Electricity Price Increases

[BackRoad]

We completed building new in Northern PA 2 years ago.

The Code Inspector was OK and known by our builder. Since I was working alongside the builder, I got to know the Inspector also.

He did a final inspection to approve the CO. On his way out, he mentioned arc-fault breakers are required by code for the CO, but what I did after the fact was my business, and he hinted to pay attention to the breakers used on the dedicated circuits for the fridge and freezers.

After he left, the builder translated what he meant. Use of arc-faults on refrigerator and freezer circuits have been a common cause for loss of AC to the appliances.

 

[KennyG]

Our big Kitchenaid refrigerator was so expensive that it made sense to pay over $400 for a remanufactured motherboard (original replacement parts no longer available after 5 years) and it's still chugging along although the ice maker has completely failed after several fixable problems. In the future I will only buy base model refrigerators, not the fancy ones.

 

[NoTrespassing]

I can see that for many things, but not refrigerators. At least in PA, we can't set an old refrigerator at the curb for pickup, without it being evacuated of refrigerant and tagged by a licensed pro. So much nicer to just let the delivery guys cart the old one away, and at least around here, Lowes usually has some model that will fit available for next-day delivery.

Our old refrigerator was still working and I gifted it to a friend for a beer fridge. He will put a cold weather kit on it and keep it in his garage. I think we gave 1500 plus tax after rebate for one of the largest French door fridges Menards sells. My wife and I picked it up with straps and put it in the house. I have to admit, that wasn't much fun, but we managed.

 

[WinterDeere]

In the future I will only buy base model refrigerators, not the fancy ones.

Right now, our choice of models is limited by our existing cabinetry. But I've been debating the merit of stepping up to a refrigerator made by a commercial manufacturer like Sub Zero or Viking, due to the better repairability. I'm sure they still fail, my inlaws had all sorts of initial problems with one of their Sub Zero's, but they're built to be serviced and repaired, not throw away.

We always want an ice maker, but not a dispenser. I've never seen the point in wasting available space on dispensers, which seem to often break anyway. Other than the ice maker, I usually favor the simplest refrigerator I can buy.

BTW, the reason for the frequent failures is no mystery. The EPA passed new mandates several years ago, that reduce the amount of refrigerant manufacturers can use in refrigerators. This causes two problems:

1. Small problems in the system, over which a refrigerator having a higher refrigerant charge might continue to limp along, now cause a major malfunction. Things like compressor failure due to dry-cycling while the refrigerant is locked up elsewhere in the loop, is a more common problem.

2. Limited temperature range. Who on this earth hasn't had a spare refrigerator in their garage or basement? But with the minimal refrigerant charge they allow these days, running in a colder environment can cause all of the refrigerant to pool away from the compressor (it will always condense into coolest spot in the loop when not running), again causing dry cycling and compressor failure.

 

[ultrarunner]

We have a new build in 2020, and I bought new LG appliances. Refrigerator kept popping Siemens 20a CAFCI breaker. Since we live in a remote area of VT, with no authorized service center, they gave me a new one. That one did the same. Turns out, there is a new style compressor system that runs havoc on certain brands/types of breakers. Electrician I hired found and changed out. No more fridge issues. But I'm not confident with any new appliance, as they are built to a price point, and disposable. A previous Samsung could only be repaired by Samsung authorized repair center, as they don't share parts and info with others.

No right to repair?

 

[Oaktree]

I stopped buying appliances from our local Lowes because they only stock 1 or 2 models at the store. Menards stocks every model they sell. Lowes requires you to buy the appliance and have it delivered from about 40 miles away after a day or two depending on the day you purchase. When I pay for an appliance I want it put on my truck before I leave the parking lot.

When we were refrigerator shopping maybe 5 years ago, Lowes was the best option. Home Depot didn't stock large appliances, they all shipped from a warehouse, Lowes had the model we wanted in stock.
Menards not an option here. Interestingly, Consumer Reports rates them at or near the bottom for appliance sales.

I'm not confident with any new appliance, as they are built to a price point, and disposable. A previous Samsung could only be repaired by Samsung authorized repair center, as they don't share parts and info with others.

Yeah. A neighbor of mine used to own an appliance repair shop, and he says he retired just in time. Last 8-10 years he was in the business it got harder and harder to source parts and/or documentation. Not to mention so many appliances don't lend themselves to repair easily.

In the future I will only buy base model refrigerators, not the fancy ones.

I wouldn't go so far as the base model, but we go for the low trim ones ourselves. No need for icemaker (we have the recipe for what little we use), cold water (ours is cold enough right out of the faucet) or internet connectivity.

 

[Mtsoxfan]

No right to repair?

I guess not. Culligan water systems are the same, or at least used to be when ours needed an oring. After several calls, all told me Culligan has propriatory parts.

 

[Jstpssng]

It's real easy to lose several hundred dollars or more in food, every time you wake up one morning to find the refrigerator cooking rather than cooling your food

I keep the sensor for an indoor/outdoor thermometer in my freezer to moniter temps. So I haven't had one die but it was handy when the power went out as it alerted me when I needed to start the generator.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’ve got a top of the line LG that came with a rental home and the compressor died a few months in.

$1100 quote to repair parts and labor.

It was eligible for a free compressor but not labor with the sticking point 5 week wait for repair… can’t have a tenant without an owner supplied refrigerator that’s not working 4-6 weeks.

Soon, I won’t have the option to rent without stove or refrigerator as a new California law moves stoves and refrigerators into the realm of habitability for rentals.

Early in my property management career I found half my service calls appliance related and many of those were after hours with renters saying I have $500 in food going bad…

Best management decision was to stop furnishing…

 

[kenmbz]

Replaced washer/dryer when it failed, think renter trashed it with too much soap.
Dishwasher has needed multiple repairs.
But the inexpensive fridge keeps going so far.

The latest renter is quick to call on any minor issue, but it does make sure I keep maintenance up.

I don't have to pay electric or gas, heat is part of the monthly maintenance and has gone up quite a bit in the 8 years we've had the rental.

I don't make much money on the rental and it's value had stagnated, but at least someone is paying for most of it and not me.

 

[ultrarunner]

At one time I had accounts with house hot water and common water but only a few with common water remain.

Electricity is expensive here and if history repeats it will become more expensive.

Garbage is mandatory for owner/manager…

I think I would go out of business if property owners required unlimited gas and electric.

Apartment with a 75 year old senior at $70 month and same apartment with a 25 year old $400…

Several tenants have asked about solar but none of the programs apply to rental property…

 

[scootr]

I got a notice from Southern California Edison today;

What to Expect

Beginning Oct. 1, 2025, residential electric rates will increase by approximately 13% to support investments in the safety, reliability and security of the electric grid. This update will begin on your October bill and the bills that follow. Another notice I got from Social Security said my benefit will go up by 3.1%. Obviously they don't know I use electric power.

 

[Oaktree]

I got a notice from Southern California Edison today;

What to Expect

Beginning Oct. 1, 2025, residential electric rates will increase by approximately 13% to support investments in the safety, reliability and security of the electric grid. This update will begin on your October bill and the bills that follow. Another notice I got from Social Security said my benefit will go up by 3.1%. Obviously they don't know I use electric power.

And Medicare went up by more than that, so net loss year-to-year.

 

[WinterDeere]

I got a notice from Southern California Edison today;

What to Expect

Beginning Oct. 1, 2025, residential electric rates will increase by approximately 13% to support investments in the safety, reliability and security of the electric grid. This update will begin on your October bill and the bills that follow. Another notice I got from Social Security said my benefit will go up by 3.1%. Obviously they don't know I use electric power.

It'd be interesting to know what necessitated those "investments in the reliabiliy and security of the electric grid." Likely expanding data center usage, for which everyone else is footing the bill.

 

[kenmbz]

For us , we got a rate rise as they are redoing most of the poles in the area and doing a lot more aggressive tree trimming so we won't have monthly tree related outages.

However, that only covers part of the rising costs, since actual fuel costs went down, shouldn't our bills?

Even the solar they put in has been around for at least 5 years, which is usually written against profits for 5-7 years, so they should be more into Maintenance mode and not buying an awful lot of panels.

It seems once a rate increase goes in, it is permanent, even if the reason for it goes away.

 

[ponytug]

It'd be interesting to know what necessitated those "investments in the reliabiliy and security of the electric grid." Likely expanding data center usage, for which everyone else is footing the bill.

Some of it ($1.+B) is going to "hardening" power lines, by putting some underground, and some is putting better insulators on the High Tension lines to hopefully avoid the likes of the Altadena (Eaton) fire. There are also plans afoot to add more transmission lines. SCE has a surprisingly small number of transmission lines into their territory. Some goes to battery and distributed generation. Some might even go to de-energizing abandoned power lines.

As the utilities get about a 10% guaranteed return per year on capital investments, they love to do it. (Courtesy of the Public Utilities Commission) Things like maintenance are net costs and not so popular.

All the best, Peter

 

[WinterDeere]

For us , we got a rate rise as they are redoing most of the poles in the area and doing a lot more aggressive tree trimming so we won't have monthly tree related outages.

You'd think the decrease in expensive midnight service calls and lost usage hours would pay for most of that!

 

[scootr]

For us , we got a rate rise as they are redoing most of the poles in the area and doing a lot more aggressive tree trimming so we won't have monthly tree related outages.

However, that only covers part of the rising costs, since actual fuel costs went down, shouldn't our bills?

Even the solar they put in has been around for at least 5 years, which is usually written against profits for 5-7 years, so they should be more into Maintenance mode and not buying an awful lot of panels.

It seems once a rate increase goes in, it is permanent, even if the reason for it goes away.

This has always been the case. Not just with utilities. Retail is guilty also. Watch import items pricing go up due to tariffs and see if they go down when the trade war is resolved... of course there are exceptions. Eggs reached Nearly $10 a dozen a year ago and today they are $4 for 18. Gasoline goes up and down. I see it go from $3 to $5 and come down to $4 and everybody is happy. Then it goes from $4 to $6 and comes down to $5 Recently it's come down to $4 CA which means it's $3 nationally.
The Edison Co has been doing a lot of pole and wire upgrades as well as brush and tree work for fire mitigation as they were charged with the horrific Paradise fire in 2018 which claimed 85 lives

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Whoa... that's terrifying. Are you saying some utilities have taken to punishing high users with inflated rates?!? I use a crap-ton of electric, like more than a village, running my business computers and due to it just being a relatively large house. If our rates ever go from flat to graduated, I'm going to bleed!

With two kids talking about getting EV's, that's only likely to increase.

What ever happened to getting a quantity discount?!?

I think most utilities have an inexpensive base rate and prices go up as your usage increases.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

Truth on that. I see so many businesses and commercial properties where they retrofitted or swapped out all their outdoor lighting to obnoxiously bright LED fixtures and seemingly doubled the number of them. I swear you could see some of these places from space. Out in the country-ish where I live, it's not that big of a deal, but there are residences nearby that are all it up because of this.

Then on the flip side of that, the power company changed out all the roadway lighting to LED 3-4yrs back and these lights don't do squat out in the country.

I have three lights in front, two on either side of the garage and one by the front door. I had to go to Batteries and More to get 2w LED bulbs (25w replacement), which give plenty of light to walk around at night. My wife forgets to turn them off, so I backed them down. The lights in the kitchen are 160w of LED can lights on a dimmer, so rather than turn them off we can turn them down to about 40. I turn them off, wife does not.