My home electric bill has basically doubled in the past 4 months! WTF is going on?

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Funny how talk of "all the EV's being added will cripple the Grid"
goes right out the window when the conversation changes to some Mega data centre instead.
Go figure...

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[jimfigler]

it should be incredibly easy to figure out. look at your old bills. is your consumption higher or are the rates higher, possibly a combination of both.
My rates have jumped 40% since 2023

 

[dfoisy]

I live in Northeast Ohio and my electric bill while owning my Lightning for the last 30 months has ALWAYS been right around 140 dollars. During the scalding hot summer months with the central AC running constant, the bill was always no more than $180-$200, and all of this is with sometimes heavy charging of the Lightning.

Now I'm paying over 300 dollars, and it seems that every month it keeps going up. We've been using measures to lessen our electric usage and it's still going higher. They're blaming all the AI data centers, but why do we have to pay for that sh!t?

It's going to get to point where ICE vehicles and going to be more economical.

OK, end of rant... for now.

Lightning Rod,

I just came across this thread, and while I didn't read the whole thread, I did see that you're having solar installed. Depending on your service provider you can go to energychoice.ohio.gov and choose an electricity supplier who is cheaper than Ohio Edison or whoever your provider is. It might help you save even more if the solar doesn't cover all of your needs. I'm in Lorain and have used this for a number of years and have paid a lot less than Ohio Edison's supply price.

 

[Rice_classic]

Funny how talk of "all the EV's being added will cripple the Grid"
goes right out the window when the conversation changes to some Mega data centre instead.
Go figure...

I have a buddy that watches the propaganda stations (and the reinforcement algorithm) and totally buys into crap like that.

 

[Carieth]

If you want to understand the dilemma we face in power generation, I highly recommend Bill Gate's book, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster. https://amzn.to/4nv96U0

This was written before AI and the huge boom in data centers.

In short, there isn't enough land for solar or wind to begin to solve the problem, but it makes a dent.

The two biggest users of energy are... cement and steel production. Innovations to make more environmentally friendly cement are coming.

The solution to having enough, and cleaner energy, is innovation in nuclear power.

Keep in mind that if manufacturing "returns to the US", energy usage will increase, and electricity costs will go up more.

Our utility company puts in for rate increases every year. They spend many dollars on advertising, which because we are a captive user, is nonsensical. Yet the utility commission cannot regulate that by law. Nor salaries. An executive from that utility just built a home in our community. It is clearly in the top 5% of homes in our 130 home neighborhood. A fully sodded lawn was just put down, and their driveway is concrete, one of 2 or 3 in the neighborhood. He is VP of Distribution, so I may ask him why we had to spend $10k to put in a whole house generator a few years back...

However, our rates don't compare to some of the rates elsewhere in the country, which makes solar not work financially, unless we want a breakeven 15+ years out. The rules on paying customers for generating electricity changed a few years back, dramatically lowering the reimbursement, thus worsening the payback.

I was in a similar situation and was looking for ways to make money. I came across https://casinosanalyzer.com/no-deposit-bonuses and they give a lot of bonuses there. I tried it and won; now I often look for games with bonuses and play them. I hope your next electricity bill will pleasantly surprise you when you have a lot of money in your pocket.

Our rate has increased about 25% in recent years, but nowhere near New England or California rates.

Great summary! Nuclear innovation appears to be the most realistic path forward. Solar and wind help, but they can’t meet industrial demand alone!

 

[Newfoundland]

I live in Northeast Ohio and my electric bill while owning my Lightning for the last 30 months has ALWAYS been right around 140 dollars. During the scalding hot summer months with the central AC running constant, the bill was always no more than $180-$200, and all of this is with sometimes heavy charging of the Lightning.

Now I'm paying over 300 dollars, and it seems that every month it keeps going up. We've been using measures to lessen our electric usage and it's still going higher. They're blaming all the AI data centers, but why do we have to pay for that sh!t?

It's going to get to point where ICE vehicles and going to be more economical.

OK, end of rant... for now.

You don't have to pay for the data centers and higher electric utility bills in the future. You have the ability to be your own electric supplier. Most home solar installations pay for themselves within about 10 years. If you have really high rates like Cali or Florida, then they pay for themselves even faster!
Real world...My electric rate at home is about 15 cents per KW. My truck averages 2.3 miles per KW on a year round basis. That is real world about 7 cents per mile to drive. FAR CHEAPER than the per mile cost if you are paying for gas/diesel.
With utility rates increasing quickly now to make up for the high demand from data centers (much higher demand increases as compared to demand from vehicles), it will only get more expensive if you are a slave to the electric company.
SPEND the money to install your own rooftop system (if your roof allows) and lock in the cost so you NEVER have any rate increases again. ONE TIME expense up front. My utility charges about $8 per month to maintain the meter for net metering (look up the term if you aren't familiar) so I don't have to go through the extra expense of a whole house battery, although that is an option in the future if one wanted (or hook up your lightning to the house when the power goes out).
I moved recently and have a whole house solar panel system going in next month with the same company that did a great job on the last house in 2013. That system paid for itself in 8 years and I was able to advertise the house when I sold it with FREE ELECTRICITY FOR LIFE to the buyer. It sold fast for good money
BACK to your RANT...do you think 7-10 cents a mile is a lot for fuel now? How about 25-30 cents per mile if you drove a petrol fueled truck. Now with that thought, your day is brighter already

 

[astrand1]

Funny how talk of "all the EV's being added will cripple the Grid"
goes right out the window when the conversation changes to some Mega data centre instead.
Go figure...

That’s no shit! These AI data centers are much more of a concern that most of us topping off our trucks each night. lol.

 

[astrand1]

You don't have to pay for the data centers and higher electric utility bills in the future. You have the ability to be your own electric supplier. Most home solar installations pay for themselves within about 10 years. If you have really high rates like Cali or Florida, then they pay for themselves even faster!
Real world...My electric rate at home is about 15 cents per KW. My truck averages 2.3 miles per KW on a year round basis. That is real world about 7 cents per mile to drive. FAR CHEAPER than the per mile cost if you are paying for gas/diesel.
With utility rates increasing quickly now to make up for the high demand from data centers (much higher demand increases as compared to demand from vehicles), it will only get more expensive if you are a slave to the electric company.
SPEND the money to install your own rooftop system (if your roof allows) and lock in the cost so you NEVER have any rate increases again. ONE TIME expense up front. My utility charges about $8 per month to maintain the meter for net metering (look up the term if you aren't familiar) so I don't have to go through the extra expense of a whole house battery, although that is an option in the future if one wanted (or hook up your lightning to the house when the power goes out).
I moved recently and have a whole house solar panel system going in next month with the same company that did a great job on the last house in 2013. That system paid for itself in 8 years and I was able to advertise the house when I sold it with FREE ELECTRICITY FOR LIFE to the buyer. It sold fast for good money
BACK to your RANT...do you think 7-10 cents a mile is a lot for fuel now? How about 25-30 cents per mile if you drove a petrol fueled truck. Now with that thought, your day is brighter already

And for those of us who are lucky enough to have free charging at work then it only gets cheaper to drive!

 

[Lightning Rod]

You don't have to pay for the data centers and higher electric utility bills in the future. You have the ability to be your own electric supplier. Most home solar installations pay for themselves within about 10 years. If you have really high rates like Cali or Florida, then they pay for themselves even faster!
Real world...My electric rate at home is about 15 cents per KW. My truck averages 2.3 miles per KW on a year round basis. That is real world about 7 cents per mile to drive. FAR CHEAPER than the per mile cost if you are paying for gas/diesel.
With utility rates increasing quickly now to make up for the high demand from data centers (much higher demand increases as compared to demand from vehicles), it will only get more expensive if you are a slave to the electric company.
SPEND the money to install your own rooftop system (if your roof allows) and lock in the cost so you NEVER have any rate increases again. ONE TIME expense up front. My utility charges about $8 per month to maintain the meter for net metering (look up the term if you aren't familiar) so I don't have to go through the extra expense of a whole house battery, although that is an option in the future if one wanted (or hook up your lightning to the house when the power goes out).
I moved recently and have a whole house solar panel system going in next month with the same company that did a great job on the last house in 2013. That system paid for itself in 8 years and I was able to advertise the house when I sold it with FREE ELECTRICITY FOR LIFE to the buyer. It sold fast for good money
BACK to your RANT...do you think 7-10 cents a mile is a lot for fuel now? How about 25-30 cents per mile if you drove a petrol fueled truck. Now with that thought, your day is brighter already

We are in the process of having 23 Tesla panels installed on our house roof facing south and on our garage facing west. We didn't go with the battery because of lack of space and it also costs almost double of the panel installation.

We look forward to our new solar energy system!

 

[Athrun88]

We are in the process of having 23 Tesla panels installed on our house roof facing south and on our garage facing west. We didn't go with the battery because of lack of space and it also costs almost double of the panel installation.

We look forward to our new solar energy system!

I'm planning something similar for our house next year. Electricity rates have gone up, yet again, and with my household's standard usage, a 10kw solar system with a decent whole home battery setup would pay for itself in less than 8 years. Not interested in selling back to the grid so hopefully that reduces some of the red tape.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

I'm planning something similar for our house next year. Electricity rates have gone up, yet again, and with my household's standard usage, a 10kw solar system with a decent whole home battery setup would pay for itself in less than 8 years. Not interested in selling back to the grid so hopefully that reduces some of the red tape.

Check if you are in an area where you can get the Ultra Low Overnight rate.
I have this and we can charge up the house-battery between 11:00 pm to 7:00 am for the 2.8 cent rate during winter (crappy solar) time of year. It is great using overnight rate power during the peak of the day supplied by house batteries.

 

[Maquis]

I'm planning something similar for our house next year. Electricity rates have gone up, yet again, and with my household's standard usage, a 10kw solar system with a decent whole home battery setup would pay for itself in less than 8 years. Not interested in selling back to the grid so hopefully that reduces some of the red tape.

Don’t know about up there, but here, if you’re connected to the grid with solar, you need an interconnect agreement. Doesn’t matter if you have no intent to export.

 

[chriserx]

Don’t know about up there, but here, if you’re connected to the grid with solar, you need an interconnect agreement. Doesn’t matter if you have no intent to export.

AFAIK at least where I'm at, it's only if you are backfeeding to the grid. I haven't finished my install yet but I have an EG4 18kpv inside a shipping container with a 240v 50A inlet. Backfeeding is turned off on the inverter, so it just looks like another device plugged in.

 

[THX1138]

Don’t know about up there, but here, if you’re connected to the grid with solar, you need an interconnect agreement. Doesn’t matter if you have no intent to export.

I have solar on my garage to charge my lightning. I have two different meters, one for my house and one in my garage. So the solar is grid tied and dedicated to ev charging. The solar install company had me not power the system until the interconnect was finished. The electric company had to replace my meter with one that supported bidirectional charging. The old meter just measured current and it didn't know the difference between outbound current draw and inbound current draw. The new meter knows the difference.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

Don’t know about up there, but here, if you’re connected to the grid with solar, you need an interconnect agreement. Doesn’t matter if you have no intent to export.

No agreement required if not exporting here.
With "smart" meters they would know if you export even tiny amount of power - even accidently.

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