Switching electric providers

[luke duke 6452]

Thanks to my camera, I can see that my 14yo is too distracted playing Fortnite to notice that it's 78 degrees.

My kids probably won’t notice unless it hits 90. They’re probably in front of the plasma TV at this very moment doing their part to heat the house.

[tokamak 6687]

Isn't this all part of the deal with Griddy though? Yeah y'all are getting bent over right now but the upshot is that you're supposed to be getting ahead off periods when the guy that got a free Alexa from TXU is still paying 18 cents/kWh.

[Damor 1246]

Yeah, I'm new to it, but I can deal with the volatility if it overall balances out.  I've had good fixed rate plans that ran out, and because I was distracted with other shit at the time, probably gave back any savings in the next month on whatever shit plan they defaulted me to (Or like when Breeze went under, and TXU tried to annex me like the Sudetenland for over 20c/kwh). 

Like Vegas, the guys who put those plans together aren't in the business of giving away money, and I simply don't have the time or desire to try to beat the house.

[NeverMarryAStripper 22313]

So taking 5 minutes to renew your plan once a year is too inconvenient, but dealing with Griddy every day is not?

[Damor 1246]

You make a good point, and I salute you for it.

But I have to admit I am much more amused by goofing off at work playing with my smart home shit than I am by opening 19 tabs of inscrutable electric plans, setting up accounts, and other stuff that's not as fun as turning the AC off on my lazy teenager.  And this is the first week I've had to pay much attention to it, otherwise I've just set it and forget it.

[SydneyCarton 49518]

8 hours ago, Damor said:

You make a good point, and I salute you for it.

But I have to admit I am much more amused by goofing off at work playing with my smart home shit than I am by opening 19 tabs of inscrutable electric plans, setting up accounts, and other stuff that's not as fun as turning the AC off on my lazy teenager.  And this is the first week I've had to pay much attention to it, otherwise I've just set it and forget it.

Dude it takes 1 tab and 1 shopping website to shop, and 10 minutes. 

Also, I’m at home today with a sick kid, so the a/c gonna be running. Thoughts and Prayers. 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13741]

4 minutes ago, SydneyCarton said:

Dude it takes 1 tab and 1 shopping website to shop, and 10 minutes. 

Also, I’m at home today with a sick kid, so the a/c gonna be running. Thoughts and Prayers. 

Crank the temp down as low as possible this morning. Then turn it off from 2-6p.  

 if the kid is well enough, go see a movie this afternoon. 

[SydneyCarton 49518]

Just now, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Crank the temp down as low as possible this morning. Then turn it off from 2-6p.  

 if the kid is well enough, go see a movie this afternoon. 

Haha, he is not. He’s a year and a half and doesn’t feel good. Lots of melting down, and arguably/probably too young for a movie anyway. Pour some out for me. 

[elfenix 34758]

Yesterday's estimated usage and cost

[Horns99 172]

Printing $9000 Ercot right now


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[SydneyCarton 49518]

16 minutes ago, Horns99 said:

Printing $9000 Ercot right now


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Yup. I’m showing $8.99 per kWh

Edited August 13, 2019 by SydneyCarton

[TxTower 686]

$9.03 Jeebus

[Damor 1246]

Yep, been that way for at least an hour.

Sydney, you still home with the sick kid?  I don't know what your copay is, but it might have been cheaper for you turn off the AC and take him to the ER.

[swraith 348]

Griddy ERCOT customers getting shafted today.

[TxTower 686]

Got shafted yesterday too.

 

[swraith 348]

Today’s shafting was total butt fuckery compared to yesterday.

[SydneyCarton 49518]

1 hour ago, Damor said:

Yep, been that way for at least an hour.

Sydney, you still home with the sick kid?  I don't know what your copay is, but it might have been cheaper for you turn off the AC and take him to the ER.

Lol. Yeah, we are just eating it this afternoon. I’ll remember that plan for tomorrow though. 

[Telegraph_it 3379]

Looks like yesterday cost me $30. Yikes. 

[Nice Guy Eddie 13741]

tomorrow looks to be cooler across the state and higher chance of rain.  Should ease the electricity demand

[Dutchrudder 11246]

[elfenix 34758]

Turned the thermostat to 86:

[SydneyCarton 49518]

I signed up for a cheap 6 month plan with APG&E yesterday. Will re-assess then. 

[HouTex 1943]

I'm locked in at 8.5 cents and my provider must be losing its ass during these high demand/high price days.  I keep getting emails asking me to reduce power consumption from 2-6.

[Kringelbert Fishtybuns 947]

ERCOT is at $9001 .  Nope, jinxed it down to $7500.

[Dutchrudder 11246]

So is this energy demand real or is a ploy by big energy providers to get you to quit Griddy?

[SydneyCarton 49518]

Just now, Dutchrudder said:

So is this energy demand real or is a ploy by big energy providers to get you to quit Griddy?

It's real man. ERCOT and demand is separate from providers.

 

[SydneyCarton 49518]

1 hour ago, HouTex said:

I'm locked in at 8.5 cents and my provider must be losing its ass during these high demand/high price days.  I keep getting emails asking me to reduce power consumption from 2-6.

Not necessarily. I'm sure many are, but if they hedged appropriately months ago, they're probably fine. ERCOT was telling folks 6-8 months ago that demand this summer was going to be really high. The people who didn't prepare for this properly are Griddy. 

[Dutchrudder 11246]

Do you think the problem is all these Smart thermostats are pre-cooling everyone's home before they arrive home from work, and it's adding a huge load to the grid from 3-6pm? Because it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that the power spike would happen at 3-6 when most people are commuting home. 

[SydneyCarton 49518]

27 minutes ago, Dutchrudder said:

Do you think the problem is all these Smart thermostats are pre-cooling everyone's home before they arrive home from work, and it's adding a huge load to the grid from 3-6pm? Because it doesn't make a whole lot of sense that the power spike would happen at 3-6 when most people are commuting home. 

No man. The problem is coming from a state that's adding millions of people every year. Smart Devices have helped mitigate things.

It's population and temperature related, plain and simple, smart thermostats are a dent. It's people who don't have thermostats that can be adjusted as much or more than anything, it just so happens that 3-6 is the hottest part of the day, and even if things are static it takes more energy to keep homes the same temperature. Just like it takes less energy to keep your home at 72 at 2 am as it does at 2 pm. 

[NeverMarryAStripper 22313]

So we're building the wall on the wrong border?

[Kringelbert Fishtybuns 947]

Smart thermostats won’t make a dent when you are trying to cool a 5000 sq ft house to 72F (fucking cold in the summer) when it’s 102F and 60% humidity.  

Also, it is much harder to run an plant at full load when combustion air and cooling water temps are up.  Efficiency losses everywhere.  Add in a sudden loss of wind compared to forecast, and shit gets tight.

Edited August 15, 2019 by Kringelbert Fishtybuns

[TxTower 686]

Me too. Goodbye Griddy.

[Nice Guy Eddie 13741]

5 hours ago, SydneyCarton said:

No man. The problem is coming from a state that's adding millions of people every year. Smart Devices have helped mitigate things.

It's population and temperature related, plain and simple, smart thermostats are a dent. It's people who don't have thermostats that can be adjusted as much or more than anything, it just so happens that 3-6 is the hottest part of the day, and even if things are static it takes more energy to keep homes the same temperature. Just like it takes less energy to keep your home at 72 at 2 am as it does at 2 pm. 

Is power generation keeping up with Texas population growth?

[Horns99 172]

Generation is being retired (baseload coal plants) probably will see more in the next 12 months. Wind continues to grow, issue is like the other day when the wind stops & it’s super hot out, we are screwed.


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[SydneyCarton 49518]

9 hours ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Is power generation keeping up with Texas population growth?

This is actually kind of a hard question to answer. Honestly, I'd say no. Pundits have been predicting demand will exceed supply for literally a decade now, and generators complain that there isn't enough return to invest in new generation. Yet somehow we've managed to eek along with like an extra 3-4000 Megawats that have come online in the last few years. Somehow we always seem to have enough when we need it. And generators don't want an overabundance of supply because, when that happens, they don't get to make money on price spikes like these...

The short answer is, people complain about this ALL the time and like to talk about how we won't have enough, but somehow, magically, we always have JUST enough...like magic. Not that I'm cynical. 

[elfenix 34758]

And yesterday. Usage is down to nearly nothing and it's still multiple dollars an hour. That said I'm still projecting at only $20 more than last August. This pattern keeps up it'll be way over that, though.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited August 16, 2019 by elfenix

[SydneyCarton 49518]

Just now, elfenix said:

And yesterday. Usage is down to nearly nothing and it's still multiple dollars an hour. That said I'm still projecting at only $20 more than last August. This pattern keeps up it'll be way over that, though.

Looks like I officially got off their books yesterday, and my all-in rate for exactly 15 days of August is 30.7 cents. Hilariously, even though my meter was off their service first thing yesterday morning, they still hit my credit card again yesterday afternoon. Of course they don't have a chat operator to tell me when I can expect my balance back. 

[elfenix 34758]

1 minute ago, SydneyCarton said:

Looks like I officially got off their books yesterday, and my all-in rate for exactly 15 days of August is 30.7 cents. Hilariously, even though my meter was off their service first thing yesterday morning, they still hit my credit card again yesterday afternoon. Of course they don't have a chat operator to tell me when I can expect my balance back. 

at least you'll probably get it back vs the provider conveniently not sending the notice and getting charged $153 for 2 weeks of usage in february.  yes i probably should have  calendared the end date myself instead of trying to remember it a year later.

[Telegraph_it 3379]

My meter went offline with Griddy today. Looks like I ended the month at 21 cents. That was a fun experiment. Locked in at 8.1 cents now until February. 

Edited August 16, 2019 by Telegraph_it

[mdmost 44089]

Maybe they should change their name to Gougey.

Edited August 16, 2019 by mdmost

[SydneyCarton 49518]

This was a fun read. Dude's bank cut Griddy off from charging.

 

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/griddy-customers-upset-over-electricity-prices-during-recent-heat-wave?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=kprc2&fbclid=IwAR03QLWGw6NGZrQPM-NCmlpsIXRhv2AX1a64KPpSw0hjgCADIcPPHf0QlgQ

[Dewey 3333]

Not knocking anyone for trying,  just that griddy commercials always made me wonder what the angle was? I get humanitarian causes and saying your about helping people, not trying to make bank, but an electric provider? 

[HouTex 1943]

My provider, 4Change Energy, donates 1 or 2% of profits to one of four or five charities that you can choose.  

[elfenix 34758]

1 hour ago, SydneyCarton said:

This was a fun read. Dude's bank cut Griddy off from charging.

 

https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/griddy-customers-upset-over-electricity-prices-during-recent-heat-wave?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=snd&utm_content=kprc2&fbclid=IwAR03QLWGw6NGZrQPM-NCmlpsIXRhv2AX1a64KPpSw0hjgCADIcPPHf0QlgQ

seems like the hottest part of the summer wasn't a good time to switch to anything, and wtf are you doing that you got charged $350 in 8 days?  most of those days didn't even have huge prices

[SydneyCarton 49518]

Just now, elfenix said:

seems like the hottest part of the summer wasn't a good time to switch to anything, and wtf are you doing that you got charged $350 in 8 days?  most of those days didn't even have huge prices

My account status is still being figured out, but dude, I altered nothing and I was charged twice a day on both the 14th and the 15th, for $196. I' not sure how much of that was their billing system being lumpy, and whatnot, but I'm guessing most guys have the same or worse situations than that guy. 

[mdmost 44089]

A friend shared that he was charged around $500 for the Aug 1-15 period. His all-in rate was 38.5 cents. That's insane. 

[elfenix 34758]

1300 kWh seems insane

[mdmost 44089]

Texas is the summer. I don't have that big of a house, I work from home and usually run the A/C around 76-78 and I'm using around 2000 kwh a month in the summer. I also think he has 3 units in his house. 

Edited August 16, 2019 by mdmost

[CBT 1290]

well shit, I signed up a few days ago before I read this thread. 

[zork 629]

12 minutes ago, CBT said:

well shit, I signed up a few days ago before I read this thread. 

goatsee.jpg,  ouch.