Electricity Price Increases

[gsganzer]

I expect electricity prices to dramatically rise in the coming years. I work in the power industry, commissioning and servicing gas fired power plants and every turbine manufacturer is completely sold out and backlogged for at least the next 5+ years. Gas Turbine Backlog

The power demands from the data centers are what's driving it, coupled with the transition away from coal, EV's and requirements for all electric appliances in many communities.

I'm sure data centers have deeper pockets then the average homeowner and can support paying higher rates.

 

[jyoutz]

Any issue with a big "bang" on startup? One issue with check valves both upper and lower, is that if any lower valve leaks more than the one above it, pressure in the section of tubing in-between drops. Then when pump kicks on and starts charging that evactuated section of pipe, you get a big bang when it finally trips past the pressure of the section above + spring force of the upper check valve.

I had this problem in my prior house, and despite being a pretty competent plumber myself, I had to call one out with more experience with wells to help me solve the issue. His recommendation was to just remove the upper check valve, since my well wasn't terribly deep, and that did solve the problem.

So far everything has been good with no big bang on startup. It was all replaced last November. The well is 680’ deep.

 

[WinterDeere]

So far everything has been good with no big bang on startup. It was all replaced last November. The well is 680’ deep.

oof! Rough numbers, 0.433 psi/ft, you're looking at 294 PSI just to get water to the surface! If you have a typical 40-60 PSI pump switch, that means the pump has to deliver 354 PSI at cut-off. I suspect you're not using the typical black ABS tubing in your well, at those pressures!

 

[Oaktree]

I just recieved my bill today; 35.10 for 127KW. His bill would have been $203.13 here.

Just got bill in NH for 381 KWH was $107.00 of which $65 is delivery and $42 cost of electricity - which is interesting - we used 3X you did Jstpssng, and paid about the same. ($35x3=$105.)

How do you use so little power? We have gas stove, electric dryer, oil boiler HW, and 1.5 HP well pump then lights etc in 3K SF house and 2 of us,

I'm in the same general region, and my usage is mid-way between the two of you:

I think the spike on the Sept bill (for August usage) was primarily from using a heatgun to strip paint off some woodwork and a project I was doing that required some welding.

We have propane stove & hot water, no well pump (it's gravity-fed), woodstove for heat (and just fans in summer) and use a clothesline to dry clothes. My wife uses a space heater in the bathroom and her craft room in the winter which accounts for a good amount of extra usage in the winter (as well as more lighting due to shorter days).

"Delivery" charges are over twice what the electricity itself costs, which is why I haven't bothered looking into an alternate supplier. Not worth it to save maybe 75¢/mo.

 

[Jstpssng]

I have a well pump but it doesn't work very hard. The first summer I ran it from the spring on top of the ground 250 feet to the house; it gravity fed enough to prime the pump.

 

[WinterDeere]

I'm in the same general region, and my usage is mid-way between the two of you:
View attachment 4287162

Whoa! I'm happy when we only use 10x that!

Oh, and we heat the house with wood and oil, not electric!

 

[JTKub]

Just got bill in NH for 381 KWH was $107.00 of which $65 is delivery and $42 cost of electricity - which is interesting - we used 3X you did Jstpssng, and paid about the same. ($35x3=$105.)

How do you use so little power? We have gas stove, electric dryer, oil boiler HW, and 1.5 HP well pump then lights etc in 3K SF house and 2 of us,

I'm trying to figure out how I use so much @ ~600-800kwh per month.

Gas stove, gas heat, gas dryer, gas water heater. One refrigerator, one small chest freezer in the basement. City water, so no pumps. ~2800sq/ft home, with 5 people. No a/c aside from one window shaker in the master bedroom that hasn't been used in a month or so.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I'm trying to figure out how I use so much @ ~600-800kwh per month.

Gas stove, gas heat, gas dryer, gas water heater. One refrigerator, one small chest freezer in the basement. City water, so no pumps. ~2800sq/ft home, with 5 people. No a/c aside from one window shaker in the master bedroom that hasn't been used in a month or so.

6-800 isn't bad, that's about what we use when AC is off with 3 people and electric clothes dryer, fridge, freezer, well pump.

 

[JTKub]

6-800 isn't bad, that's about what we use when AC is off with 3 people and electric clothes dryer, fridge, freezer, well pump.

It just seems crazy now given everything is "energy star compliant", all super low wattage LED lighting, etc, yet the average consumer uses more. It's got to be all the gadgets and chargers plugged in these days that add up.

 

[Jstpssng]

I'm trying to figure out how I use so much @ ~600-800kwh per month.

Gas stove, gas heat, gas dryer, gas water heater. One refrigerator, one small chest freezer in the basement. City water, so no pumps. ~2800sq/ft home, with 5 people. No a/c aside from one window shaker in the master bedroom that hasn't been used in a month or so.

How big is your refrigerator? Those big side by sides seem to use a lot of power.
Conversely I have found that my freezers use very little power. Only one is running now, but deer season starts soon.
They are kept relatively full and only opened a couple of times per week, so the temp remains constant. They also are not self defrosting, a feature which I believe takes a fair amount of power to run.