Power Company finally explained price increase.

oz in SC · #1 05/10/06, 06:41 AM

Last June we applied to have power run to the homesite on our land,we were given the price of $446 for the underground lines and box.

Because of weather and scheduling concerns with the guy finishing the driveway we couldn't goahead at that time.

Well we were ready to go ahead in March but we needed to reapply....somehow the price had gone up to over $1100!!!

Well with lots of phone calls and confusion(main office stating one price,local office another) and us going on vacation and my mother visiting from Australia it took a while to get back and find out what was going on.

After it was all said and done there was a simple explanation:

We were given a 300' credit on the power being run,when the price was first quoted we were given TWO 300' credits as we were having a barn built first and THEN a home.....

SO after countless phone calls and quite a lot of delay one simple fax explained it all...

Makes us wonder WHY they couldn't have told us that TWO months ago???

Anyway the check is being mailed today and power should be scheduled in a few weeks,after that the driveway will be finished and the concrete pad put in for the barn....

THEN we have the barn built!!!

HOORAY!!!

auntieemu · #2 05/10/06, 09:02 AM

Ok, I'm confused - how much is it going to be? $1100 with an explanation that it was that amount all along? Reminds me of when I tried to get electricity to the barn on a separate meter.

DrippingSprings · #3 05/10/06, 10:15 AM

i bought some property on a paved county road that had ''city water'' running right down the side. I called to see how much the meter etc was gonna cost. Thye said 450 dollars and theyd have me a meter in with available water. I cleared a spot to sit a couple mobile homes on it to rent out. Got tied up in other things and in the following five months a man about a 1/4 mile down the road bought about 70 acres and sibdivided it into housing spots at triple the going rate and naturally sq ft mins etc. Restricted for those that like homeowners associations etc So I go back and get the cash to pay the lady and she informs me it is now 1700 for a water meter!! It was four times higher than about 5-6 months earlier. I complained enough they grandfathered me in.

tamatik · #4 05/10/06, 10:24 AM

Here in BC canada. acouple yrs ago the gov allowed the gas company to charge an additional cost at the beginning of each yr.I had consumed $40 worth of gas and the bill was $440..The charges are for,,delivery charge.twice and commodity charge twice and delivery rider...this months bill is $274(2 months).$21 is actual use..the rest is assorted delivery and commodity charges.This is an old house and not worth converting to elec..But I,m sure that would be disastrous also.Such a ripoff

Ramblin Wreck · #5 05/10/06, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tamatik

Here in BC canada. acouple yrs ago the gov allowed the gas company to charge an additional cost at the beginning of each yr.I had consumed $40 worth of gas and the bill was $440..The charges are for,,delivery charge.twice and commodity charge twice and delivery rider...this months bill is $274(2 months).$21 is actual use..the rest is assorted delivery and commodity charges.This is an old house and not worth converting to elec..But I,m sure that would be disastrous also.Such a ripoff

They're doing the same thing in the States. My gas usage in town is very small, but they keep tacking on "fees". The one big advantage of propane (which I use at the farm) is that you can own "the delivery system (the tank)" and shop for the best price/service combination.

rambler · #6 05/10/06, 12:55 PM

A lot of LP places have gotten wise to where the cash cow is, & are tacking on fees for filling tanks that aren't theirs. A collusion thing, if we _all_ screw the customers, they _all_ have to pay more.... Gotta inspect the LP system if it's unfamiliar, delivery fee if you're not on the route/rental program, etc.....

As to the original message, insurance, raw materials, govt permits & inspections - mostly hidden & not thought of by us (you know what DOT is costing on a service truck these days?) are rising all at a very rapid rate. Installation estamates are going to change every month these days, really can't hold a company to a 4 or 6 month old estamate. Their costs are rising very rapidly as well.

It's called inflation, and no no one is saying that word, but yes, it is here. Been a long time since we've had that in the USA. Have to get used to a new set of rules on how to buy things......

--->Paul

Ramblin Wreck · #7 05/10/06, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

It's called inflation, and no no one is saying that word, but yes, it is here. Been a long time since we've had that in the USA. Have to get used to a new set of rules on how to buy things......

--->Paul

The rising energy costs touch everything (world wide), so I fear that inflation is here for a while. Each of us will have to find the best way in our current environment to deal with it. Lock in your mortgage rates, and get out of debt as fast as you can. Try to find ways to cut your personal energy consumption. Become the best consumer you can be!! If it is like the late 70's-early 80's, we can probably weather it without anarchy or a SHTF scenario that so many on the HT site fear. If it is like the 30's, we may be hosed. Our current crop of citizens aren't nearly as tough or resourceful as that bunch was.

rambler · #8 05/10/06, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramblin Wreck

Lock in your mortgage rates, and get out of debt as fast as you can. .

Actually, depending on your own situation & goals, for many now would be the time to _go into_ debt. Catch the rates now when they are not too high, and buy hard goods that you need.

Pay them off in 10 years. With inflation, wages go up as well, & you will then own hard goods at a fraction of their cost, paid off with cheaper dollars. You in effect buy cheap, and pay off with even cheaper dollars, winning 2x with this plan.

One needs to think outside the box, not with the herd, to _beat_ things like inflation.

This only works well if you have a good job, stable job that won't get cut, etc. Not for everyone, but it is a stratigy to beat inflation. Your plan is good, but is a bunker down, try not to die, hold on to what little I have, plan. There are better plans to rise to the top during changing economic times.

Depends on one's goals & situation.

and yes, all plans are a risk, some more than others.

--->Paul

Ramblin Wreck · #9 05/10/06, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

This only works well if you have a good job, stable job that won't get cut, etc. Not for everyone, but it is a stratigy to beat inflation. Your plan is good, but is a bunker down, try not to die, hold on to what little I have, plan. There are better plans to rise to the top during changing economic times.

Depends on one's goals & situation.

and yes, all plans are a risk, some more than others.

--->Paul

Agreed. If you can keep a job, you can do just as you describe. As I've gotten older, the thought of being debt free has taken on more than just a $ value meaning. The peace of mind that comes with having a home and farm paid for (well, except for the taxes) seems to outweigh other considerations. The risk taking is for you younger folks...who have more time to recover from mistakes!

DWIGHT DUNCAN · #10 05/10/06, 03:51 PM

I can see why folks don't rush to my neck of the woods: southern CA. My neighbors have been in the process of trying to build a home on 8 acres next to me. We are in the county, but have water supplied from the nearest city(1 mile to city limit).

They are being required to install a fire hydrant on the street to get a permit. Cost: $15,000. And as for getting power to the lot, the electric company made them pull out their wiring and have electric Co. do the work to be sure it met their specs. Cost for power to temporary box until house is constructed ( 500 ft) $10,000. And you don't even want to know what the health department required for the septic field. With 8 acres, they barely had enough land to put in a system with 100% reserve that would meet requirements of health dept.

I would love to move out before I'm too old to start somewhere with a bit more rights for property owners and less control/abuse by utilities and county health.

oz in SC · #11 05/10/06, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by auntieemu

Ok, I'm confused - how much is it going to be? $1100 with an explanation that it was that amount all along? Reminds me of when I tried to get electricity to the barn on a separate meter.

It is going to cost $1100 for the power to be run from the property line to the future homesite.

For some reason it was almost impossible for the Engineer to tell us that...

But it is at least finished with so we can move ahead.