Electricity & Utility Rates

Horsepower- 18th century Scottish engineer James Watt coined the phrase ‘horsepower’ based on his own equations. Since he was hoping his steam engine would perform work traditionally done by horses, such as moving heavy loads, pumping water from mines, or grinding mash at breweries, he needed a succinct way to compare what his invention could do with what his customers were used to seeing. Watt multiplied the speed by the force of a working horse, and devised a formula for measuring strength: "Horsepower" is the unit of energy needed to move 550 pounds the distance of 1 foot in 1 second. [...]

FastTrak toll rates go up a dollar starting today. The state-approved increase is the first since 2010, all in all, a gentler blow than what's happened to a gallon of gas (around $1.80 in January 2009) or a kilowatt hour over the past decade. Inflation is inevitable, and it's unlikely to abate, never mind the debate. Many of us review our habits with the advent of a new year, from food to physical to fiscal. And even the most optimistic among us don't merely assume we'll look better, feel better, or make more money because the calendar rolled over. Thus [...]

Most utilities in California currently offer net metering, which effectively allows you to bank your energy until you need it, virtually eliminating your electric bill. Net metering lasts for a whole year, so you can build credit in the summer for those darker winter days. It measures the difference between the electricity you buy from the utility and the electricity you generate with your solar panel system. When you are making more electricity than you are using, such as on summer days, your extra electricity automatically gets metered back (sold) to the utility grid. You receive credit for this power at the [...]

Utility companies give many reasons for rate increases. In fact, there’s a huge list of fees and taxes they pass on to all ratepayers which is broken down directly on our monthly bill. These fees are used to cover: Power generation Replacement of aging power plants and decommissioning of retired plants Distribution costs (power lines, poles, transformers, etc.) Public assistance programs (general assistance for low-income customers) There are also other charges tacked on by individual counties or cities based on a percentage of your total charges, and a state fee which is generally a flat rate. Gas is charged an [...]