Good morning!!!!

[Looking4new]

RS, I'm on Hydro One ( the old Ontario Hydro before they changed the name to protect the guilty), 1456 sq. ft.house with full unfinished basement. All lights are LED, all appliances are Energy Star. Convection oven, microwave, fridge and two freezers. Wood heat with forced air oil backup. We also have a stupid 'smart meter'. We have a 3 tier system that makes it really confusing and on top of that we are charged sales tax on the overall bill.
The past month from Nov.15, 2017 to Dec.13, 2017 over 28 days we used an average of 25 kWh/day. the same period the previous year we used 26 kWh/day.
The total of my electricity charges including Delivery and regulatory charge came to $120.98. I am on a budget billing plan and pay $162.oo/month. The powers that be will be lowering that to $134.oo/month starting on the next bill.

 

[PJSprog]

PJSprog- We have a Mitsubishi split unit and it seems to be a energy hog as a heater. I will not operate it in temperatures below freezing.

Ours is a Fujitsu, and I'm going to guess that's a big portion of our bill, too. Our electric bill has been pretty low since we installed the new HVAC system in the house. There is a vent going to the sunroom, so in normal temps the split unit doesn't really run too much. We just had a run of unusually (for us) cold temps. It's depleted our propane down to 45% a bit earlier than normal as well. Can't wait to see that bill when it's refilled.

 

[jbrumberg]

I do not look at the propane bills...... I just hand them over to "She Who Pays the Bills."

 

[ronjhall]

I looked for a comparison with my neighbors. I do not see it. DTE (our electric & gas company) used to have. But not this time. I have a app that DTE provides. It let me see the day before Electric and gas usage. Gas is for whole day. Electric is shown in 1 hour increments. Kind of useful.
We have all the latest stuff. Led lights. Led TV and all items are turned off when not used. Latest 90+ furnace and AC. But the bills keep going up.

 

[jbrumberg]

All states have there own methods and states may or may not go after individuals, but buying a new firearm and filling out the GCA paperwork you will either have to perjure yourself or you will be denied permission to purchase by federal regulation.

Lou- Something that I enjoy about interacting with posters on threads like these is that it leads me to follow up on the topic of interest posted and do some research. I found an article regarding medical marijuana card owners owning firearms in MA. I am not sure if an individual's Department of Public Health record is shared. Probably not due to medical confidentiality laws. It is legal in MA. A recreational user in contrast is not. Only in MA

FIREARMS LICENSING AND 溺EDICAL MARIJUANA
by MASS. FIREARMS ATTORNEY
My office has received numerous inquiries regarding whether the holder of a Medical Marijuana Card issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health can be issued a License to Carry Firearms. As explained below, the answer is yes. Chapter 369 of the Acts of 2012, An Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana, states that 殿ny person meeting the requirements under this law shall not be penalized under Massachusetts law in any manner, or denied any right or privilege, for such actions.

Under federal law, the possession of marijuana is still illegal and there is no exception for æ�œedical marijuana. Also, when you purchase a firearm, rifle, or shotgun, you will be required to complete a federal form 4473 which asks, é„*re you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance? Under state law, if you have a valid DPH medical marijuana card, you are not considered an ç*¥nlawful user of marijuana. However, under federal law there is no such thing as a æ–—awful user of marijuana, which is classified as Schedule 1 controlled substance. 18 USC 44 922 (g)(3) prohibits unlawful marijuana users and addicts from purchasing or possessing firearms, even if the individual has a LTC.

Although Massachusetts law imposes no penalties for the acquisition, cultivation, possession, processing, transfer, transportation, sale, distribution of so-called medical marijuana, because of the above-listed federal prohibition, medical marijuana users should proceed with caution.

 

[PJSprog]

I do not look at the propane bills...... I just hand them over to "She Who Pays the Bills."

Hahaha ... My CFO is a retired accountant, and pays all the bills as well. Doesn't stop her from telling me, "By the way, I paid the __ bill today, and it was $!!!." She'll remind later me a few times, too ... you know, in case I forget.

 

[jbrumberg]

PJS- I can relate Wifey was a CFO of a applied nonprofit legal program for the poor. Her financial skills are still applicable. And yes I do get "feedback" for my financial "sins." My "hobby" purchases are highly scrutinized.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

I made one trip out early Saturday morning to drop of a payment, and spent the rest of the weekend at home. I always strive for those weekends where I get in my car Monday morning and realize I haven't driven it since Friday evening. Got close this time. Spent much of that time in my studio. Got a lot of stuff done.

I feel the same way about my once a week interval for town runs, PJ. Once in a while, I'll bump it out to two weeks. Except I'm not as good at getting stuff done anymore. The older I get, the more ways I find to waste time. Like "social media".:duh:

 

[Thomas]

Buppies.
Wishing you and your bride many..many more trips around the sun hand in hand.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I looked for a comparison with my neighbors. I do not see it. DTE (our electric & gas company) used to have. But not this time. I have a app that DTE provides. It let me see the day before Electric and gas usage. Gas is for whole day. Electric is shown in 1 hour increments. Kind of useful.
We have all the latest stuff. Led lights. Led TV and all items are turned off when not used. Latest 90+ furnace and AC. But the bills keep going up.

Our comparison crap is sent in a separate letter than the bill.
The state forces the utilities to be in a program called "empower md". Customers are forced to pay on their bills. Always a different amount, probably % based.
Nov 2.71
Oct 11.20
Sep 9.66
Aug 13.93
Jul 12.42
Jun 8.91
May 6.08
Apr 10.46
Mar 12.39
Feb 13.35
Jan 14.15

Close to $120 per yr to get a letter saying how inefficient my house is compared to my neighbors that dont even compare.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

The best thing I ever did for my propane bill was to put in a wood stove. Now I can go almost two years before I need to refill the 375 gallon tank out back. I've tried to see if there is a rhyme or reason to the cost of propane, and so far, there doesn't seem to be any. Sometimes it's higher in the winter due to demand, but I've also seen the price hold steady in the summer. I found a web site that lets people enter the price they paid for their most recent propane purchase, and prices are literally all over the map. One thing is clear: The more you buy, the lower the price. So I try to run the tank to well below 20% before I call for a fill up. Oh, one more thing. When checking the tank level, I've learned to use a long stick to flip up the cover over the fill valve and gauge. A few summers ago I found it just full of wasps, and got to see how well I remembered my high school track days.:laughing:

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Close to $120 per yr to get a letter saying how inefficient my house is compared to my neighbors that dont even compare.

I feel your pain, Buckeye, in spades! Kalifornia is the king of regulation, and I've learned to stop looking at all the little add on charges on my phone, cell phone, propane, Diesel, gasoline, and electric bill, and especially on my property tax. Much easier on my blood pressure like that, and I figure I'll live a little longer that way.:confused2::laughing:

 

[daugen]

I believe that CBD oil and CBD products which are not psychoactive are legal for sale in all US states;

I'm darn sure that is not the case in this backwards state. Genuine CBD is an outstanding, less harmful replacement for several of my
prescription drugs, which have all kinds of side effects, but I can't use it because it's illegal here. Certain strains of marijuana are available that are 90 percent CBD and 10% THC. I think that's as low as the THC can go in a plant but I'm sure no expert.
The AMA wants me catatonic in a recliner with enough muscle relaxants and gabapentin to knock out an elephant.
There just has to be a better way.

L4N, SDDD also, except entire spine. I've asked for grease zerks to be installed but no luck so far.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

When my back went out, morphine was the only thing that would cut my pain. Even still, i try to minimize pain pills.

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Well, just got off the phone with the local Kubota/Stihl stealer, er, dealer. I almost fell out of my chair when he told me that the replacement axle flanges for the side-by-side come in a kit of two, one for each side.:shocked: Then he said the price, $157.54, is the same as the best one I've been able to find online, and he had three "kits" in stock!.:dance1: Think I'll get my gear on and go for a motorcycle ride to pick 'em up. Nothing like a little wind-in-yer-face therapy to ease the sting of buying tractor parts.:laughing:

 

[daugen]

after pricing 7-8 foot quality tractor rototillers, I decided to just disc and drag harrow instead since soil is so sandy here. Get done a lot faster too.
Had to special order the chain drag harrow, 8 feet by 8 feet from TSC, came in within a week, impressive and much heavier than I thought it would be.
That's the good news and bad news. What a klugey thing to deal with. Will find a place it can live down at the end of the field and I guess that's where it will live.
Will try to keep it on the strange little pallet it came on, at least keep it out of the dirt. Lady at TSC said to roll it up. That sounds easier said than done, will use
forks on tractor I think to lay it out. Not going to try to drag this with small Massey, will use larger tractor. 4 inch deep tines will create a lot of drag.

And then I unloaded all those bags of cow manure on the field and said enough for the day.

 

[jbrumberg]

Daugen- I had to stop taking Gabapentin. It helped with the neuropathic pain but it really messed up my concentration, eye-hand-motor coordination, and my gait. I do not mind stumbling around like a drunk when I am impaired. I do not need to walk around like a drunk when I am sober. I will still fail a field sobriety test in my neurologist's office. FYI: 5� States: Is CBD Oil Legal to Purchase? - HempMeds

I partied hearty in the 60's and straightened my act out when I became a "mental health professional" (pee tests sealed the deal). It would be hypocritical of me to "use" while working with chemically abusing/dependent/addicted individuals. Then I got the BOOP and everything changed. Somewhere during the + 10 year course of treatment, an abortive attempt to return to work, and two relapses/flair ups taking high doses of steroids causing insulin dependency, chemotherapy, organ rejection drugs, antimalarial drugs, anti-fungal drugs, all kinds of antibiotics (messed up our septic system killed all those good microorganisms in the septic tank), different neuroleptic medications I finally realized that things were not working; the treatments saving/maintaining my life were slowly killing me and I still had auto-immune challenges. I decided to try the medical marijuana route. Getting that medical marijuana card is not as easy as it seems in MA. One needs to be certified to be in need by an MD and only certain disabling conditions warrant the determination of need. Sadly I was an "automatic" approval based on the number of ICD codes that I "wear". I have to say my bloodwork [especially my "sed rate"(inflammation)] showed significant improvements relatively quickly. I went from a brittle diabetic to a boring maintenance case. I am now on none of the previously mention classes of medications excepting the insulins. I still have a couple of auto-immune issues, but my quality of life has much improved. I am possibly an example of someone who has benefited from the use of a "psychosis inducing killer" drug.

Sorry for the personal history sharing. My challenges were known here at TBN years ago and the support that I received helped me cope. It will not be shared again. I am very aware that I am lucky to be posting here or anywhere. As I was supported so will I support others.

 

[Bird]

In the discussion of electricity costs, I haven't seen anyone mention changing companies (may have overlooked it). Anyway, nearly all the providers in Texas have several different "plans" available. Naturally, they'd like you to take the most expensive. However, the last few years, when my current plan was due to expire and they sent me a letter with their "recommended" plan that was a LOT higher, I went online to see what other plans they had available. Then I called and told the guy, "I'm guessing it may be time to change companies" and each time they've come up with a plan not listed on their website, but cheaper. So my actual monthly average electric bill has come down each year since 2014; perhaps partly due to changing to LED light bulbs, maybe partly due to weather, and partly due to getting a new "plan" once a year.:laughing: We've never actually changed companies, but the threat of doing so has kept our costs down. Currently (until June 14) we're on the TXU Energy Smart Deal 12 plan.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

If you change, who bills you? Got to believe its still the distribution company.

 

[Bird]

If you change, who bills you? Got to believe its still the distribution company.

I will readily admit that I don't know just how it all works, but I do know that the distribution company is Oncor and they have a huge office facility and many, many trucks about a mile from my house.

English (United States)


Home

But the bill comes from TXU Energy and I pay then online.

Choose the Plan That's Right For Your Home | TXU Energy