The Price of Power

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#861999 19-Jul-2013 09:26

Dratsab:
garbonzai: I have just had another power increase from GENESIS ENERGY ... But what can one do.

Give your Council the finger and start burning some wood?

Overall we found the cost of wood when combined with the existing electricity more expensive than just switching on the heat pump.

Then there is all that time spent mucking around, packing wood, keeping it dry etc ... Not worth it IMO

vexxxboy

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#862007 19-Jul-2013 09:42

Overall we found the cost of wood when combined with the existing electricity more expensive than just switching on the heat pump.

Then there is all that time spent mucking around, packing wood, keeping it dry etc ... Not worth it IMO

have to agree with this , we were spending $300-$400 a winter on wood, replaced the fire with a heat pump and that costs us $150-$200 a winter to run it.

Common sense is not as common as you think.

mrphil

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#862048 19-Jul-2013 11:09

i feel the same way with all these power increases but powerswitch still says genesis is still the cheapest for me

jonherries

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#862049 19-Jul-2013 11:11

There have been a few conversations about this on GZ, and I have come to the following conclusions:

Insulation is the best cheapest way to save money, even if you have some, add more cause it is relatively cheap.
The price of power will continue to go up as externalities are incorporated into prices (eg. Environmental costs)
Demand has been static in this country for some time http://www.ea.govt.nz/industry/ec-archive/security-of-supply/short-term-monitoring/demand-archive/
If demand falls (increased efficiency) the cost of generating power is spread over less consumers and units of power, which raises prices further.
Supply can be constrained to minimise over supply (no new builds for generation) and maintain prices
The cost of solar panels (both PV and hot water) have fallen in both real and relative terms in the past 5 years as the installed base has grown (economies of scale) no doubt helped by US subsidies on installation of both.

I think all of this adds up to it being a good time to look at a grid tie solar pv install. Kiwibank lets you add the cost of the system to your mortgage and gives you a payout too. http://www.kiwibank.co.nz/personal-banking/home-loans/home-loan-options/sustainable-energy-loan.asp

Jon

dolsen

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#862066 19-Jul-2013 11:43

mrphil: i feel the same way with all these power increases but powerswitch still says genesis is still the cheapest for me

Don't forget to check the day / night plans from genesis. In Wellington, these are uncontrolled day night plans where the night rate is cheaper than the variable anytime plan, but, the day is ALSO cheaper than the anytime plan!

Why wouldn't you?

Having said that, that's not the case for some other areas I've checked.

timmmay

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#862097 19-Jul-2013 12:59

vexxxboy:
Overall we found the cost of wood when combined with the existing electricity more expensive than just switching on the heat pump.

Then there is all that time spent mucking around, packing wood, keeping it dry etc ... Not worth it IMO

have to agree with this , we were spending $300-$400 a winter on wood, replaced the fire with a heat pump and that costs us $150-$200 a winter to run it.

That's pretty cheap. We keep our old but relatively well insulated and retrofit double glazed house at 20-22 degrees from 5pm until 9pm, then 18 degrees until 7am. We sometimes turn the other heat pump on to heat the kitchen, mostly in the weekend. We probably spend an around $250 per month on average in the colder months, more like $300 in the middle of winter. In summer it's around $100. In winter the cold water's colder, so you use more hot water for the same shower - we both shower twice a day.

To me $150/month is fine, given how comfortable the house is.

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Klipspringer

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#862103 19-Jul-2013 13:05

If you have a hot water cylinder. Make sure its connected to uncontrolled power, wired to a second meter.

garbonzai

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#862280 19-Jul-2013 16:49

My grip is they continually put the price up well beyond the inflation rate year after year (just a cash cow) while making record profits for the Government/Investors and the obsession of the CEO's to make targets to get there ridiculously large bonus.

Apart from generating my own power, there's not much I can do, it's like if your car is empty all you can do is fill it up.

The more frugal one is with electricity use, the more they put the price up, so can't save that way either.

Anyway, I'm no longer with Genesis Power (good riddance), new one works out a bit cheaper (not much though) and I'm sure my money goes to the same coffers.

Oh well, time to turn the heat pump on it's getting cold, ha ha

Here's a link to an article years ago on GZ and it looks like nothing has changed.

http://www.geekzone.co.nz/Jama/3069

:P

timmmay

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#862297 19-Jul-2013 17:59

I had a $40 power bill this month - I was out of the country for 3 weeks with hot water and heating turned off, just security lighting and fridge turned on! Not a practical power saving method though really.

Lazarui

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#862315 19-Jul-2013 18:25

dolsen:
mrphil: i feel the same way with all these power increases but powerswitch still says genesis is still the cheapest for me

Don't forget to check the day / night plans from genesis. In Wellington, these are uncontrolled day night plans where the night rate is cheaper than the variable anytime plan, but, the day is ALSO cheaper than the anytime plan!

All companies have this but will sometimes require meter and tariff changes that can cost.

mrphil

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#862334 19-Jul-2013 18:56

dolsen:
mrphil: i feel the same way with all these power increases but powerswitch still says genesis is still the cheapest for me

Don't forget to check the day / night plans from genesis. In Wellington, these are uncontrolled day night plans where the night rate is cheaper than the variable anytime plan, but, the day is ALSO cheaper than the anytime plan!

Why wouldn't you?

Having said that, that's not the case for some other areas I've checked.

i was told that i needed a day and night meter install which will come out of my pocket, so i'm just on a standard rate at the moment

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Azzura

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#862372 19-Jul-2013 20:02

Same here (someone else has mentioned this already)...

Every time I find a way to save electricity and reduce my power-bill. The power company comes along and says it has to increase the rate per unit it charges me.... to maintain its profit margin =(

Insulate the house and double glazed windows ---- price per power unit goes up.
Install energy efficient lights, washer, dryer and w/e else ------ price of power unit goes up.

I feel like I am helping the power company increase its profit margin on the units they produce vs previous cost/charge of a unit it was costing them.

lol Oh well =/

jonherries

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#862376 19-Jul-2013 20:28

At least most of the profit goes to the government to offset taxes...

Jon

sonyxperiageek

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#862389 19-Jul-2013 21:35

timmmay:
vexxxboy:
Overall we found the cost of wood when combined with the existing electricity more expensive than just switching on the heat pump.

Then there is all that time spent mucking around, packing wood, keeping it dry etc ... Not worth it IMO

have to agree with this , we were spending $300-$400 a winter on wood, replaced the fire with a heat pump and that costs us $150-$200 a winter to run it.

That's pretty cheap. We keep our old but relatively well insulated and retrofit double glazed house at 20-22 degrees from 5pm until 9pm, then 18 degrees until 7am. We sometimes turn the other heat pump on to heat the kitchen, mostly in the weekend. We probably spend an around $250 per month on average in the colder months, more like $300 in the middle of winter. In summer it's around $100. In winter the cold water's colder, so you use more hot water for the same shower - we both shower twice a day.

To me $150/month is fine, given how comfortable the house is.

So how much is it altogether, average?

Sony

garbonzai

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#862408 19-Jul-2013 22:39

Saved a bit of power tonight, had my shower at the gym, yay maybe $1, but this could have back fired as I might have caught foot fungus and will have to buy some cream, only time will tell.

See what you have caused already Genesis Power to increase your profit, I may have to go to the doctor for Athletes foot. :P

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