- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: na
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:06 am to lnomm34
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:06 am to lnomm34
quote:They do it all the time.
do you think companies that have to be competitive in a free market make an investment to reduce costs, then they raise the price of their goods/services? No.
Just not on the same timeline.quote:The meters have to be read into an EMS (Energy Management System) which requires servers, network, SCADA, and support. All of those require personnel, apps, man hours and that won't stop at year one once the installation is complete. It costs much more for them to maintain and pay a meter-reading fleet though. Which is why this is a good investment.
I wonder how much this project is going to cost. As I mentioned in the OP, the fee initially will be $2.22/month. According to Entergy's website, "Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers . . in the Greater Baton Rouge area." That's $2.22M per month in fees, or around $26.64M in the first year. I don't know how the fee will step down over the course of the fifteen years, but that seems a bit excessive.
Eventually, entergy will know when an individual houses loses power because your neighbor was building a fence and cut a line. Or a windstorm knocked down a tree that hit only your line. That drop in load wouldn't register with today's system. Also, as more people find ways to generate their own power, a microgrid system could pay homeowners of generators to turn on and help support the local neighborhood. One day, the power company could even remotely control them, reimbursing the homeowner/businessowner for the gas and usage. A little like solar panels but more localized and detailed.
1
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:10 am to ell_13
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/8/25 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:13 am to lnomm34
I still have a lot of frustration with Entergy from my 13 years living in Louisiana. The various hurricane fees always get me and they get reimbursed from insurance. The lack of in ground utility structure bothered me as well as electric could go out with a strong wind.
A person I worked with his wife was on the regulating board. When she left, he told me number of stories how entergy gives back. There weeklong trip to Disney World every year was completely paid for along with many other perks.
Had a small house in Louisiana and bill was always $60-$200. Now live in a house 3x+ the size and electric is cheaper. Electric bill for October was $34, november was $45, December should be around $38-$39. I paid $864 all of last year for electric. It really does amount to a large savings with energy deregulation. I would spent around $1800 per year in utilities in Louisiana for a much small house.
A person I worked with his wife was on the regulating board. When she left, he told me number of stories how entergy gives back. There weeklong trip to Disney World every year was completely paid for along with many other perks.
Had a small house in Louisiana and bill was always $60-$200. Now live in a house 3x+ the size and electric is cheaper. Electric bill for October was $34, november was $45, December should be around $38-$39. I paid $864 all of last year for electric. It really does amount to a large savings with energy deregulation. I would spent around $1800 per year in utilities in Louisiana for a much small house.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:15 am to lnomm34
quote:The "no option" part is just the world we live in. And it won't change because the LPSC has so much power. If you ever want input and a headsup on these types of changes, that's where you would need to go to read up and voice concerns, not that they would listen.
I just loathe the way these things are slipped into our bills and the customers have no option whatsoever.
quote:Not Entergy, but in IT for a nationwide energy company.
And I know you said you don't work for Entergy, but you must work for a utility company.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:19 am to lnomm34
At this point, I'm not even mad at Entergy anymore.
They are a monopoly which is also a publicly traded corporation.
If you want to be mad at anyone, direct your attention at the Public Service Commission, their regulator, who is bought and owned by the utility companies.
Entergy is just trying to maximize their shareholder profits. It's up to our government to not allow them to screw us.
They are a monopoly which is also a publicly traded corporation.
If you want to be mad at anyone, direct your attention at the Public Service Commission, their regulator, who is bought and owned by the utility companies.
Entergy is just trying to maximize their shareholder profits. It's up to our government to not allow them to screw us.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:21 am to Mudminnow
quote:It can go really low but also really high. We've had two "mild" summers in a row so the ERCOT wholesale market has been a killer. Retail has been where it's at. Only one side of the market wins which is why companies like NRG diversify and hedge both on the wholesale and retail side in Texas. Centerpoint, too.
Electric bill for October was $34, november was $45, December should be around $38-$39. I paid $864 all of last year for electric. It really does amount to a large savings with energy deregulation. I would spent around $1800 per year in utilities in Louisiana for a much small house.
quote:Entergy is a weird case even for LA. Most "customers" of wholesale producers are coops, cities, and even the larger plants along the river. They actually have a "choice" but they enter into very long contracts with the wholesalers. These contracts again have to be approved but they're so long that both entities are taking a real risk. With energy costs so low now, the wholesalers are making bank with those guaranteed contracts.
I would spent around $1800 per year in utilities in Louisiana for a much small house.
Entergy, on the other hand as I said before, is in all 3 spaces. Wholesale, transmission and distribution. It makes them more powerful because they have so much more control and can hedge like the Texas companies do.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:23 am to lnomm34
quote:
That's awesome. And so we're clear, I think this is an warranted project and the potential is clearly sky-high. I just loathe the way these things are slipped into our bills and the customers have no option whatsoever.
I have no problem paying $2.22 per month for this new system. it's needed and there will be benefits to customers as well, if they are willing to monitor their usage and adjust accordingly. I'm sure the meters themselves, plus the entire network needed to support them, is very expensive.
HOWEVER, at some point in a few years, the meter reader cost will go away, as does the cost of the current system. And at that point, we damn well need to get a reduction in our electricity rate to make up for that. If Entergy has less expenses then the PSC needs to demand a lower rate at that time.
yeah that will never happenPosted on 1/8/19 at 11:23 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:Bingo.
If you want to be mad at anyone, direct your attention at the Public Service Commission, their regulator, who is bought and owned by the utility companies.
Entergy is just trying to maximize their shareholder profits. It's up to our government to not allow them to screw us.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:25 am to ell_13
quote:
Would you rather pay for it all now which would triple your bill?
No, I'd rather them absorb their infrastructure upgrades. Kind of like a normal, non government protected, business does.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:29 am to shawnlsu
quote:If you don't think consumers pay for infrastructure in some way or another in every field, we really don't have anything to discuss.
No, I'd rather them absorb their infrastructure upgrades.
You think you aren't paying for the doctor's medical equipment he uses? Or a pharmacy's new lab? Or the car manufacturer's new plant?
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:33 am to ShoeBang
quote:
Nothing short of predatory. They save 50k per year in salary and benefits per employee not needed and proceed to charge their customers for 15 years for a one time infrastructure upgrade.
Also saving the costs of equipment and expenses. For those meter readers you need trucks and their added cost in fuel, maintenance, and insurance coupled with the actual cost of the vehicle.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:35 am to Cheese Grits
quote:These won't go away until a new system is in place... which, as mentioned if you read, requires servers, network, maintenance, personnel, SCADA, etc...
added cost in fuel, maintenance, and insurance coupled with the actual cost of the vehicle.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:35 am to shawnlsu
quote:
No, I'd rather them absorb their infrastructure upgrades. Kind of like a normal, non government protected, business does.
Eh, a normal business would just raise their prices by a couple of percent and feed it through.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:37 am to ell_13
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/8/25 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:40 am to Cheese Grits
quote:
For those meter readers you need trucks and their added cost in fuel, maintenance, and insurance coupled with the actual cost of the vehicle
In Houston fuel savings alone per year was 1.7 Million, then you factor in less wear and tear on the vehicles
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:47 am to lnomm34
quote:The point is that when you buy something whether it be an item or service you are paying for infrastructure. Period. When those infrastructure costs go up because of a major project, those costs go to the consumer one way or another. Usually, it's after the project is completed and the company touts its upgrades for a while and then raises rates/price. This is just happening at the start of the project with the cost to the consumer spread out over 15 years. It's not unheard of and certainly not a reason to complain especially since it's something that's needed. Right?
the consumer has a choice to buy the car or not
Again, if you have Entergy complaints, you're welcome to them. I just don't see this event as one of those times.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:57 am to lnomm34
quote:
but none of your examples above are forcing the consumer to pay for the infrastructure/equipment. In the case of the car manufacturer, the consumer has a choice to buy the car or not.
monopolies only "work" if there is reasonable (not too much, not too little) regulation.
Like any other company, Entergy's #1 responsibility is to the shareholders to maximize profits.
Because of the lack of market forces to keep them in line, it's up to the regulators to do that, and they, with respect to Entergy, have failed.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 11:57 am to lnomm34
These remote meters have to result in a net savings within a couple of years.
Entergy is publicly traded, so at least there's opportunity to get in on this government sanctioned monopoly.
Entergy is publicly traded, so at least there's opportunity to get in on this government sanctioned monopoly.
Posted on 1/8/19 at 12:04 pm to ell_13
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/8/25 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 1/8/19 at 12:09 pm to lnomm34
My favorite is when the energy companies go to the governments in the states they are in and ask for money.
they only need 2 million, but will ask for 11mil, then committee gives them 8.5mil and the peeps in governments cheer as they claim the tax payers won. LOLOLOL
they only need 2 million, but will ask for 11mil, then committee gives them 8.5mil and the peeps in governments cheer as they claim the tax payers won. LOLOLOL
Page 3 of 5
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News