apoptotic: change1211: Oh there were so many provinces the headline could have worked for.

/Doesn't mind BC Hydro
//$25 a month for power is pretty good.

Pretty good? I pay around $55/month for power in a 360 sq ft apartment in Edmonton. Before I clicked the link I totally expected it to be about Epcor.

Man, I love Epcor. You actually end up paying more for "maitenance" and "utility" fees than for electricity. And of course, the transmission line rental fee. And the "we took all this time and effort to actually remind you to pay us, so give us a few dollars for that, too" fee. farkers.

//Only use about 20$ worth of electricity.
///Pay about 60$.
////What in the actual fark?

My power bill, from this company, averages $125/mo for a 1800 sq ft house, and that doesn't include heat, which is from oil, so I'm really getting a kick in the balls out of these replies. The nice bit is you can't hook up anything which might reduce your power consumption unless they provide it, and their prices on the few things they do offer, for example meters that record consumption for both peak and off hours to allow for split billing, are sold on a 20 year cost recovery model.

Monthly charges for the record:
$10.83 base charge
$15.24 for metered energy (ie having a mechanism where they can read my consumption)
$.13336 per kilowatt hour
and then 15% tax

Little.Alex: "The provincial Progressive Conservatives say they plan to intervene at a public hearing into Nova Scotia Power's request for a six per cent power rate increase over two years.

The provincial regulator has filed for a three per cent rate increase for 2013 and 2014."

I'll take a 6% rise over 2 years. In the UK my bill went up 15% last year and I expect another 15% this year.

Yeah Mellotones!

/fark NS Power

StreetlightInTheGhetto:
Well, if you're in CA isn't water a finite resource?

Yeah I'd say...

kd1s: I forget where in Canada this one happened but it was a hydro system and they asked people to reduce usage. Well once the people reduced the usage they hiked up he rates.

But it's a renewable resource - so what was the justification? People were using less power so revenue was reduced.

It's the same province. We're getting rate hikes because a couple pulp and paper mills shut down/asked for rate reductions. Also, we're paying more because they're trying to become more "green and efficient," thus have to pay more.

HenryFnord: My power bill, from this company, averages $125/mo for a 1800 sq ft house, and that doesn't include heat, which is from oil, so I'm really getting a kick in the balls out of these replies. The nice bit is you can't hook up anything which might reduce your power consumption unless they provide it, and their prices on the few things they do offer, for example meters that record consumption for both peak and off hours to allow for split billing, are sold on a 20 year cost recovery model.

Monthly charges for the record:
$10.83 base charge
$15.24 for metered energy (ie having a mechanism where they can read my consumption)
$.13336 per kilowatt hour
and then 15% tax

Mine's gone up from about 70 dollars every two months, to 85 dollars every two months within the past year, and I'm not using any more power than normal in my apartment. It's so stupid.

These crooks have let maintenance and repairs slide for years, putting techs out of jobs and letting services slide to the point that if two ravens start necking while sitting on a power line in a heavy dew power goes out.
Personally, if the revolution ever happens, I'm all in favour of burning these bastards at the stake. Hell, I'll even bring marshmellows and help split kindling.

It featured Cape Breton comedian Maynard Morrison, the Halifax Titanic Orchestra, and the Mellotones, a popular band in Halifax.



The Halifax Titanic Orchestra and the Mellotones? Really? That does seem a bit over the top.

The Southern Dandy: FDR was right when he said electricity should belong to the people.

And I thank my lucky stars that LBJ agreed with him (and loved money) enough to form the electric cooperative from which I am receiving power at this very moment. It's the best power provider I've ever dealt with, and here are two great examples of why:

-A few years back, we got a few bad apples in the barrel who started pulling the typical BS that's become all too common at power companies nationwide; backroom deals, playing Three-Card Monte with corporate accounts, what have you. Fortunately the customers caught wind of it, and sued the fark out of them. Board members resigned in disgrace, new ones were appointed, and that shiat stopped real quick.

-Around the same time that case was wrapping up (2008), a rather shady capital management firm tried to buy PEC to the tune of half a billion dollars. They were told to go back to New Jersey and fark themselves. Then they tried it again after the new board members were appointed (2010) and received the same response.

A video of the event, including Maynard Morrison's comedy act, is on youtube. Decide for yourself if this is lavish or not.

Those cocksuckers have no redeeming value left whatsoever. I'm not normally one of the 'this is an outrage' guys but this IS an outrage.

Their reason for the insane cost of electricity in this province is that big electricity users are leaving or going bankrupt so they have to increase the cost of electricity. I'm not sure they thought their cunning plan all the way through.

Well the real issue is that as part of their contract Emera is guaranteed to make a profit in (I think, the 9% range) so if the big consumers reduce consumption, leave, go under then in order to make their guaranteed profit mark rates are required to go up to offset the losses. It's a farked model.

C'mon people, it was 30 people at a local restaurant. Yes they hired some entertainment. BFD. That's a pretty tame event. Are Nova Scotians extra sensitive or just backwoods folk?

In the states, this is called "scaling it way back" for an executive celebration. shiat, all those wall street assholes rent out half of Colorado every summer for their "team-building exercises". It's those times I actually wish for forest fires.

ourbigdumbmouth: All utilities should be public, including oil. All insurance companies should be non profit.

/ its a start

Not for profit doesn't mean what you think it means.

ourbigdumbmouth: All utilities should be public, including oil. All insurance companies should be non profit.

/ its a start

That's not a start. That's nationalizing 30% of our GDP.

My favorite recent utility story goes something like this...

Girlfriend lives in BFE little town with one (blinking) stop light. Get to her house one Friday evening and there's no water pressure. Just a trickle of water. She calls utility and of course they are gone for the weekend. Normal "pay the bill?" type inquiries, can come up with nothing. She calls neighbor who also has no water pressure. Figure it's a system problem, call utility again, leave emergency message - nothing.

Couple hours go by, still nothing, no water no call. I wander outside and look down the road. Lo and behold the mighty fire hose connected to the neighborhood hydrant. No fire truck, no crew, just a fire hose. Go down to get a closer look and these people A - have their own fire hose apparently, B - have about a 200' fire hose, C - are using it to fill their swimming pool, and D: nobody seems to care.

Water pressure came back up total of about 8 hours later. Never got a call, saw a utility truck, nothing.

Mate here has kept his old bills...he's using 40% LESS energy than 5 years ago, yet paying 60% MORE.

Seriously?! wtf?!

Sometimes my electricity "Delivery" charges are higher than my usage...

joonyer: C'mon people, it was 30 people at a local restaurant. Yes they hired some entertainment. BFD. That's a pretty tame event. Are Nova Scotians extra sensitive or just backwoods folk?


In Nova Scotia this is called an example of largesse symbolic of the disconnect between the public utility and the general population. Yes, in and of itself, a party thrown for 30 executlives generally wouldn't even rate mention in the newspaper, and if it did that mention would be in the society pages, if our local paoer had any. However, when the company is continually raising rates because of a guaranteed profit target, isn't providing clean power and can't guarantee any acceptable standard of power availability between the months of November and March, stories like this serve as a reminder to both Emera and the government that the population is fed up and isn't prepared to sit idly by without being vocal.

joonyer: C'mon people, it was 30 people at a local restaurant. Yes they hired some entertainment. BFD. That's a pretty tame event. Are Nova Scotians extra sensitive or just backwoods folk?

In the states, this is called "scaling it way back" for an executive celebration. shiat, all those wall street assholes rent out half of Colorado every summer for their "team-building exercises". It's those times I actually wish for forest fires.

A little of both honestly.

To be fair, if you're a private company you can do that without a monopoly as well.

cynicalbastard: These crooks have let maintenance and repairs slide for years, putting techs out of jobs and letting services slide to the point that if two ravens start necking while sitting on a power line in a heavy dew power goes out.
Personally, if the revolution ever happens, I'm all in favour of burning these bastards at the stake. Hell, I'll even bring marshmellows and help split kindling.

Heh..I loved the excuse that 'the sea air corroded the equipment' on the Eastern SHore a few years back.

F@#K Emera and F@#K NSPI

Little.Alex: Trolljegeren: Little.Alex: Trolljegeren: Remember when the Canadians were told that deregulation would reduce their utility bills?

Hey, Canadians, how did that work out?

[s3.socialvixen.com image 460x276]

Know how I know you're a retard?

Because NS power is not in any way deregulated. That rate increase, and guaranteed rate of return, were given to the company by it's regulators.


In 2004 NB Power was reorganized into 4 companies (NB Power Distribution and Customer Service, NB Power Generation, NB Power Nuclear, and NB Power Transmission) under a holding company (NB Power Holding Corporation) - part of . . . . . wait for it . . . . . . deregulation. Now the NB Power Distribution and Customer service is a regulated monopoly, but the other parts do not appear to be subject to the same level of regulation (presumably, part of the whole deregulation thing).


No. "appear" turns out to be a false assumption.

They are still regulated as hell, like everything else in NS apparently:
Link

including rates and capital expenditures:
Link

And here's some politicians discussing the application for a rate increase and the subsequent hearing:
Link

Do private, unregulated companies need hearings with politicians to set their prices? Here's a quote, with helpful boldfacing:

"The provincial Progressive Conservatives say they plan to intervene at a public hearing into Nova Scotia Power's request for a six per cent power rate increase over two years.

The provincial regulator has filed for a three per cent rate increase for 2013 and 2014."

You guys realize that NB Power is "New Brunswick" Power, not "Nova Scotia" Power? Different province, different corporation. In any case NB Power is regulated by the New Brunswick Energy and Utilities Board, which sets prices for electricity, natural gas, heating fuel, diesel, and gasoline, just as Nove Scotia Power's prices are regulated by the Nova Scotia government.

NSP sucks, but The Mellotones are awesome!

third world problems.


.



/jk

I pay $0.07/kw-hour
Go nuclear

jamspoon: Little.Alex: "The provincial Progressive Conservatives say they plan to intervene at a public hearing into Nova Scotia Power's request for a six per cent power rate increase over two years.

The provincial regulator has filed for a three per cent rate increase for 2013 and 2014."

I'll take a 6% rise over 2 years. In the UK my bill went up 15% last year and I expect another 15% this year.


Ouch.

Why should energy be expensive in England, when you're oil exporters? You need to slap your government into line.

My NSP bill went from a monthly average of $87 to $125. I was not invited to said party.

\getting a kick...etc

Pray I don't alter it any further

HenryFnord: joonyer: C'mon people, it was 30 people at a local restaurant. Yes they hired some entertainment. BFD. That's a pretty tame event. Are Nova Scotians extra sensitive or just backwoods folk?


In Nova Scotia this is called an example of largesse symbolic of the disconnect between the public utility and the general population. Yes, in and of itself, a party thrown for 30 executlives generally wouldn't even rate mention in the newspaper, and if it did that mention would be in the society pages, if our local paoer had any. However, when the company is continually raising rates because of a guaranteed profit target, isn't providing clean power and can't guarantee any acceptable standard of power availability between the months of November and March, stories like this serve as a reminder to both Emera and the government that the population is fed up and isn't prepared to sit idly by without being vocal.

Thanks Henry, that explains things a bit. Beautiful country you got out there.

Drunken_Polar_Bear: Well, let's do some math and see how lavish the party was.


You sound like a PR shill for NSP? Not saying you are, but you sure sound like one.

Sounds like they've been taking lessons from Vectren.

/SERIOUSLY, fark you Vectren!

Drunken_Polar_Bear: Well, let's do some math and see how lavish the party was.

28 people. Let's say all 28 people had 5 of the $7.00 drinks. That's $980 for booze.
Then let's say that all 28 people had a $12.00 appetizer. That's $336 for nibbles.
Then let's say all 28 people had a $35.00 meal. That's another $980 for meals.

That's a total of $2,296.00. Now I know that number's not completely accurate, but it's probably within the ballpark.

So then, they had a comedian and two bands. Assuming these weren't house acts (which wouldn't have cost extra), let's double the cost to cover the show. So now we're up to $4,592.00.

Divided up between 28 board members and executives, that comes out to $164.00 per person for the lavish party.

I realize I'm pulling numbers out of thin air here, but still, I don't see what the big deal is. Especially when you think that if they have 1,000,000 customers paying for it, that comes out to less than half a cent per customer paying for the party. And horrors of horrors, yes, it's sometimes a good thing for board members and executives to network.

Was it a dick move to do after another rate increase? Maybe. But Hell, I've spent more on a party for less people than that and I'm just a techno-redneck. (family reunion WOO! Who's got the rum?!!)

Are you factoring in the 15% sales tax at all? Cause Nova Scotia has that too. ;)

Also, did you factor in the fact that most of their executives received raises over 20% just last week? Combine that with yet more rate hikes, poor service overall, and this celebration bash, people are bound to be upset.

NSP have different ways of measuring time. When the power goes out, they claim it will be fixed in an hour. For them, an hour isn't 60 minutes, it's more like 300 minutes.

L?

I would have assumed there would be an annual or monthly adjustment... 7 times in 11 years sounds, not bad.

BohemianGraham: Drunken_Polar_Bear: Well, let's do some math and see how lavish the party was.

28 people. Let's say all 28 people had 5 of the $7.00 drinks. That's $980 for booze.
Then let's say that all 28 people had a $12.00 appetizer. That's $336 for nibbles.
Then let's say all 28 people had a $35.00 meal. That's another $980 for meals.

That's a total of $2,296.00. Now I know that number's not completely accurate, but it's probably within the ballpark.

So then, they had a comedian and two bands. Assuming these weren't house acts (which wouldn't have cost extra), let's double the cost to cover the show. So now we're up to $4,592.00.

Divided up between 28 board members and executives, that comes out to $164.00 per person for the lavish party.

I realize I'm pulling numbers out of thin air here, but still, I don't see what the big deal is. Especially when you think that if they have 1,000,000 customers paying for it, that comes out to less than half a cent per customer paying for the party. And horrors of horrors, yes, it's sometimes a good thing for board members and executives to network.

Was it a dick move to do after another rate increase? Maybe. But Hell, I've spent more on a party for less people than that and I'm just a techno-redneck. (family reunion WOO! Who's got the rum?!!)

Are you factoring in the 15% sales tax at all? Cause Nova Scotia has that too. ;)

Also, did you factor in the fact that most of their executives received raises over 20% just last week? Combine that with yet more rate hikes, poor service overall, and this celebration bash, people are bound to be upset.

NSP have different ways of measuring time. When the power goes out, they claim it will be fixed in an hour. For them, an hour isn't 60 minutes, it's more like 300 minutes.

I get your point. However, if I kick you square in the nuts and then throw back a Keystone Light while you writhe in pain, it's still (albeit cheap) a douche-move!

Howard Dean: People complain that they raise their rates every month. To be fair, of the 257 rate increase requests they filed last year, only 12 were actually approved.

So, one a month?

imprimere: BohemianGraham: Drunken_Polar_Bear: Well, let's do some math and see how lavish the party was.

28 people. Let's say all 28 people had 5 of the $7.00 drinks. That's $980 for booze.
Then let's say that all 28 people had a $12.00 appetizer. That's $336 for nibbles.
Then let's say all 28 people had a $35.00 meal. That's another $980 for meals.

That's a total of $2,296.00. Now I know that number's not completely accurate, but it's probably within the ballpark.

So then, they had a comedian and two bands. Assuming these weren't house acts (which wouldn't have cost extra), let's double the cost to cover the show. So now we're up to $4,592.00.

Divided up between 28 board members and executives, that comes out to $164.00 per person for the lavish party.

I realize I'm pulling numbers out of thin air here, but still, I don't see what the big deal is. Especially when you think that if they have 1,000,000 customers paying for it, that comes out to less than half a cent per customer paying for the party. And horrors of horrors, yes, it's sometimes a good thing for board members and executives to network.

Was it a dick move to do after another rate increase? Maybe. But Hell, I've spent more on a party for less people than that and I'm just a techno-redneck. (family reunion WOO! Who's got the rum?!!)

Are you factoring in the 15% sales tax at all? Cause Nova Scotia has that too. ;)

Also, did you factor in the fact that most of their executives received raises over 20% just last week? Combine that with yet more rate hikes, poor service overall, and this celebration bash, people are bound to be upset.

NSP have different ways of measuring time. When the power goes out, they claim it will be fixed in an hour. For them, an hour isn't 60 minutes, it's more like 300 minutes.

I get your point. However, if I kick you square in the nuts and then throw back a Keystone Light while you writhe in pain, it's still (albeit cheap) a douche-move!

It's physically impossible for you to kick me in the nuts, seeing as I don't have any, being a girl and all. I for one think NSP are cockmonkeys.

Also, according to the comments, hiring the Mellotones alone cost 6000 bucks, so dude's math is off anyways.

I worry that releasing free energy onto the market would cause a massive economic panic.

People like this make me wonder whether it'd totally be worth it in the long run.

We've had to deal with these people infesting politics, pushing for every major war in the last 50 years, and sucking the life out of everyone for the past century--and it's getting old.

Drunken_Polar_Bear: BohemianGraham: Also, according to the comments, hiring the Mellotones alone cost 6000 bucks, so dude's math is off anyways.

Meh. I admitted I was pretty much pulling numbers outta my ass. Still doesn't change the fact this is a non-issue being blown up out of proportion. Like I said, it's not like it's $5M in hookers and blow. Although with that number, it does blow my family reunion cost out of the water...

And, as I'm saying, it isn't about the money. Flipping people off after you've raped them is free.

Drunken_Polar_Bear: BohemianGraham: Also, according to the comments, hiring the Mellotones alone cost 6000 bucks, so dude's math is off anyways.

Meh. I admitted I was pretty much pulling numbers outta my ass. Still doesn't change the fact this is a non-issue being blown up out of proportion. Like I said, it's not like it's $5M in hookers and blow. Although with that number, it does blow my family reunion cost out of the water...

It's not the money that's the issue, as imprimere, myself, and several others have pointed out. It's not a "non-issue," if you live in this province, which you already stated that you don't, it's a slap in the face to many hard working Nova Scotians, who work their asses off. This party came day after the power company applied for for yet another rate hike, and after several of their executives received pay bonuses of over 20%. Nova Scotia is one of the highest taxed provinces, with a fairly high rate of unemployment, and it's a province filled with full of backwater hicks and elderly folks. Part of the reason why NSP is asking for yet another rate hike is because two pulp and paper mill plants shut down temporarily, and/or are receiving rate discounts courtesy of the provincial gov't. People are also still pissed off about a major transit strike in HRM a few months back. Combine that with this, all the recent cuts to health care and education, an ineffective provincial gov't who claims they're NDP, but are more Harper-esque than Stephen Harper, a 15% sales tax, and the 308 Million bucks the province is giving to Irving, and telling them they don't need to pay 280 million of it back, people of Nova Scotia are just fed up in general, as it always seems like everyone keeps taking and taking from them, and they get nothing in return. As I said, normally this kind of news wouldn't be such a big issue, but the timing is terrible, and there are several other factors most people who don't live in NS don't often see.

imprimere: Drunken_Polar_Bear: BohemianGraham: Also, according to the comments, hiring the Mellotones alone cost 6000 bucks, so dude's math is off anyways.

Meh. I admitted I was pretty much pulling numbers outta my ass. Still doesn't change the fact this is a non-issue being blown up out of proportion. Like I said, it's not like it's $5M in hookers and blow. Although with that number, it does blow my family reunion cost out of the water...

And, as I'm saying, it isn't about the money. Flipping people off after you've raped them is free.

This. It's not the money, it's the fact that NSP constantly shiats all over its customers, and smears it in their faces. Celebrate all you want, but when you constantly hike your rates up, and provide poor service, give your executives fairly large raises, and then throw a celebration, you tend to look like a jackass.