Lock in electric rates or continue month-to-month?

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by soupcxan I'm amazed at my ability to pick the top of the market...and then make the wrong bet on the direction it will go from there.

I believe I've already demonstrated here -- much to the delight of many -- that my ability to do so is already legendary.

[soupcxan]

F this. A week after I lock in $0.15/kwh, I see that I could've gotten a contract for $0.125/kwh. So now I have to decide between paying the $100 to switch back (assuming I use 10,000kwh/year, I'd save $250 before paying the $100). Or I can wait to see if an even better locked in rate comes along soon. But if I wait too long before switching, then there's no point to switch (the breakage fee isn't prorated, so the benefits of switching decline the longer you wait).

[BigMoneyJim]

I read up on the TX deregulation when I got power service a bit over a year ago. My impression was that it would take a few years for new plants to come online but the market would make things better long-term. Perhaps I was naive.

Anyway, my one-year deal just ended. I paid a penny or two extra per kwh to go green (the theory being this encourages more green power in the competitive market) but just jumped 5-6 cents. I guess I need to get back on a committed plan myself.

[ziggy29]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigMoneyJim I read up on the TX deregulation when I got power service a bit over a year ago. My impression was that it would take a few years for new plants to come online but the market would make things better long-term. Perhaps I was naive.

Well, if you recall the greenies blocking most of the power plants TXU wanted to build in state, you may have your answer...

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy29 Well, if you recall the greenies blocking most of the power plants TXU wanted to build in state, you may have your answer...

I'm quite certain that those greenies would be willing to pay a portion of your bill, if only you ask nice.

Don't you think?


-ERD50

[HFWR]

T-Boone to the rescue!

[haha]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggy29 I believe I've already demonstrated here -- much to the delight of many -- that my ability to do so is already legendary.

Here is what happened to the NG market. Various shale plays came onstream. The Grandaddy Barnett is described here:

Barnett Shale Natural Gas - Fort Worth Basin | GEOLOGY.COM

In less than a decade, the Barnett Shale play has become the largest natural gas play in the state of Texas and, as new wells sprout like bluebonnets across the Fort Worth region, it might soon become the largest in the nation.
“This play already covers parts of 15 or more counties,” says Eric Potter, associate director of the Bureau of Economic Geology at the University of Texas at Austin. “It compares favorably with the biggest of the old oil booms of the early 20th century.”
Of course this boom is different. The concrete-like shale gives up its gas grudgingly. So individual wells tend to be smaller and more expensive to operate.
“The East Texas gushers would win out hands down,” says Potter. “But there are so many [Barnett] wells that even though they are modest, the total output is going to be huge.“

Ha

[Texas Proud]

Well, I just got my first bill on my month to month.... very surprised it was only 12.3 cents per KWH.... I paid like 21 cents last month on the POLR... and was expecting 15 to 16 so I am happy....

I have a bid on a new house and would like to see if I could lock in this low rate... but I have not looked to see if they are offering a lock...