Comments on: My, DFW’s Power Demands May Set Record http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/ FrontBurner® has been called the best blog in Dallas (repeatedly), a snarky celebration of ignorance, and a daily conversation about Dallas among the editors of D Magazine. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:59:30 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: the cynic http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38985 the cynic Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:25:52 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38985 if anyone had watched the Rangers game on TV last night they would have seen the freak wind storm that had hot dog wrappers swirling like a Tasmanian devil in the outfield. They had groundkeepers chasing trash in between innings (and pitcher changes). And your Tx Rangers prevailed and put a W (presumably for WHUPPED) in the post All-Star game column. You gotta admire these guys that play the game in 150-degree heat. if anyone had watched the Rangers game on TV last night they would have seen the freak wind storm that had hot dog wrappers swirling like a Tasmanian devil in the outfield. They had groundkeepers chasing trash in between innings (and pitcher changes). And your Tx Rangers prevailed and put a W (presumably for WHUPPED) in the post All-Star game column. You gotta admire these guys that play the game in 150-degree heat.

]]> By: LakeWWWooder http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38981 LakeWWWooder Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:52:27 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38981 Neither lightning nor 'lightening' struck Woodrow, as its chimney was hit before in 1960 (peeled off the bricks - we like to call it a 'divine infusion'). However the culprits could be my neighbors blasting Dean Martin: "I, I love Vegas every moment, When I leave I shed a tear. Oh I, I love Vegas, Jesus Christ do I love Vegas.." There was wine flowing on Worth Street, too -we know how to have a good time in this part of town. Neither lightning nor ‘lightening’ struck Woodrow, as its chimney was hit before in 1960 (peeled off the bricks – we like to call it a ‘divine infusion’).

However the culprits could be my neighbors blasting Dean Martin:

“I, I love Vegas every moment,
When I leave I shed a tear.
Oh I, I love Vegas,
Jesus Christ do I love Vegas..”

There was wine flowing on Worth Street, too -we know how to have a good time in this part of town.

]]> By: WWWildcat http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38974 WWWildcat Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:34:12 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38974 Dreher discusses our 'brown-out' in the Kunstler-funk Book Club Blog: http://bookclubblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/the-short-emergency.html Dreher discusses our ‘brown-out’ in the Kunstler-funk Book Club Blog:

http://bookclubblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2008/08/the-short-emergency.html

]]> By: dallasboiler http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38892 dallasboiler Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:14:43 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38892 Tim, as nmlhats mentioned the hot weather probably explains why your bill jumped so much for two reasons. One, as nmlhats implied, the 10 degree higher temperature outdoors means that you'll be running the A/C unit a lot more which is probably more than offsetting your efficiency gains. Two, your power price ($/mwh) is probably higher this year versus last. On very hot days, most of our power comes from expensive natural gas plants which may drive up your rate depending on what type of plan you're on. During cooler times, we can get most of our power from much cheaper wind, coal, and nuclear sources ... which generally means that your rate might be a little lower then. You've done the right thing by taking the efficiency steps that you mentioned. I'm betting that the steps that you've taken have still saved you a lot of money ... just imagine how high your bill would've been without all of the improvements that you mentioned! Tim, as nmlhats mentioned the hot weather probably explains why your bill jumped so much for two reasons. One, as nmlhats implied, the 10 degree higher temperature outdoors means that you’ll be running the A/C unit a lot more which is probably more than offsetting your efficiency gains.

Two, your power price ($/mwh) is probably higher this year versus last. On very hot days, most of our power comes from expensive natural gas plants which may drive up your rate depending on what type of plan you’re on. During cooler times, we can get most of our power from much cheaper wind, coal, and nuclear sources … which generally means that your rate might be a little lower then.

You’ve done the right thing by taking the efficiency steps that you mentioned. I’m betting that the steps that you’ve taken have still saved you a lot of money … just imagine how high your bill would’ve been without all of the improvements that you mentioned!

]]> By: Tobie B http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38889 Tobie B Mon, 04 Aug 2008 18:00:55 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38889 Tim, I changed out my antique thermostat for a new fangled digital one, leveled the house, put in weather stripping, got new Pella windows, moved all my "mass outlet" using electronics to power strips that I turn off and unplug when not in use, only used lights when I absolutely had to after dark (other times, I'd use my trusty dusty maglite), only did laundry once a week (tall order as I'm a very sweaty runner)NEVER opened my blinds, kept the curtains over the blinds closed, put my fancy new thermostat on 78 as opposed to my accustomed 72, changed all my filters, vacuumed all my vents AND the vent thingee of my fridge...and my bill was $125 more than it was this time last year. Which goes to show you, being energy concious DOESN'T PAY! Tim, I changed out my antique thermostat for a new fangled digital one, leveled the house, put in weather stripping, got new Pella windows, moved all my “mass outlet” using electronics to power strips that I turn off and unplug when not in use, only used lights when I absolutely had to after dark (other times, I’d use my trusty dusty maglite), only did laundry once a week (tall order as I’m a very sweaty runner)NEVER opened my blinds, kept the curtains over the blinds closed, put my fancy new thermostat on 78 as opposed to my accustomed 72, changed all my filters, vacuumed all my vents AND the vent thingee of my fridge…and my bill was $125 more than it was this time last year.

Which goes to show you, being energy concious DOESN’T PAY!

]]> By: Tobie B http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38887 Tobie B Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:53:50 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38887 if this had happened in my hood out in the boonies of the "county" we would've been drinkin beer and iced tea from mason jars...my what a difference an addy makes!!! if this had happened in my hood out in the boonies of the “county” we would’ve been drinkin beer and iced tea from mason jars…my what a difference an addy makes!!!

]]> By: Puddin'Tane http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38870 Puddin'Tane Mon, 04 Aug 2008 17:05:57 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38870 The Other Marty Cortland just gets richer...but none the less delusional. ;) The Other Marty Cortland just gets richer…but none the less delusional.

;)

]]> By: monkey god http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38867 monkey god Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:50:00 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38867 Tim Their gouging us. The state of Oklahome pays half what we do in DFW. Our electricity is based on the price of natural gas. Natural gas and the price of eletricity that is sold to power companies has decreased by alot but we're still paying high prices. Compare your kwh to the price sold to electric companies. I use bloomberg.com as my source. Bring back electric regulation. Tim
Their gouging us. The state of Oklahome pays half what we do in DFW. Our electricity is based on the price of natural gas. Natural gas and the price of eletricity that is sold to power companies has decreased by alot but we’re still paying high prices. Compare your kwh to the price sold to electric companies. I use bloomberg.com as my source. Bring back electric regulation.

]]> By: nmlhats http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38860 nmlhats Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:55:11 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38860 A transformer blew near our house on Friday afternoon around 5pm--in your old Stonewall-area 'hood, Eric. Fortunately we were away for the weekend so were sleeping in air-conditioned comfort elsewhere. Power was back on by early Saturday morning, according to our pet-sitter. Our cats were apparently lethargic in the heat. As for the amount of electricity we are all using, TXU shows on its bills not only the amount you used this year and last, but also the average high temperature during the same billing period for this year and last year. We have used slightly more power this year even with the thermostat a little higher. Why? How? It's because last summer was unusually "COOL". The average high for last year's billing period on our late July bill was 89 degrees. This year the average high during the billing period was 100! The same was true for last month's bill-the average high for my billing period to late June 2008 were about 10 degrees higher than 2007. Our little house is about 80 and my home office is in the hottest part of the house, meaning mid-80-s on a bad day. I keep a thermometer in here for kicks and when it's 103 or so outside, it can be 86-87 in this room. Ceiling fans in every room help take the edge off. Thank goodness my boss (me) lets me wear shorts and t-shirts to work. I can't afford both dry cleaning and electric power. A transformer blew near our house on Friday afternoon around 5pm–in your old Stonewall-area ‘hood, Eric. Fortunately we were away for the weekend so were sleeping in air-conditioned comfort elsewhere. Power was back on by early Saturday morning, according to our pet-sitter. Our cats were apparently lethargic in the heat.

As for the amount of electricity we are all using, TXU shows on its bills not only the amount you used this year and last, but also the average high temperature during the same billing period for this year and last year. We have used slightly more power this year even with the thermostat a little higher.

Why? How? It’s because last summer was unusually “COOL”. The average high for last year’s billing period on our late July bill was 89 degrees. This year the average high during the billing period was 100! The same was true for last month’s bill-the average high for my billing period to late June 2008 were about 10 degrees higher than 2007.

Our little house is about 80 and my home office is in the hottest part of the house, meaning mid-80-s on a bad day. I keep a thermometer in here for kicks and when it’s 103 or so outside, it can be 86-87 in this room. Ceiling fans in every room help take the edge off.

Thank goodness my boss (me) lets me wear shorts and t-shirts to work. I can’t afford both dry cleaning and electric power.

]]> By: Hillbilly Beau Monde http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2008/08/04/my-d-fws-power-demands-may-set-record/comment-page-1/#comment-38859 Hillbilly Beau Monde Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:54:33 +0000 http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/?p=16087#comment-38859 Southwest Arlington had a couple of power-burps last night, too, and I've been busy offering up prayers for my friendly power grid ever since, seeing how it's gonna be Satan's breadbasket out there for the next few days. California-style brown-outs we can do without! Southwest Arlington had a couple of power-burps last night, too, and I’ve been busy offering up prayers for my friendly power grid ever since, seeing how it’s gonna be Satan’s breadbasket out there for the next few days. California-style brown-outs we can do without!

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