Are you sick of add on fees?

[JethroB]

As it should be. Dunno how it's done in your country but here fuel taxes (theoretically) go toward road maintenance. Why should EV drivers get a free ride so to speak?

And add bicycles!

 

[lman]

As it should be. Dunno how it's done in your country but here fuel taxes (theoretically) go toward road maintenance. Why should EV drivers get a free ride so to speak?

I guess I shouldn't have to pay any taxes then since they don't maintain my road.

 

[RickB]

I guess I shouldn't have to pay any taxes then since they don't maintain my road.

If that is the only road you drive on, fine.

 

[lman]

If that is the only road you drive on, fine.

The kicker is we pay more taxes because we drive a hybrid than people with a good road.

 

[bigtiller]

My power company likes to brag that they have the cheapest rates in the area at eleven cents per kilowatt. But if I don't write a check for 15 cents per kilowatt they will shut my power off.

Add on fees are clearly an advertising misinformation gimmick.

 

[bunyip]

As it should be. Dunno how it's done in your country but here fuel taxes (theoretically) go toward road maintenance. Why should EV drivers get a free ride so to speak?

Same here with great emphasis on theoretically, I don't disagree but it be nice to have some regular works done, I hate the potholes strung together with a lattice of bitumen but our local roads are pretty good.

 

[ultrarunner]

Here is actually the first time in years paving is happening... falling price of oil has a lot to do with it.

 

[PILOON]

We get multiple taxes on our fuel for cars, a tarriff, levy, fedearal tax, state tax and now they are going to tax the electric car users by way of log book mileage, there is just no escape.

BUT bicycle's get to use the road network paying only retail sales tax (where applicable).

PLUS due to narrow tires demand higher quality asphalt.
They are also exempt from many fines that vehicle owners pay, like stops and illegal turns.
If a cycle hits your opening door you get fined and lose demerits. (dooring) They pass on right, on and off sidewalks at will.
Shucks cities spend mega $'s on cycle path snow removal.

Back to electric cars: food for thought!

Most hydro networks are presently inadequate and very costly to maintain.
Will all the electric car owners contribute to the very costly upgrades?
How will apartment and condo dwellers get to charge their nice electric cars?
Extension cords hanging from 3/4 th story windows?
Plug into the neighbor's outside outlets?

And, with GFI's being the norm on outside outlets every rain event will shut down the overnight charging.

AND, in forest fire zones a new norm is to shut down the hydro network as a precaution.
SO, how to evacuate with your now dead electric vehicle.

Problems ahead I think.

 

[bunyip]

Bike riders here get a few fines, riding without a helmet, red light running, speeding, riding on footpath, riding on freeway, using pedestrian crossing and they annoy me when they cruise past you at the lights then hold you up when they turn green.

 

[JethroB]

About 15 years ago Georgia deregulated natural gas to encourage price competition. It did not work out so well for residential or other lower quantity users. Multiple marketers popped up vying for the lowest rates. But,,,The owners of the delivery infrastructure (piping & meters) hit each homeowner for about $30 in monthly overhead fees while the actual gas cost (currently about 50 cents per therm) in summer may only be a couple of bucks for a water heater.

 

[Oaktree]

My power company likes to brag that they have the cheapest rates in the area at eleven cents per kilowatt. But if I don't write a check for 15 cents per kilowatt they will shut my power off.

Add on fees are clearly an advertising misinformation gimmick.

Yeah, less than 50% of my electric bill is for the actual electricity used, the rest is for "delivery charges" and other vaguely defined fees. I don't know if those fees are fixed or are based on usage...we don't use a lot of electricity, even with all the fees and New England's high electric rates the bill is still under $50/mo, often $40 or less in the summer/fall.

 

[ultrarunner]

Yep only a fraction is for generation with the balance distribution, taxes, fees and regulatory cost...

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I donated money on go fund me, and it wanted a tip. They made it a little tricky to put in a tip of $0

 

[pmsmechanic]

I donated money on go fund me, and it wanted a tip. They made it a little tricky to put in a tip of $0

That's dirty on their part. They take a % of the donations.

 

[Frankenkubota]

Doc fees are my favorite.

 

[PILOON]

Yeah, less than 50% of my electric bill is for the actual electricity used, the rest is for "delivery charges" and other vaguely defined fees. I don't know if those fees are fixed or are based on usage...we don't use a lot of electricity, even with all the fees and New England's high electric rates the bill is still under $50/mo, often $40 or less in the summer/fall.

Our Hydro decided to use smart meters supposedly to save them the cost of meter readers.
Well the levied a special tax for us to pay for their investment.

I always thought it was the suppliers role to invest, not his clients.

Heck next they'll raise gas taxes to build more bicycle lanes.
Next wait for more hydro electric fees in order to supply power for electric car charging stations.

 

[cdaigle430]

With my solar panels I pay 12.96 a month now no matter what for power company bill, all of its delivery fee.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Our Hydro decided to use smart meters supposedly to save them the cost of meter readers.
Well the levied a special tax for us to pay for their investment.

I always thought it was the suppliers role to invest, not his clients.

Heck next they'll raise gas taxes to build more bicycle lanes.
Next wait for more hydro electric fees in order to supply power for electric car charging stations.

The real reason for smart meters is so that you can be billed at different rates . Your power company wants to bill you at a higher rate for electricity used during peak times.

 

[PILOON]

The real reason for smart meters is so that you can be billed at different rates . Your power company wants to bill you at a higher rate for electricity used during peak times.

They said no but I don't believe that for one minute.
They are just waiting a bit to spring that on us, after all they have contracted to sell power to Vermont, Maine and Ontario and we have to cut back usage at peak times for them to fulfill their contracts.
I'm convinced that when they run short they will spring the newer rates based on peak consumption times just as they do with commercial 'demand' meters.
The claim will be that we are not listening and they are forced to go 'peak demand'.

They lost a court case for overbilling a while back but claimed hardship should they be forced to reimburse.
The energy revue board* sided with them (naturally) and we did get a pittance refund.

*all retired hydro people.

 

[Oaktree]

They said no but I don't believe that for one minute.
They are just waiting a bit to spring that on us, after all they have contracted to sell power to Vermont, Maine and Ontario and we have to cut back usage at peak times for them to fulfill their contracts.

Well, we did our part to help you in N.H. by defeating Northern Pass.

I have a Tracfone for emergencies. Normally I just buy the $20 60 min/90 day card to keep it active. I noticed today that there's a 7% tax on it. There's been a 911 fee for the past couple years, but that previously had been around 30¢. Not sure where the rest goes, wasn't itemized on the receipt. We don't have a sales tax in my state, so it isn't that.