
However, consumer resentment may be growing now that reduced economic activity, particularly in Ontario's flagging manufacturing sector, hascontributed to a steep decline in spot market electricity prices. The Global Adjustment has prevented the benefits of low electricity market pricesfrom being passed on to the Ontario consumers, many of whom badly need it, particularly in light of the rising Canadian dollar.
Hardest hit are consumers who signed retail contracts at locked-in prices before the electricity market price crashed. Retail contracts provide theconsumer a fixed price for electricity, subject to the floating Global Adjustment. Consumers that locked into fixed rates under retail contracts beforethe market prices crashed have experienced a double whammy - locked-in fixed rates that exceed the current market price, plus a drastically increasedGlobal Adjustment.
The guaranteed rates being offered by the OPA under its new Feed-In-Tariff program will put continued upward pressure on the Global Adjustment, byproducing a source of new governmentally-guaranteed pricing for electricity generation.
As a result, it appears Ontario electricity consumers are not going to experience relief from high electricity bills in the foreseeable future.
-------------
RW: The Global Adjustment is extra the producers of power get paid by you when demand is low and the spot price is down. Which is the case with this recession. The producers get paid for lost revenue due to lower demand. They get paid to not produce power.
Let me see if I have this right.
Every weekend you travel half a day with the kids to visit grandma. Before you head out you always fill the tank at the local station. But because you have been laid off, or are suffering increases in other costs, you decide to only go every other weekend.
But that poor gas station owner just lost half the money he normally gets from you. So to compensate him for that loss, the government forces you to pay him double on each visit for the gas to fill your tank, in lieu of the gas you would have used in the weekends you missed.
Get the picture now?
This is how the Provincial Benefit (Global Adjustment) has changed:
Data from: http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/b100/b100_GA.asp
DO NOT SIGN UP WITH RETAILERS!
You will pay about twice for power if you do as it stands now.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Californa Class Action hits Snag -- reality
From:
Energy And Capital
September 6th, 2010
Last year, a group of about 200 people decided to sue Pacific Gas & Electric, claiming that newly-installed smart meters had jacked up their usage.
Considering these new smart meters were being paraded around as the beginning of a major step in smart grid development, stories about faulty meters were not doing PG&E any favors...
But the stubborn California utility maintained that there was nothing wrong with the meters, and that the lawsuit was without merit. Nonetheless, the California Public Utilities Commission brought in a third-party auditor to review the accuracy of the installed meters, and to see if these smart meters had actually caused higher energy bills — which more than 600 consumers claimed.
The results of that audit came in last week.
Turns out that the meters worked just fine, and that higher utility bills were a result of hotter temperatures during the heat wave of 2009.
Energy And Capital
September 6th, 2010
Last year, a group of about 200 people decided to sue Pacific Gas & Electric, claiming that newly-installed smart meters had jacked up their usage.
Considering these new smart meters were being paraded around as the beginning of a major step in smart grid development, stories about faulty meters were not doing PG&E any favors...
But the stubborn California utility maintained that there was nothing wrong with the meters, and that the lawsuit was without merit. Nonetheless, the California Public Utilities Commission brought in a third-party auditor to review the accuracy of the installed meters, and to see if these smart meters had actually caused higher energy bills — which more than 600 consumers claimed.
The results of that audit came in last week.
Turns out that the meters worked just fine, and that higher utility bills were a result of hotter temperatures during the heat wave of 2009.
Friday, September 3, 2010
New Ontario Wind Performance Blog
There is so much one can do with exposing the pathetic nature of wind that I'm going to start either a blog or website. Blogger is not so great with graphics as you have noticed, displaying tables in HTML format here is bizzar and a pain in the butt. So I may be leaning to a website.
So stay tuned, may take a month or two to get the analysis and pages ready.
Vitally important that consumers of power know the truth about these "sustainable" power sources.
Oh, and a curious thing. The IESO website has the hourly data in xml format available on line for downloading of all production from all sources, except solar. There is no available data that I can find on the output from all these FIT programs. I suspect that solar is even worse for power production than wind (certainly on today's cloudy day).
So stay tuned, may take a month or two to get the analysis and pages ready.
Vitally important that consumers of power know the truth about these "sustainable" power sources.
Oh, and a curious thing. The IESO website has the hourly data in xml format available on line for downloading of all production from all sources, except solar. There is no available data that I can find on the output from all these FIT programs. I suspect that solar is even worse for power production than wind (certainly on today's cloudy day).
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