Perhaps someone can go and ask him why the residential rates for Tiers 3-5 just went up again this month. It's a fraction of a cent increase for each tier. Perhaps someone should also tell Florez about this in case he didn't know. Really, people should stop worrying about the red herring of SmartMeters and start worrying about the obvious problems with PG&E's tiered pricing scheme: namely the paultry baseline and the extreme rates for the upper tiers.

www.pge.com/tariffs/electric.shtml#RESELEC

Anyone ever see Mars Attacks?

PG&E rep:  We are you're friends.  We come in peace (as he zaps everyone with his laser)

Zaps everyone with a laser....more like bends them over and says..." TA-DOW....How do you like me now...."

Shwaine, I agree that the Smart Meters are a scapegoat for what is in fact a punitive, capricious rate hike.  There are a few defective Smart Meters, but there are always a few defective anything.

Baseline quantities should be realistically attainable by most responsible and scrupulous users of energy, rather than an offensively low limbo rod that can be met only in a Motel 6 room in Santa Maria.  (I think I read somewhere that baseline quantites are made deliberately unachievable, but maybe you can confirm or correct that.)

By the time you get to Tier 4 or 5, it's cheaper to leave the grid and run off a gas generator. 

Energy conservation is important, and I have written myself on several occasions that our current energy demands are unsustainable.  But if we want people to work toward goals of lower energy usage, goals need to be realistic.

The so-called baseline is a taunt, not a realistic goal.  People are taking all of the simpler steps, like switching to compact fluorescents and adjusting thermostats.  Yet the baseline is almost as out of reach to them as ever.

Smart Meters have the potential to set realistic goals that users can hope to achieve.  Tiers could be defined less by arbitrary monthly consumption rates and more by a floating formula based on Degree Days.  A floating formula that takes Degree Days into consideration would separate the truly profligate wasters of energy from the mass rate victimization that results from a summer heat wave or a freezing, sunless January.

It's Management 101 to encourage behavior modification through the creation of attainable goals.  Currently, PG&E is not doing that.

The person we need to see is the head of the Public Utilities Commison...not the person that's selling his product....any good salesman will tell you exactly what you want to hear, and then do what they damn well please...

The PUC should put this issue on the front burner--NOW.....AFTER they figure out how MANY of our elected officals have been SWAYED by the utilities lobbyists with sex and other ' goodies ' over what's best for the people of California....

It's like fixing the jury---and it's legal if you don't get caught by your wife....

I found the page that led me to believe that baseline quantities were intentionally made unattainable:

http://www.pge.com/myhome/c...#

"The PU code specifically requires that baseline quanties fall between 50 and 60 percent of average use for basic-electric customers in both the summer and winter and for all-electric and gas customer in the summer. The PU code also requires that baseline quantities fall between 60 to 70 percent of average use for all-electric and gas customers in the winter."

"Average use" would seem to lump one-bedroom apartments together with three-bedroom detached homes, meaning that the baseline is, by design, perhaps 40% of a typical single-family home's usage.

Doing the math, it becomes virtually impossible to avoid stepping into the punitive tiers during summer if you live in anything larger than a Motel 6 room.  Look at the link that Shwaine provided, and see what has been done to Tier 3 over the months and years.

People are conserving, yet their rates soar anyway, sending the message that there is no benefit to conserving.

Attainable goals, peeps, attainable goals.

Apollo,  I have solar panels/digital meter and a

kill a Watt

device.  I have almost two years of daily records 'cause I'm wierd that way.  I am never over baseline because of the solar.  The last several days I have used 13 KW/day gross and a net of of minus 7 KW/day.  The gross would be over baseline in the winter w/o the solar.  No a/c, no ceiling fans, etc during this cool weather.  PG&E's baseline is not realistic IF it is suposed to be a target anyone can achieve.  I would like PG&E , or Lois, to explain to one and all just what the baseline is suppose to represent.

PGE has union bennies to pay. With pensions at 55, they are in the same boat as CalPERS. The more we cut back, the more they'll soak us on what we DO use.

lets gather the mob..run after him with our Tiki Torches and hang him from a bridge...in classic 08er fashion

were getting screwed on our gas baseline too.   we have the same baseline in the winter months and downtown los Angeles...who is a good 15-20 degrees warmer in the winter at night than we are

The most telling sign that PG&E knows its tiered pricing is a financial burden is to look at the CARE rate schedule. The CARE program is for low-income folks. They only have Tier 1 and Tier 2 rates. Anything over baseline, regardless of how far over baseline, is charged the same flat rate. If the tiered rate structure were solely for encouraging conservation, why would they exempt CARE customers from it? This points to the likelihood that the tiered rate structure is solely meant to make a profit in combination with the pittiance of a baseline allowance.

~Bloodyroots~.....YOU just made my Christmas list,amigo...I like the way you think....

The CARE rates can be found in the link that Shwaine gave in the first comment.

If I were to play spelling cop, I would say that the spelling is "pittance," but "pittiance" makes for such a perfect neologism.  I might purloin it and send it to the Washington Post.  ;)

When you sign up for CARE you are signed up for PG&E and The Gas Co.  It's a 20% discount on gas.

Is this just in Bakersfield? Or is it a problem with all PG&E?

Now THAT'S is a darn good question----

I believe it's a government program but you should be able to find out on line.  CARE is the program where they installed the energy efficient swamp cooler, replaced a cracked window, replaced the light fixtures including porch lights with energy efficient ones (light sensors on the outdoor lights) all light bulbs, weather stripping, and had it needed it, would have insulated the attic.

And I live in a rental...they said it didn't matter.  My electric bill never went over 45 bucks this summer since I only ran the a/c at night long enough to cool the west facing bedroom.  Mind you the cooler wasn't strong enough  to force it's way through the rear rooms (br's) but I used fans to help move the cool air along.  If you qualify it saves a lot of money.

I mentioned above that it covers So Cal Gas (The Gas  Company) as well.  It's not just PG&E.

 Really, people should stop worrying about the red herring of SmartMeters

The smart meter is not a red herring issue. It should be taken seriously. It's big brother all the way. It's all part of the smart grid technology. All of you should conduct some research. Find out how controlling & intrusive smart grid technology is. 

This is from an article posted today

PG&E wants rate hikes in spite of recent outcries

For customers who complain about the price they pay for power, and say they have no other company to get it from, Boyles said they do have a choice.

"You do have a choice actually," Boyles said, adding that people can reduce power usage.
 

First I guess his power is paid by someone else.  Mr. Boyles, just how much futher do WE need to cut back? Not much of a choice!

HAHAHA, Mr Boyles was on the 11 news explaining why some farmer's electric bill for a silo tingy (not in working order) was over $11,000 dollars. The smart meter malfunctioned..  HAHAHA

I say we go with Bloodyroots Idea!....I can't even leave a decent enough comment.......way to many Delete her butt words I want to use.  

Boyles said, adding that people can reduce power usage.
I guess to save I'll have to cut  all power to my house....Jerk!..

This is PG&E new policy of holding the state hostage.  the public has been led to believe that they have to have these Smartmeters.  PG&E has no credibility and I can't understand why they are still in business.  They are a part of the reason for CA economic woes.  They were willing to harm the people of Hinkley just to make a buck.

How are they benefitting the public?  They are no red herring.  They are the enemy, in the most simple terms.

Gives the words owe my soul to the company store a more realistic meaning.

Well..~Lois~ had a pretty good article in this mornings paper---check it out.....

The meters are a red herring for one very simple and obvious reason: they distract people from the REAL problems with PG&E. If people keep complaining that the meters are wrong and it's shown the meters are NOT wrong, then the complaints are nulled. But if people complain about the rate structure and the baseline allowance, those issues cannot be so easily sidestepped. Focus on the real serious, long-reaching problems with PG&E.

PG&E had a blatant disregard for life by tainting the city of Hinkley's water supply.  Their lust for money and even bigger profits takes precedence over the economic health of the state which was shown when they damn near bankrupted the state in the late 90's.  What stronger evidence do you need?  Dead people?  CEOs lighting their cigars with $100 bills or on tape admitting they don't care for human life?

I had high PGE bills just like everyone else this past summer in the range of $300.00 at its peak. My latest bill is only $19.24. What gives? I haven't used my air conditioner this past month but that is the only change.

Check for a credit Dragoon. They're supposed to be issuing credit on either the November or December bills for summer "overbilling". Should show up somewhere on the bill if that's the case.

We just got our first under-$40 PG&E bill in about 18 years.

The credit was there.

Thanks Shwaine and Appollo, it was the credit. It would have helped if I had looked past the first page of my bill. I was just stunned that it was so low.

Now I have to go dig mine out to see if I got a credit.  Now where did I put it???  Oh, it's in the  hat for the drawing for who gets paid this month.

My bill  was $128.00 with no credit.   

I just got my bill and there was a $97.00 credit.