TEXANS Please share your experiences with TECH, during your difficult times.

[JethroB]

I wonder how many of those exorbitant bills will actually be tried to be collected. I suspect or maybe just hope that programming and automated billing systems were allowed to continue to run during the crisis. The folks in charge were probably concerned with the bigger issues at the time.

 

[two_bit_score]

I wonder how many of those exorbitant bills will actually be tried to be collected. I suspect or maybe just hope that programming and automated billing systems were allowed to continue to run during the crisis. The folks in charge were probably concerned with the bigger issues at the time.

Those exorbitant electric bills grab headlines and of course they are a tremendous burden on the people who receive them but they are not the norm. Our bill was $89 on our all electric house during a good bit of the icecapades. The next bill will probably be a little higher but probably not much.

Those getting the high bills elected to take a chance and got burned. They are in a small minority of Texas electric customers from everything I can tell.

 

[CobyRupert]

What was the chance they elected to take?
Turning on their cook stove?
Having some heat in their house when pipes were freezing and temps in single digits?
This is a good example on why not to use automatic payment plans.

 

[k0ua]

What was the chance they elected to take?
Turning on their cook stove?
Having some heat in their house when pipes were freezing and temps in single digits?
This is a good example on why not to use automatic payment plans.

The chance they took was their CHOICE to sign up for the variable rate plan. They didn't have to do that. It was their choice. The did it to save money. And they did save money on their electric rate. Right up to the point where they didn't.

Another example of this is what Joe Namath is pushing. The so called Part C or "advantage plan". The advantage plane in Medicare will save you money over buying a traditional supplement. Without a doubt. Provided that you do not become chronically ill. But at least the advantage plans have a "cap" which is called the total out of pocket for a period. But even at that, many customers come crying to us asking "is there any way I can get out of my advantage plan". The reason they want out is because of having to pay up to that "total out of pocket". And the reason for that is because they are chronically ill. And of course my answer is always "no, sorry we cannot help you". But to be STUPID enough to sign up for a variable rate electric plan with NO cap of any kind is just STUPID. Now we can use a different word if you like, maybe "Challenged" if that makes you feel better, but as far as I know "stupid is as stupid does".

 

[MoKelly]

The chance they took was their CHOICE to sign up for the variable rate plan. They didn't have to do that. It was their choice. The did it to save money. And they did save money on their electric rate. Right up to the point where they didn't.

Another example of this is what Joe Namath is pushing. The so called Part C or "advantage plan". The advantage plane in Medicare will save you money over buying a traditional supplement. Without a doubt. Provided that you do not become chronically ill. But at least the advantage plans have a "cap" which is called the total out of pocket for a period. But even at that, many customers come crying to us asking "is there any way I can get out of my advantage plan". The reason they want out is because of having to pay up to that "total out of pocket". And the reason for that is because they are chronically ill. And of course my answer is always "no, sorry we cannot help you". But to be STUPID enough to sign up for a variable rate electric plan with NO cap of any kind is just STUPID. Now we can use a different word if you like, maybe "Challenged" if that makes you feel better, but as far as I know "stupid is as stupid does".

This is so very true.

People commit to concepts that, under normal circumstances, save money and us all good.

But, when the unanticipated happens, they act surprised and claim it’s unfair.

People are responsible for their own decisions. People should understand the decisions they make.

Individual responsibility is important.

MoKelly

 

[MossRoad]

Read an article yesterday that said deregulation of the electric utility in Texas was supposed to bring about competition and lower electric rates. However, since deregulation in Texas, consumers have paid about $28 billion more than they would have had they stayed regulated. Under either of the plans, the fixed rate one and the variable rate one, consumers ended up paying more than had they stayed regulated.

 

[JethroB]

Georgia deregulated natural gas about 15 years ago with the expectation of increasing competition. It didn't work out as planned for the small users like homeowners. Yes the gas itself is cheaper with fixed and variable rate plans offered by several marketers. But the base monthly fees jumped from about $5 to $30.
In the summertime I might use 10 therms for hot water, about $5 worth.

 

[rekees4300]

Texas woman whose electric bill soared over $9,000 files class-action lawsuit seeking $1 billion from Griddy.

Texas power outage: Lawsuit seeks $1 billion from Griddy over prices

 

[Oaktree]

Georgia deregulated natural gas about 15 years ago with the expectation of increasing competition. It didn't work out as planned for the small users like homeowners. Yes the gas itself is cheaper with fixed and variable rate plans offered by several marketers. But the base monthly fees jumped from about $5 to $30.

Realistically, you can't truly "deregulate" utilities like gas or electricity. Even though there may be more "suppliers", the distribution infrastructure remains the same, along with all the fixed costs of that...you're not going to have 3 sets of pipelines or powerlines, the cost would be prohibitive.
I kind of laugh when I get solicitations in the mail to go with various "independent" electric suppliers, and how it could save me 10%. Well, not really. The electricity itself accounts for only ~30% of my bill, the rest is distribution charges which would remain the same no matter who "supplied" the electricity. I'm sure the same goes for gas.

 

[LouNY]

Realistically, you can't truly "deregulate" utilities like gas or electricity. Even though there may be more "suppliers", the distribution infrastructure remains the same, along with all the fixed costs of that...you're not going to have 3 sets of pipelines or powerlines, the cost would be prohibitive.
I kind of laugh when I get solicitations in the mail to go with various "independent" electric suppliers, and how it could save me 10%. Well, not really. The electricity itself accounts for only ~30% of my bill, the rest is distribution charges which would remain the same no matter who "supplied" the electricity. I'm sure the same goes for gas.

I get the same sales pitch here also, tie in with us and save, save, save till you get right down to the nitty gritty and if you are lucky you might save $2-$4 per month when everything is just right any opps and you are higher.