Tractor lots are full

[Snobdds]

Since it is traded on the world market; the larger market has significant effects on pricing.

Actually, the US trades light sweet crude. The world trades on Brent Crude.

Different oil and different prices.

 

[Hay Dude]

There is not a nation-wide increase in electricity. Many of us co-op members are seeing little to no changes in costs, and co-ops are widespread in rural parts of this country.

Open this link, scroll down to the first chart which shows the changes in kw/hr electricity prices by state.

Tell me if you still think prices didn’t go up between 2022 and 2023

Electricity Rates by State | November 2025 | Choose Energy

Discover which state has the highest and lowest kWh costs throughout the country with our November 2025 Electricity Rates Report.

www.chooseenergy.com

 

[jyoutz]

Actually, the US trades light sweet crude. The world trades on Brent Crude.

Different oil and different prices.

The fact that US crude (and now fuel) is sold internationally does indeed effect the price of fuel. If it were to remain in country, there would be a surplus, thus lowering prices. Whether or not it is the world standard of exchange is secondary to supply leaving the domestic market. And even if that grade of petroleum (and fuel) isn’t the pricing standard, doesn’t mean that international markets don’t compete for those products.

 

[jyoutz]

Open this link, scroll down to the first chart which shows the changes in kw/hr electricity prices by state.

Tell me if you still think prices didn’t go up between 2022 and 2023

Electricity Rates by State | November 2025 | Choose Energy

Discover which state has the highest and lowest kWh costs throughout the country with our November 2025 Electricity Rates Report.

www.chooseenergy.com

Electricity isn’t sold by state; it’s sold by suppliers. The large utilities did increase prices, but many co-ops did not. Of course co-ops only recoup production and operating costs, not profits.

 

[Hay Dude]

Electricity isn’t sold by state; it’s sold by suppliers. The large utilities did increase prices, but many co-ops did not. Of course co-ops only recoup production and operating costs, not profits.

But it still means residential electricity rates went up in like 48 of 50 states. Some went up a lot and like I’ve said over & over, G_______t adds more taxes to electricity and makes it more expensive to generate by adding layer upon layer of regulations and penalties for fossil fuels.

 

[Hay Dude]

Yes, the last couple years have been awful. The near future looks even worse.

I keep thinking every day, could I do more to protect my wealth.…

 

[jyoutz]

But it still means residential electricity rates went up in like 48 of 50 states. Some went up a lot and like i have said over & over, G_______t adds more taxes to electricity and makes it more expensive to generate by adding layer upon layer of regulations and penalties for fossil fuels.

You seem to think that government taxes are the cause of all price increases. The facts are that most utilities rates and taxes are approved by public utility commissions, and this doesn’t happen annually and many commissions are reluctant to raise rates and taxes on public utilities. Most likely operating costs were the reasons why rate increases are approved. But I find it interesting that the co-ops that only pass through production and operations without profits held prices down. I wonder what profit increases were for the utilities that aren’t co-ops? It would be interesting to find out.

 

[Hay Dude]

You seem to think that government taxes are the cause of all price increases. The facts are that most utilities rates and taxes are approved by public utility commissions, and this doesn’t happen annually and many commissions are reluctant to raise rates and taxes on public utilities. Most likely operating costs were the reasons why rate increases are approved. But I find it interesting that the co-ops that only pass through production and operations without profits held prices down. I wonder what profit increases were for the utilities that aren’t co-ops? It would be interesting to find out.

Taxes and inflation

 

[jyoutz]

Taxes and inflation

And record profits. But tax increases don’t happen frequently. It’s not like they increase annually in most places. And many tax increases are propositions on election ballots.

 

[Torvy]

Yes, the cost increases are due to inflation and in some cases regulations. The affect of inflation on wages, supplies and materials drive up the cost of everything, including energy.

 

[Snobdds]

The fact that US crude (and now fuel) is sold internationally does indeed effect the price of fuel. If it were to remain in country, there would be a surplus, thus lowering prices. Whether or not it is the world standard of exchange is secondary to supply leaving the domestic market. And even if that grade of petroleum (and fuel) isn’t the pricing standard, doesn’t mean that international markets don’t compete for those products.

No that's not the reason.

Light sweet crude doesn't have the same hydrocarbons heavy crude does. Light sweet crude is preferred in other parts of the world for it's ability to easily turn into diesel and other lightly refined fuels. Third world countries don't have to spend Billions on refining capability, they import our oil.

Heavy crude has hydrocarbons more apt to needing heavy refining. This also produces a lot of profitable by products like Naphtha, Bitumen, Kerosene etc. We import a lot of heavy crude from the middle east, even though we produce a lot of oil.

So the game is, the US has some of the worlds best refining technology. We can use the heavy crude to make multiple products that we can then sell off to the rest of the world. A lot of profit is held in a barrel of Brent crude than the light sweet stuff. It always about economics and maximizing profits.

 

[Hay Dude]

And record profits. But tax increases don’t happen frequently. It’s not like they increase annually in most places. And many tax increases are propositions on election ballots.

Keep telling yourself everything is fine.
I just showed you a chart showing increases in electricity costs by state. These are not opinions. Some are dramatic increases.
People are suffering from these increases and inflation in food, gas, insurance, vehicles, education and much more.

Why/how anyone could defend or deflect these increases is ridiculous.
They must enjoy paying more for taxes or inflation.

 

[Snobdds]

Electricity isn’t sold by state; it’s sold by suppliers. The large utilities did increase prices, but many co-ops did not. Of course co-ops only recoup production and operating costs, not profits.

Each state has a utility commission that sets rates in their states. Companies have to apply to the commission to have rate increases approved.

 

[rScotty]

Open this link, scroll down to the first chart which shows the changes in kw/hr electricity prices by state.

Tell me if you still think prices didn’t go up between 2022 and 2023

Electricity Rates by State | November 2025 | Choose Energy

Discover which state has the highest and lowest kWh costs throughout the country with our November 2025 Electricity Rates Report.

www.chooseenergy.com

Our electricity doubled in the last two years. Not per kW*hr, but due to the taxes and add-ons for all kinds of extra charges. In the next county over their electricity is a co-op with a different supplier. Their rates stayed the same while ours doubled.
But state law says we can only buy from our local electricity company. Very bad deal.
rScotty

 

[Hay Dude]

Our electricity doubled in the last two years. Not per kW*hr, but due to the taxes and add-ons for all kinds of extra charges. In the next county over their electricity is a co-op with a different supplier. Their rates stayed the same while ours doubled.
But state law says we can only buy from our local electricity company. Very bad deal.
rScotty

 

[Snobdds]

The hidden increases are steeped in delivery costs.

Our rates in Wyoming have stayed stable, but the delivery costs have more than doubled.

Guess what part of the bill the utility commission doesn't have statutory guidance on?

 

[jyoutz]

Each state has a utility commission that sets rates in their states. Companies have to apply to the commission to have rate increases approved.

Yep

 

[rScotty]

The hidden increases are steeped in delivery costs.

Our rates in Wyoming have stayed stable, but the delivery costs have more than doubled.

Guess what part of the bill the utility commission doesn't have statutory guidance on?

Well, doggone it Snobdds - you nailed it. Our electric bill used to be about 5 lines, now there is a full page of all these other charges that add up to doubling the bill even though the state regulated electric rate per kW*hr has not changed.
You are absolutely right - the extra charges we did figure out are apparently "delivery costs" associated with natural gas pipelines and natural gas taxes. They burn natural gas to make the electricity.
Natural gas has always been a good deal, but looks like it will shortly become a very expensive fuel.
rScotty

 

[jyoutz]

Well, doggone it Snobdds - you nailed it. Our electric bill used to be about 5 lines, now there is a full page of all these other charges that add up to doubling the bill even though the state regulated electric rate per kW*hr has not changed.
You are absolutely right - the extra charges we did figure out are apparently "delivery costs" associated with natural gas pipelines and natural gas taxes. They burn natural gas to make the electricity.
Natural gas has always been a good deal, but looks like it will shortly become a very expensive fuel.
rScotty

Our local natural gas company sent a letter stating that gas would increase this past winter because of shipments to Europe. Whether or not that’s the reason, IDK. But our NG bill did increase a bit this winter; not a huge increase, more like 10%. Related to your electrical increase, something I don’t understand; if the increase was due to taxes, aren’t co-ops subject to the same taxes? I believe the only difference between a co-op and a regulated utility is profit (not applicable to co-ops).

 

[Goose1776]

So are the tractor lots still full?
After 10+ pages of off topic bickering
I can’t remember