Rip-off

[Fiddlehead44]

    Many of you members have discussed your price per kWh during

previous entries. Our provincial government owns the hydro company,

but they made it into a independent company that is still funded and

controlled by the government. Their reason for this was to make the

bills taxable. My recent November bill showed a cost of 9.62 cents

per kw. I used 650 kWh for the month. $62.53. Not too bad, but add

$22.34 for a service charge and another $11.88 tax (14%) and the bill

totals out at $96.75. In actuallity, this means 14.9 cents per kWh.

I've changed to CFL's, insulated the water heater, turned off all

unnecessary lights and unplugged all wallwarts, but my bill is still

higher than last year. During the summer, they increased the rate

because the hydro company was losing money. BooHoo. Like any government

run organization, they blow money like it grew on trees.

Fiddlehead44

[ghurd]

Tripple Dipping?

What, ~20% for the big guys and ~10% for the provincial income tax?

So you had to make $138 to clear enough to pay the $62.53 to the hydro!

G-

[Norm]

 I noticied on our bill that they buy it basically

for a $1 then charge you another $1 for delivery

thru their wires plus $.50 for taxes....etc.

and then taxes for paperwork....etc.

   

[electrondady1]

hey, fiddle head !

here in ontario they really suck the blood out out of a guy.

for two apartments :1200kwh @5.3

                     400kwh @6.2

but there is also a delivery charge of $66.24

a regulatory charge of $10.42

a corporate debt retirement charge.of $10.43

some sort of penalty of $2.21

don't for get the goods and service tax $10.53

so for $88.41 dollars of hydro i must pay $188.24                      

[DamonHD]

Standard rate in the UK (varies roughly by supplier, but you don't have to pick your local one, you can use any approved one nationwide) is ~10p/kWh, ie 20c/kWh.

Rgds

Damon

[GeeMac]

Ahh. You must be too young to see the secret pattern yet. There is a remarkable similarity between a government and the mafia. They both meet and make rules about the contents of your wallet and they both hire people with guns to enforce those rules. You have been warned  ;-)

[DanB]

I cannot say about how well they use their money or where they spend it.

But I have no sympathy for people who complain about $0.14/kWH... sorry.  energy is expensive, it costs more than you are actually paying! - get used to the idea - you are still getting a bargain.  (my opinion anyhow - my energy costs lots more than yours and I think I am getting a bargain ;-)  

[DanB]

furthermore....

you have the option to use it - or not to use it..  they're not mandating you to buy their 'cheap' energy.  You could choose to live without it or  - make your own!  (but that would cost more)

When people complain about the cost of stuff they choose to buy (energy from the electric company - gas from the pump etc... ) they stand on unstable ground in my opinoin.  You buy stuff and pay for it when you think its worth it.  If you think you're getting ripped off then dont buy it.

[Fiddlehead44]

Dan,

    I agree with all of your comments, but I know that anything and everything

run by the government is at best, 30% efficient as compared to non-manopoly

independent enterprises. I have seen this first hand. At 2 PM several hydro

trucks parked out of sight behind a coffee shop waiting until it is time to punch

out. 5 men standing around while one may be working. Departments searching for

places to spend the remainder of their budget, as they could never end up with

a surplus, as this would decrease next year's allotment. At the upper level,

managers (lots of them) making wages, bonuses and graft that would make you

sick. On the other hand, is the polictians that create many avenues that will

eventually fill their pockets or those of their friends. Do I sound bitter?

You got that right. I don't like being ripped off. My biggest dislike is when

someone thinks you are stupid enough to eat their sugar coating.

Fiddlehead

[Opera House]

So, you would rather have private companies like ENRON create artificial brown outs and raise the price of energy. At least he government creates an employment welfare system that adds a few extra workers and benefits the economy.

[electrondady1]

every once in a while something goes wrong

 corporate and government corruption is exposed.

years ago Ontario hydro was found to be corrupt and debt ridden.

so it was broken up into three companies, each with a president making something like 4 million a year.

last year the president of hydro one (a governmental appointee) was found to have used his secretary's expense account to the tune of $45,ooo for his own benefit.

instead of being charged he was asked to resign and given 3 million severance pay.

i don't think they even asked for the 45,ooo back.!