As mentioned in another thread, electric power rates are skyrocketing in the state of California. The EIA publishes the average rates for each state, as well as the US average. Below is a comparison between California residential prices and the US average, for the years shown. In short, California was higher than the national average by 26% in 2011. As of July 2022, California is now 79% higher than the US average. Prices are for residential rates, in cents per kilowatt-hour (kwh)
--- CA percent higher
Year California US Avg than the US avg
2011 14.78 11.72 26%
2012 15.34 11.88 29
2013 16.23 12.13 34
2014 16.25 12.52 30
2015 16.99 12.65 34
2016 17.39 12.55 39
2017 18.31 12.89 42
2018 18.84 12.87 46
2019 19.15 13.01 47
2020 20.45 13.15 56
2021 22.85 13.72 67
2022* 26.26 14.68 79
** As of July 2022.
The numbers above are the most accurate I could use, based on the annual power report, as well as the monthly report for the latest years.
Obviously, California is increasing at a higher rate than the US on average. California now has a higher rate than Alaska, which was unthinkable only a few years ago.
The state average combines the multiple utilities in California (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E), plus some others such as the Los Angeles DWP. Here in San Diego, there are times when I am paying 58 cents per kwh (from 4 pm to 9 pm). This cannot continue. From the above, the CA residential rate has increased 3.4 cents/kwh in only the first 7 months of 2022.
The main “extra” charge in CA is clearing not just the lines of tree limbs but the dry areas around the lines of brush and trees for a distance on the ground around the lines because of the fire conditions.
Other states have less of a problem generally. They are often either desert with fewer trees or wetter with fewer fire conditions on the ground.
But we can try and sink another conversation with no facts are around energy costs.
Here is a link from the local utility as proof. Scroll down to the TOU-DR1 pricing plan, and hit the down arrow. Its actually 58.8 cents/kwh, or 69 cents if above a certain baseline.
I believe they will be going to the winter pricing next month, which may give some relief on the top end, but the overall bill might be about the same. We’ll see what happens then.
Are you accounting for your California Climate Credits for electricity?
Every spring and fall, millions of California residents receive credits on their electric and natural gas bills identified as the “California Climate Credit.” The California Climate Credit is part of California’s efforts to fight climate change.
I suspect the issue is not so much the amount being spent on preventing future wildfire problems - they should probably be spending a lot more TBH - so much as the amount spent on damages caused by previous disasters they’ve caused. PG&E in particular seems to have fantastically bad risk assessment and management practices as shown starting with the San Bruno gas pipeline explosion, if not before. I think the CPUC bears a lot of responsibility for letting the utilities get away with some of this stuff, too.
The WildFire Fund Charge? On sheet 6 as item 12? Read that it is a bond. It is not clearing the trees. The clearing of trees and particularly the brush in drier areas of CA is funding throughout some of the other charges and unspecified in that report.
The bond is raising money for damages after a fire. You do not bond to clear the lines in this way.
Might add clearing the lines of tree limbs and brush below is general maintenance. It is not a wildfire in and of itself. The workers, equipment, etc would be bonded in the normal course of working in the field.
Here in San Diego, there are times when I am paying 58 cents per kwh (from 4 pm to 9 pm).
Wow. Since moving to TN, paying on average 10/kwh and has maybe increased 5% over that past 3 years. No surge pricing and very little seasonal pricing. Last time I checked, TVA generates electricity from a grab bag of sources.
The state average combines the multiple utilities in California (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E), plus some others such as the Los Angeles DWP. Here in San Diego, there are times when I am paying 58 cents per kwh (from 4 pm to 9 pm).
Invest in Enphase. Right or wrong, they have the product to capitalize on this delta.
A full house solar system with about a 100 kilowatt hours of battery back up will run about a $100,000 dollars. At 12 cents a kilowatt hour the the return on investment is 30 years. This is too long as the most optimistic salesman can only get away with talking 20 years. Personally, any equipment should be amortized and payback should happen in 7 years.
At 26 and 58 cents you should be able to show payback in 15 years or less. Also, with the new Enphase micro controls you can auto set up a market based micro grid as small as within your house and as large as a large neighborhood. HOA’s of single family or even
townhouses should be grabbing this system every day. Also, any telecom should be grabbing this. A cell site will be using $1000 a month or more in electricity at 26 cents a kilowatt hour.
As solar plus storage is working in the south, about the Mason/Dixon line and below, it should work for most of California.
You are forgetting Texas utilities with their systems freezing up in winter and systems under powered in summer heat waves. The whole state is a mess because of cheap electricity - no room for extra safety or reserve power.
I was not talking about Texas. Obviously they have big problems as well, for considerably different reasons.
If I ever buy a house, whatever location that may be, solar + storage will be an essential disaster-proofing investment that I’ll happily pay extra for in order to isolate myself from the whims of power companies, regulators, and politicians insofar as possible.
My biannual credit just arrived in the current bill. Together with the April credit, they amount to about 2% of my total gas+electric bill over the previous year. Not meaningless but not very significant, either. People living in smaller and/or better-insulated premises would see a greater impact - maybe 5% of their bill since the credit seems to be a flat amount/customer.
My electric bill was negative this month after receiving the climate credit.
But then I live alone, didn’t use the air conditioner, and don’t run the oven, dishwasher, or do laundry during peak $$$ hours (4-9PM).
You are reading the information incorrectly. The dollar amount shown is only one of the two annual credits. The actual credit was $34 in 2021 and $72 in 2020. In 2022 the credit was $78.60.
You are correct, I read it incorrectly. It is twice the amount listed. There is a table by YEAR (but oddly lists “half year” amounts) after you scroll down a little. It is titled “Past Electric California Climate Credits”. Still almost negligible for most people who use electricity regularly. Even my frugal family used between $100 (winter) and $300 (summer) a month (at 0.13/kWh).
