Ric Murphy
5th November 2008, 07:39
Thought some of you might find this story interesting......
Earlier this year I made a concerted effort to maximize the output & utilization of my wind/solar electric system while reducing where possible our overall household usage. Here in Ontario where I live they only read the meter quarterly. Month 1 & 2 are estimates (based on the previous years consumption) and month 3 is an actual based on the difference between meter readings minus amount paid in month 1 & 2. So I anxiously waited for our first “actual” bill and was pleasantly surprised back in Sept when I got a bill that showed I only used 24 kwh's for the month which works out to $1.20. Keep in mind I was over charged for the previous 2 months so I really used more than I was billed for. However my bill was for a total of $27.48. That works out to $1.15/kwh compared to a typical bill which averages between $.14-$.15/kwh. So although I have reduced my amount of purchased electricity by approx 1/3 from last year I now pay almost a 10x increase in my price/kwh every 3rd month....some incentive. So yesterday I rec'd my 2nd estimated bill for the this quarter. Here's what it showed:
Month 1 estimated reading – 3274 (Sept 11)
Month 2 estimated reading – 4275 (Oct 10)
Difference = 1001 kwh's
Amount of bill $142.46/1001 kwh's = $.142/kwh
Out of curiosity I read the meter this morning (Nov 5th ) at 4001 kwh. So with approx only 5 days left until they read it again, I've already paid for more than I will likely use in this quarter!
Here in Ontario we have a 2 tier billing system. Right now we're charged $.05/kwh for the first 600 kwh's and $.059 for everything above 600 kwh's. So that got me thinking that since my 1st 2 bills each quarter are estimates (which are showing higher than actual usage) I'm being charged for the additional usage at the higher rate. So not only am I paying Hydro One in advance for some of my electricity, I'm also paying a higher rate both on the estimated bill and the actual. Again a very good incentive to reduce wouldn't you say? I got looking at my Sept bill (the low one) and I found a $4.92 credit classified as “Estimated Bill Adjustment”. There is no explanation as to what this credit is but I have to assume that Hydro One recognizes the overcharge/kwh for the estimated bills and credits me accordingly on the actual. I'll have to see if I can confirm that and how they calculate the credit.
Earlier this year my old meter was replaced with the new “Smart Meter”. Ontario plans to implement “time of use” billing at some point in the future which will eliminate the above issues. In addition, since the bulk of my electricity production is during peak usage and the bulk of my consumption is during off peak times I would expect to see additional reductions in my cost of electricity. By the way I've noticed that the new digital Smart Meter has a light up display so it is consuming power 24/7. Likely not much but certainly more that the old one!!!
Ric
Earlier this year I made a concerted effort to maximize the output & utilization of my wind/solar electric system while reducing where possible our overall household usage. Here in Ontario where I live they only read the meter quarterly. Month 1 & 2 are estimates (based on the previous years consumption) and month 3 is an actual based on the difference between meter readings minus amount paid in month 1 & 2. So I anxiously waited for our first “actual” bill and was pleasantly surprised back in Sept when I got a bill that showed I only used 24 kwh's for the month which works out to $1.20. Keep in mind I was over charged for the previous 2 months so I really used more than I was billed for. However my bill was for a total of $27.48. That works out to $1.15/kwh compared to a typical bill which averages between $.14-$.15/kwh. So although I have reduced my amount of purchased electricity by approx 1/3 from last year I now pay almost a 10x increase in my price/kwh every 3rd month....some incentive. So yesterday I rec'd my 2nd estimated bill for the this quarter. Here's what it showed:
Month 1 estimated reading – 3274 (Sept 11)
Month 2 estimated reading – 4275 (Oct 10)
Difference = 1001 kwh's
Amount of bill $142.46/1001 kwh's = $.142/kwh
Out of curiosity I read the meter this morning (Nov 5th ) at 4001 kwh. So with approx only 5 days left until they read it again, I've already paid for more than I will likely use in this quarter!
Here in Ontario we have a 2 tier billing system. Right now we're charged $.05/kwh for the first 600 kwh's and $.059 for everything above 600 kwh's. So that got me thinking that since my 1st 2 bills each quarter are estimates (which are showing higher than actual usage) I'm being charged for the additional usage at the higher rate. So not only am I paying Hydro One in advance for some of my electricity, I'm also paying a higher rate both on the estimated bill and the actual. Again a very good incentive to reduce wouldn't you say? I got looking at my Sept bill (the low one) and I found a $4.92 credit classified as “Estimated Bill Adjustment”. There is no explanation as to what this credit is but I have to assume that Hydro One recognizes the overcharge/kwh for the estimated bills and credits me accordingly on the actual. I'll have to see if I can confirm that and how they calculate the credit.
Earlier this year my old meter was replaced with the new “Smart Meter”. Ontario plans to implement “time of use” billing at some point in the future which will eliminate the above issues. In addition, since the bulk of my electricity production is during peak usage and the bulk of my consumption is during off peak times I would expect to see additional reductions in my cost of electricity. By the way I've noticed that the new digital Smart Meter has a light up display so it is consuming power 24/7. Likely not much but certainly more that the old one!!!
Ric