JEA Bill

[BridgeTroll]

Last winter I got 700 and 800 dollar electric bills (1200 sq foot house).  It was my first winter in an older house and my AC was running 24/7 but it wouldn't get over 48 degrees.

This pretty much says it all.  $800 is outrageous!  Your house wasting energy by the bucket.  Get a free energy audit from JEA... caulk and insulate.  My 1700 sq ft house heating costs are half or less.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

<repeat, repeat>  I will not get sucked into this thread again...

[tufsu1]

no stephendare...I do not have a six figure income...unless you count the comma 

Here's the deal....my monthly utility bills in 2011 (electric, water, sewer) ran anywhere from $125 to $225 depending on whether the heat/AC was on....and thats for a nearly 1800sf townhome with 3 exterior walls (end unit), 19 windows, and 2 sliding glass doors.

The only part of the bill that annoys me is the water/sewer....my bill is routinely about $70 as that seems to be the minimum charge.

I'm not suggesting that JEA is altruistic and perfect...I'm just asking for proof that there have been 6 rate increases this year.

Keep in mind that America's thirst for energy keeps going up as do the costs of developing that energy.....so JEA and other utilities have to build new plants and many want them invest in cleaner technologies such as wind and solar...so where should they get the money to do that?

[tufsu1]

well I would say 2 things

1. much of the utility's profits go back into the City's general fund (discussed in this thread last year I believe)....without that, our property and/or sales taxes would likely be higher

2. JEA rates are not ludicrous...as shown in that same previous thread, their rates are comparable with other utilities in Florida....both public-owned and private.

Now I do understand that JEA can be a bit harsh when it comes to late/overdue payments....but I've also heard stories where they will work with customers onm payments plans and the like...plus there are non-profits out there that help with paying utility bills for folks.

Since you made a wise crack about my income earlier, I'll take this opportunity to say that I am involved with some of the organizations that do this....and that my decent salary provides the opportunity for me to give to these charities monetarily (in addition to the amount of time I spend volunteering).

[tufsu1]

here's the deal folks...stop blaming the rates and look at how much energy you used instead...in December 2009 I used about 350kwh....this year it was closer to 950kwh.......not surprisingly, my bill more than doubled.

here's an update...with more reasonable temps in December 2011, I used only 315kwh...and my electric bill was back down to almost what it was in 2009

I found this old comment while researching other comments from last year in this thread.

I recommend people check out #20, 33, 37, 39, 64, 71, 81, and 87

[tufsu1]

and what does their hook-up problems have to do with rate increases?

[hypnotoad]

Last winter I got 700 and 800 dollar electric bills (1200 sq foot house).  It was my first winter in an older house and my AC was running 24/7 but it wouldn't get over 48 degrees.

This pretty much says it all.  $800 is outrageous!  Your house wasting energy by the bucket.  Get a free energy audit from JEA... caulk and insulate.  My 1700 sq ft house heating costs are half or less.

Unfortunately, I rent and cannot do a lot in the way of weatherizing the house!  I got my landlord to insulate the attic after much whining but the thing that helped most was getting a gas furnance.  Now I don't even use HVAC in the winter for heat... I use the furnace and I've never had a gas bill over 50 dollars (it's the only thing I use the gas for though -- everything else is electric).  It does a very good job!  Last winter was a nightmare though.  I was about to go to a hotel!

As for the payment plan folks are talking about... being arbitrariliy charged an extra 600+ bucks and then having the "priviledge" to break that up over 6 months doesn't exactly give me a warm fuzzy.

My personal opinion is that no organization should be allowed to profit obscenely off of essential goods and services -- housing, food, utilities, healthcare.  But since we *NEED* these things they provide they really have us over a barrell and no one's stopping them from trying to take us to the cleaners.  I don't know about you, but after housing, food, utilities and healthcare, there isn't much left!  And that's exactly where they want to keep us all -- treading water.  I'm not complaining -- I live pretty well... but when you allow these entities/systems to keep everyone in a constant struggle for the barest essentials, it creates a lot of stress, sickness and suffering (and crime!) and I personally am not for that.  Make your obscene profits off schmancy cars and furniture and boutiques and salons... but there should be something sacred about housing, food, utilities and healthcare, and every effort should be made in keeping those at a reasonable cost for everyone (yes, everyone!).  Sorry kinda got off on a tangent there, but I really feel for the people who are struggling to keep a roof over their heads and the toilets flushing!

[tufsu1]

My personal opinion is that no organization should be allowed to profit obscenely off of essential goods and services -- housing, food, utilities, healthcare. 

I agree with you 100%....and that's part of the reason (along with the monopoly thing) that these entities have to get governmental approvals for rate changes.

http://www.psc.state.fl.us/

[Dog Walker]

It is my understanding that the Public Service Commission only regulates and sets rates for private utilities like Florida Power and cannot regulate "public" utilities like JEA.  Is my understanding correct?

[tufsu1]

from the PSC website...

Who Does the PSC Regulate?
During 2010, the PSC regulated five investor-owned electric companies, seven investor-owned natural gas utilities, and more than 150 investor-owned water and/or wastewater utilities. The PSC also had competitive market oversight for more than 945 telecommunications companies in Florida.

The number of certificated telecommunications companies or registered interexchange companies as of December 2010, was as follows:

•10 incumbent local exchange companies (ILECs)
•297 competitive local exchange companies (CLECs)
•481 interexchange companies (IXCs)
•113 pay telephone service companies (PATs)
•25 alternative access vendors (AAVs)
•20 shared tenant service providers (STS)

While the PSC does not fully regulate publicly owned municipal or cooperative electric utilities, the Commission does have jurisdiction, with regard to rate structure, territorial boundaries, bulk power supply operations and planning, over 35 municipally owned electric systems and 18 rural electric cooperatives. The PSC has jurisdiction, with regard to territorial boundaries and safety, over 27 municipally owned natural gas utilities and also exercises safety authority over all electric and natural gas systems operating in the state. For information on services the PSC does and does not regulate, see our brochure entitled When to Call the PSC.

How Are Your Rates Set?
Whenever a jurisdictional rate-base-regulated gas, electric, telephone, water or wastewater company wants to change its rates, it must receive permission from the PSC. The PSC then investigates its request and sets new rate levels if the request is valid. The investigation is extensive, with many PSC staff members helping the Commission assess the company's request. The Public Service Commission has the responsibility to set rates that are fair, just and reasonable. It is also required to set rates to allow utility investors an opportunity to earn a reasonable return on their investment.

[Dog Walker]

Thanks, TUFSU.  So PSC can regulate rates for JEA, but not a lot of other stuff.

[Overstreet]

........ Now I don't even use HVAC in the winter for heat... I use the furnace ......................[/quote]


HVAC = Heat Ventilation Air Conditioning.

You use the furnace you use HVAC.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

HVAC = Heat Ventilation Air Conditioning.

You use the furnace you use HVAC.

+1

You probably also call people out for using their 'hot water heater' and their 'frozen ice dispenser'.   

No, really, I prefer my ice to be 'unfrozen'.  They call it water.

[Dog Walker]

I'm sure she meant heat pump!

[hypnotoad]

........ Now I don't even use HVAC in the winter for heat... I use the furnace ......................

HVAC = Heat Ventilation Air Conditioning.

You use the furnace you use HVAC.
[/quote]

Not sure if you're trying to be an ass or what -- I'm a software developer not a general contractor.  I use a gas furnace for heat, not the air conditioner.  I was trying to make a suggestion to be helpful to others having heating issues in their house.  Hey, at least you got one thing right today though.