VA Power's monopoly shows no shame, as our electric bill went up over 55% this past month. Sure, there was a longer billing cycle and cold weather, but in comparison to previous years, there was some serious reaming.

You all will love this. I call Virginia Power, and wait for 25 minutes to speak to a "representative." After asking for a manager due to her incompetence, the manager tells me the wait time is "my problem". Fuck Virginia Power, as they ream the residents of Virginia like a prison convict.

Ugh. I'll give you this: Virginia Power's people are just like the DMV's people, except without all the charm, class, and professionalism.

My bill jumped up thirty bucks this month, but then again, I didn't have to set the thermostat to 80 last year just to keep it warm in here.

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

LMAO Mr. Mephisto! DMV without the charm, class, and professionalism. Well done sir.

Virginia Power Sucks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> LMAO Mr. Mephisto! DMV without the charm, class,
> and professionalism. Well done sir.

I think we can also agree on this:

They're still better than Washington Gas.

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

Virginia Power Sucks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> VA Power's monopoly shows no shame, as our
> electric bill went up over 55% this past month.
> Sure, there was a longer billing cycle and cold
> weather, but in comparison to previous years,
> there was some serious reaming.
>


How many kWh did you use in December compared to Nov? I'll guess about 75%.

75% MORE.

I switched to gas and my total (gas plus electric) bill went down $50 this month.

I opted for a high efficiency unit to cash in on the Obama-bucks tax credit, plus a pretty good rebate.

I HATE heat pumps in this climate. Too cold.

I am glad I have dominion power and not virginia power.

Same thing happened last year.

Jan - August 2008 average $165

Sept 2008 my bill went from $165 to $250

Oct 2008 $250 to $510

Nov 2008 $500

Dec 2008 Demand letter for $1000 deposit equivalent to 2 months highest bills due immediately or get disconnected.

A call in to supervisor got a rude, disgruntled bitch who would not take payment + deposit over the phone and said I had to go down to Route 1 and make payment in person.


Scum bags ripped me for $2500 in 2.5 months last year. Merry X-mas and Happy New Year Dom.

electra Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I am glad I have dominion power and not virginia
> power.

LOL

I almost did that.

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13 4826 0948 82695 25847. Yes.

I don't know what you all are heating/powering in your house -- I have zero issues with Dominion Power - which provides electricity at some of the lowest rates in the Nation and provides over 99.9% reliability -- Some of you need to either a) insulate b) switch to high-efficiency heating units; c) turn off the lights, computers, and maybe everything else or d) visit a foreign country and see how lucky we are! My "high" electric bill in the middle of the summer for AC is $120!

June 2009 I had catastrophic failure of HVAC and hot water heater.

Replaced HVAC with 14 seer in/out and tankless water heater.

Replaced 19 windows with triple pane vinyl.

Replaced attic fan with solar powered fan and blew more insulation into attic.

Replaced all light bulbs with CFL.

Sleep all computers after 1 hour on non-use.

Outside lights on timers or photo sensors.

Replaced all appliances with Energy-Star certified ones.

Cheapest bill for 2200 sq/ft 2 person house was July 2009 @ $195. December 2009 bill back over $300. It won't be long to see $500/month again.

I have NOVEC, and it is a hell of a lot more reliable than Dominion. My power hasnt gone out for more than an hour since Hurricane Isabel. The same cannot be said for the rest of the poor saps in my neighborhood who have Dominion, who's power goes out whenever it rains. Just like satellite TV.

http://methanross.blogspot.com/2010/01/complaint-response-to-letter-from.html

Novec bitches. I haven't had a power outage in years. Their power is as constant as the northern star.

I'll assume you heating/cooling system is old and inefficient.

I'll also assume your windows are old and leaky.

How does the attic insulation look?

All of the above improvements will net you a $1500 tax CREDIT from the Feds. Find the one you can afford and do it.

Note: Heating and cooling is on average 50% of the household power bill(s).

make that "fuel" bills.

Simple math Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'll assume you heating/cooling system is old and
> inefficient.
>
> I'll also assume your windows are old and leaky.
>
> How does the attic insulation look?
>
> All of the above improvements will net you a $1500
> tax CREDIT from the Feds. Find the one you can
> afford and do it.
>
> Note: Heating and cooling is on average 50% of the
> household power bill(s).

Wow, I can save $1,500 if I spend over $12,000 in total? That's a GREAT DEAL!!1!!!1!!!!!eleven!1!!!

I found the best upgrade is pair of long johns from Jockey.com < $12,000!

After all those upgrades did anyone ever tell you to CLOSE your fireplace flu?

boredom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Wow, I can save $1,500 if I spend over $12,000 in
> total? That's a GREAT DEAL!!1!!!1!!!!!eleven!1!!!


When my AC died this summer the guy told me I could get a $1,500 tax credit. Great. Oh wait...that's only if you buy the $9,000 model. So, let's do some math..$9K-$1.5K=$7.5K. No thanks, give me the $4,500 model and I'll spend $3,000 on something else.

My kids bitch that it's "cold" in the house. It's 70 degrees. Here's an idea - put on a fucking sweatshirt.

__________________________________
That's not a ladybug, that's a cannapiller.

For all those defending the high electric bills, you must either work for them, be a politician "on the take", or live in your momma's basement. Let's all agree that we are dealing with a monopoly and we have no choice but to pay their price, just like the oil companies gouged our asses the utility companies are having their turn. Inform your local politicians of the strain this has inflicted upon you and your families. Inform them how it affects your other expenses, examples - less money to feed the family, less money for gas to get to work, less money to spend at the damn Wal-Mart where everything comes from China. We e-mail each other, write about it on these useless forums that only hard working Americans view, google the electric company's "contact us" and send them a message. Send a message that the "working man" is tired of taking care of the rich and the sorry.

I know, $1,500 tax credit doesn't seem like much when you first have to front a few thousand. For replacement windows, they give you 30%, or up to $1,500 off the total "materials" cost, which is typically 70% of the total project cost.

So you'd have to spend about $5,000 to get the full $1,500 tax credit.

Replacement Windows Fairfax VA

Out of curiosity, I went through my records in Quicken and did a comparison of my Dominion power bills going back to 2003. Month-to-month (comparing Jan-04 to Jan-06, etc), there hasn't been a variance larger than $20 over that time span.

In my experience, NOVEC has a more stable grid than Dominion. Also, wasn't there a law passed in the past few years that allows you to choose your provider of electric generation (but not the deliverer)?

Virginia power is AWESOME in my opinion. In 1993 I had to go to Russia for six months to complete a task for my employer. Over there our hotel had hot water available twice a day for less than two hours each time. The power went out at least 3 times a week for 1 to 5 hours at a stretch. The food over there sucked and you had to wait in line in the cold for at least an hour to get a can of tuna and a loaf of bread. Whatever Va power charges its the bargin of the century at twice the price! I would send them extra money if they asked me for it.

KeepOnTruckin Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have NOVEC, and it is a hell of a lot more
> reliable than Dominion. My power hasnt gone out
> for more than an hour since Hurricane Isabel. The
> same cannot be said for the rest of the poor saps
> in my neighborhood who have Dominion, who's power
> goes out whenever it rains. Just like satellite
> TV.

Unlike satellite, electricity lines are tied together in any given area. The only difference is in who you pay, since utility deregulation. That created more competition, but no way could one house in a neighborhood be solid for power while neighbors blink out. That makes no sense. Power lines are not wifi or satellite or Verizon 3G.

Virginia Power Sucks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> VA Power's monopoly shows no shame, as our
> electric bill went up over 55% this past month.
> Sure, there was a longer billing cycle and cold
> weather, but in comparison to previous years,
> there was some serious reaming.
>
> You all will love this. I call Virginia Power, and
> wait for 25 minutes to speak to a
> "representative." After asking for a manager due
> to her incompetence, the manager tells me the wait
> time is "my problem". Fuck Virginia Power, as they
> ream the residents of Virginia like a prison
> convict.


Cost per kwh in virginia is well below the national average. We are all very lucky to have Virginia power!

http://www.neo.ne.gov/statshtml/115.htm

You said you would send them extra? Well look at my bill, and if you want to cover the "Extra" knock yourself out. I'd appreciate that.

How in the hell can you compare VA Power to the old, dilapidated, and pathetic electrical service in Russia or Eastern Europe? Duh, of course anyone's better than them. Are you a VA power employee, a lobbyist perhaps for them?

are you sure you aren't just using your heater more? my bill seems normal.

I'm with you with the rate increase,HI-EVER, would you rather have PEPCO, now there is incompetence. With the slightest storm power goes out for days.

My bill was $339.00 for three of us the out of f-ing control, I waited on the phone for the clerk to tell me it was cold in december, that got us, where are we going to go get power?????? they will keep raping us, intil the goverment does something about it... fat chance

Susie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My bill was $339.00 for three of us the out of
> f-ing control, I waited on the phone for the clerk
> to tell me it was cold in december, that got us,
> where are we going to go get power?????? they
> will keep raping us, intil the goverment does
> something about it... fat chance


Yeah, my bill was $350 and that was double what I paid in the summer when I kept the air conditioning running full blast.

Blessed are the murderous.

Susie Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> My bill was $339.00 for three of us the out of
> f-ing control, I waited on the phone for the clerk
> to tell me it was cold in december, that got us,
> where are we going to go get power?????? they
> will keep raping us, intil the goverment does
> something about it... fat chance

the best way to prevent excessive power loss is to turn off computers and TVs. also, unplug appliances you dont use very often. one thing they dont tell you is that most devices still use lots of power when they are "off," so unplugging them from the wall or turning off the powerstrip they are connected to will stop them from using any electricity. videogame consoles (especially the Nintendo Wii) use a LOT of power when they are "off." if you dont have a flat screen tv or monitor, replace it. those use an insane amount of power compared to flatscreens (they will pay for themselves in under a year!). doing these things can easily cut your electric bill by a substantial amount.

aside from that, you can add installation to the inside of your walls or replace it with a better type of insulation.

dont buy into the window replacement bullshit because replacing all your windows is a zillion dollars and the energy savings are crappy. i did the calculations and you would only break even after 30 years!


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Gravis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

>
> dont buy into the window replacement bullshit
> because replacing all your windows is a zillion
> dollars and the energy savings are crappy. i did
> the calculations and you would only break even
> after 30 years!


Don't you get a tax break when you file your taxes for "green improvements"?

Blessed are the murderous.

eesh Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't you get a tax break when you file your taxes
> for "green improvements"?

dude... it's thousands of dollars per window. it's not worth it.


"the wisdom of the wise will perish, the intelligence of the intelligent will vanish."

Gravis Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> eesh Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Don't you get a tax break when you file your
> taxes
> > for "green improvements"?
>
> dude... it's thousands of dollars per window.
> it's not worth it.

Thousands per window? Holy shit, who did you get a quote from, Thompson Creek? Don't listen to them, they massively mark up so that you think you're getting a great deal when they say "Sign today and it'll be this much." Even their sale price is way high.

Last Winter My 80 year old parents who are also diabetics were stranded without heat or electricity for 2 days before my brothers and myself were able to free outselves from out downed homes and driveways and get over to the folks house to take them to a hotel for another 3 days until Novec restored their power.
And now AGAIN today.
Once again my Senior Citizen Parents have been without heat or electricity for over 24 hours and no sign of relief in sight. Novec has BIG RED WARNINGS on their websites informing customers to expect multiple day outages.
These People are shameless.
My folks bill last month was over $400.00 and it was paid, as always on time.
Here's my main problem with this Novec "co-op". What the hell are they spending their ill gotten gains on? It certainly isn't being spent on infrastructure. Every time the wind blows or it rains around norther VA, OUT goes the power. I sat last night and listened to Transformers POPPING all around my area. Huge Flashes of light and then POW! Over and over again. Are they trying to convince me that in 21st century, they cannot purchase Transformers that are sealed from moisture??? Shall I design one for them? This Co-op is disgraceful in it's lack of concern for it's "members". They have that stupid Robot Automated call in system that lets them avoid having to hear from their customers and is what I consider a Slap in the Face. It's like they're spitting in your face and treating you as if YOU'RE a bother to them for expecting service for the money you are spending with them.

My December bill was 400 bucks. Crazy. I'm sure I used a lot of power but 400 bucks worth? Really?

This is great news!

Dominion Power are all glum cunts.