Texas Fall/Winter thread!

[sixdogs]

Sixdogs,
You're not intruding. Your input is welcome, as you are to this thread. I'm gonna make you a honorary Texan here on the thread. So input on!
hugs, Brandi

Honorary is good. Thank you.

 

[ronjhall]

Our utilities gas/electric been all digital for a few years now. Can go on companies site and see how much has been used about 3 days out. But have never looked at it until saw others comments on the subject. Kind of nice living out on the outer edge of a large metropolitan area. Bills average out to about $170 a month total for gas and electric.

 

[Bird]

Ron, we don't have any gas, but it sounds as if you have a good deal. Our electric averaged $200.45 a month in 2011 when we were paying 13.3 cents per KWH (18081 KWH), $152.73 in 2012 at 11.3 cents per KWH (16207 KWH), and $160.35 in 2013 at 10.9 cents per KWH (17621 KWH) (it would have been $150.40 until this cold December and me running that other heater in the shop:laughing. Of course, I could go to Quicken and see what we paid for the last 17 years, but I only started keeping a convenient spreadsheet in 2011 because of the horror stories that had appeared in the news media about the "smart meters" that were being installed (I'm guessing it's the same thing you have as all "digital"). Our smart meter was installed on 6/2/2012 and I have no complaints. I think it's once a week (or maybe every 10 days) that they send me an e-mail showing the usage so far this billing cycle and an estimate of what the next bill will be.

 

[ronjhall]

Not sure we have a good deal on the electricity. When total bill is figured its $.174/KWH. Charged rate before add on's is $.093/KWH.

 

[pacerron]

Ron, we don't have any gas, but it sounds as if you have a good deal. Our electric averaged $200.45 a month in 2011 when we were paying 13.3 cents per KWH (18081 KWH), $152.73 in 2012 at 11.3 cents per KWH (16207 KWH), and $160.35 in 2013 at 10.9 cents per KWH (17621 KWH) (it would have been $150.40 until this cold December and me running that other heater in the shop:laughing. Of course, I could go to Quicken and see what we paid for the last 17 years, but I only started keeping a convenient spreadsheet in 2011 because of the horror stories that had appeared in the news media about the "smart meters" that were being installed (I'm guessing it's the same thing you have as all "digital"). Our smart meter was installed on 6/2/2012 and I have no complaints. I think it's once a week (or maybe every 10 days) that they send me an e-mail showing the usage so far this billing cycle and an estimate of what the next bill will be.

Bird,
That is interesting. My wife says our average for the year is around $220 per month.
I'll gladly pay $20 per month for cooler summers, usually enough rain, too much this year, cold enough
to kill the bugs over winter, and only 1 poisonous snake.:laughing:

I don't quite understand your chart above? It looks like your electric rates have been getting cheaper
per KWH each year.

 

[Bird]

I don't quite understand your chart above? It looks like your electric rates have been getting cheaper
per KWH each year.

You're not supposed to understand utility rates, are you? I thought they tried to make them as confusing as possible.:laughing: You get to select from a number of plans. I still use TXU Energy (used to be TP&L "Texas Power & Light). Right now today, I'd have a choice of 9.9 cents per KWH for 24 months if I signed up for "Auto Pay" (i.e., they just draft the checking account), or 13.9 cents per KWH with free electricity at night or free weekends (your choice) for 24 months, or 11.4 cents per KWH for 12 months. I was on 12 month plans before, but they were going way up, so I'm now on a 10.4 cents per KWH plan for 9 months. But in each case, there's a few extras such as a "base charge" ($4.95 in my case), "gross receipts reimbursement" ($5.11 this month, and I'm not even sure, but that may be the surcharge to pay for a "smart meter" which you pay whether you wanted a smart meter or not), then there's sales tax ($4.64 this month). So the amounts I posted before include everything. In other words my 10.4 cent plan is actually costing 10.7 to 11.5 with an average of 10.9.

Oh, I also just noticed that I currently have $46.74 in their "rewards" program. I think you can order different merchandise or prepaid credit cards, etc., but I only use it to apply to the electric bill.

So if Ron's total is $.174, up from a charge rate of $.093, then they have a lot more added on than we do.

 

[pacerron]

You're not supposed to understand utility rates, are you? I thought they tried to make them as confusing as possible.:laughing: You get to select from a number of plans. I still use TXU Energy (used to be TP&L "Texas Power & Light). Right now today, I'd have a choice of 9.9 cents per KWH for 24 months if I signed up for "Auto Pay" (i.e., they just draft the checking account), or 13.9 cents per KWH with free electricity at night or free weekends (your choice) for 24 months, or 11.4 cents per KWH for 12 months. I was on 12 month plans before, but they were going way up, so I'm now on a 10.4 cents per KWH plan for 9 months. But in each case, there's a few extras such as a "base charge" ($4.95 in my case), "gross receipts reimbursement" ($5.11 this month, and I'm not even sure, but that may be the surcharge to pay for a "smart meter" which you pay whether you wanted a smart meter or not), then there's sales tax ($4.64 this month). So the amounts I posted before include everything. In other words my 10.4 cent plan is actually costing 10.7 to 11.5 with an average of 10.9.

Oh, I also just noticed that I currently have $46.74 in their "rewards" program. I think you can order different merchandise or prepaid credit cards, etc., but I only use it to apply to the electric bill.

So if Ron's total is $.174, up from a charge rate of $.093, then they have a lot more added on than we do.

Geez,
What a mess. Sounds like the games they played years ago when they deregulated telephone service.

I'll stick with my local CO-OP as long as I can. They are the poor blokes that have to brave the nasty weather
to fix downed lines, broken poles, etc. They have a lot of gimmick offers in the monthly CO-OP magazine for underground
HVAC, water heaters, etc. but it is all voluntary and any profit goes to them. I like to keep a few of the folks in my
local area having good paying jobs even though our local coal powered power plant shut down years ago and the actual juice comes from the grid.

 

[Bird]

Yep, Ron, we had an electric co-op in Navarro County. We read our own meters and mailed a check each month. They said they were supposed to come verify the meter reading twice a year, but also said that, in reality, they were lucky to get around to doing it once a year. I don't remember what the price was per KWH, but my average monthly bill was $193.36 in 1998, $154.45 in '99, and $175.95 in 2000.

 

[Lou66]

Talking about electrical bills,, I asked Betty what was our bill this month.. She said 344 dollars and some chances.:shocked:. I'm going to forget I asked her and continue to act like I live on the other side of the rainbow.:laughing:. where blue birds sing.:dance1:.Lou

 

[pacerron]

Wolf's Texas Chili
I noticed at the store yesterday that it has made it's way north of the Mason Dixon Line.

Lots of different flavors. About $2.80 a can.

Is there a preferred flavor or do they all taste about the same ?

 

[two_bit_score]

Wolf's Texas Chili
I noticed at the store yesterday that it has made it's way north of the Mason Dixon Line.

Lots of different flavors. About $2.80 a can.

Is there a preferred flavor or do they all taste about the same ?

I'm wondering pif they label it differently in your area. The label here says "Authentic Texas Recipe" and has a Texas shape between Authentic and Texas right in the middle of the label. But that is the way it's all made I think.

All of mine say "No Beans"

.

 

[pacerron]

I'm wondering pif they label it differently in your area. The label here says "Authentic Texas Recipe" and has a Texas shape between Authentic and Texas right in the middle of the label. But that is the way it's all made I think.

All of mine say "No Beans"

.

Same label. With or without beans. Beef or turkey.
Made by Con Agra the pet food mfg. so it should be clean.

One of the Best Canned Chili Brands in America | Wolfｮ Brand Chili

EDIT Added varieties. They didn't have all those varieties but a bunch.

 

[two_bit_score]

Same label. With or without beans. Beef or turkey.
Made by Con Agra the pet food mfg. so it should be clean.

One of the Best Canned Chili Brands in America | Wolfｮ Brand Chili

EDIT Added varieties. They didn't have all those varieties but a bunch.

Glad to hear that y'all are now fortunate enough to have the best chili in the world available. :licking:

.

 

[pacerron]

Glad to hear that y'all are now fortunate enough to have the best chili in the world available. :licking:

.

We will give her a try.

Great pictures in this Wolf's gallery Wolf® Brand Chili | Real Texas Chili | Traditional Chili Recipe

 

[two_bit_score]

We will give her a try.

Great pictures in this Wolf's gallery Wolf® Brand Chili | Real Texas Chili | Traditional Chili Recipe

This is a good one to try:
Chilaquiles A traditional Mexican dish that can be served for breakfast -- chili, beans, corn tortilla chips, tomatoes and queso freso cheese combined and baked to perfection. - See more at: Family Dinner Ideas and Recipes with Chili | Wolf® Brand Chili

But I was raised just crushing some saltines into a bowl and pouring the chili on top. Or using fritoes instead of saltines.

 

[foreman Etexas]

If you all won't to watch a football game, FOXSW 3A state title 4pm. Go fairfield eagles...

 

[bindian]

An invasive weed, hard to control... https://www.msu.edu/course/plb/423/Species_Accounts/Polygonum files/Polygonum_pensylvanicum.htm

Thanks Ron. So the search goes on. I need to read up on wild rice.
hugs, Brandi

 

[lostcreekranch]

Glad to hear that y'all are now fortunate enough to have the best chili in the world available. :licking: .

Two Bit;

May be best "canned" chile in the world. Homemade chile is much better!

 

[lostcreekranch]

Thanks Ron. So the search goes on. I need to read up on wild rice. hugs, Brandi

Agree on the Smart Weed. It showed up in our bass tank in 2012 and had to use the Marine Roundup 3 times to get rid of it. It's spreads fast. Not sure if it was Pennsylvania Smart Weed.

 

[Bird]

Two Bit;

May be best "canned" chile in the world. Homemade chile is much better!

I agree. I've tried just about every brand of canned chili I could find. I do think Wolf Brand might be the best of the "canned" chilis but still hardly good enough to be worth buying.