While we in NS must endure a lack of power generation or distribution competition, the less power everyone uses, the less revenue NSPC will realize; thus the higher the rates will go for that ever so important profit margin.

Going green will work in the long run but only when a competative market place exists.

NS should follow the rest of the North American grid and split the system between power generation companies and power distribution/transmission companies.

Agreed.

They have the market cornered and we have no choice but to pay. So monthly we all bend over and take it up the rear as we get raped on power bills.

There are a couple people in Canada that - for one have the land - and two actually did it - setup a windmill and generator. One single small windmill paid for itself in under 5 years. Now for this family it generates enough power and stores enough power that the power company pays HIM for adding power to the grid. Wouldnt that kick NS power in the nads.

Makes you wonder why solar panels arent cheaper doesnt it?

Also heard that for people who buy used trailers that they have to pay to switch over to electric heating and remove the oil furnace. Anyone hear about that?

In Ontario, where I used to live, we had this wonderful thing called "Ontario Hydro". It was really really HUGE. Then the guv decided to fraction it off and privatize it. Now Basically there are 2 power generation compaines (OPG/Evergreen and Bruce), and one power distribution company (Hydro One). Basically a gigantic cockup all-around, unless you worked for them, then it's jammy (I did work for OPG for an 11 month span down in Darlington plant).

I'd rather have one monopoly to deal with then 2 monopolies that would obviously be in cahoots with each other.

I'm of the opinion that "essential" services should all be run by the government, BUT the guv has no idea how to do it efficiently, so we're stuck with what we got.

Seriously, sometimes the only way to get things to change is literally/figuretively stick a gun at the people's in charge head.



"When revolution comes I will be the first in line" - Hammerfall

P.S. I'm not a nutjob, too lazy.

I so want that shirt

Goes with my "Gun control is being able to hit your target" t-shirt.

http://www.wearagun.com/

In the past 12 months...

Low 6.6 kwh
high 10.4 kwh
average 8.8 kwh

Damn nice.

What did you cut or do to achieve it?

a) in an apartment, so i dont pay for heat or hotwater
b) laptop which goes to hybernate in 5 minutes of inactivity plugged in or not.
c) no lights left on in rooms we aren't using, and when we go to work / out all lights off.

Only electronics left on are clocks, and digital box, rest are turned off unless they have a clock built into them.

So lets see...
Microwave
2 Alarm Clocks
Digital Cable box
Modem / router
Fridge and Deep freeze

and i think thats about it. Rest is turned off when we don't use it, goes for lights, TV's, etc. We had our fans going constantly in July/Aug, hence why it was up from the average.

Yep same I am doing now.

House will have electric heat so ill be up there yet again on usage...

Electric isn't too bad during the spring / summer, winter it is a bit more, however one thing you may want to look into...

Check the age of your windows. and how well insulated your home is. Right now you can get tax credits to do these upgrades, no drafts means you can set your temp at like 20-25 and your heaters won't have to run constantly. Just an idea.

- Keith.

It's a turn key home with all updated insulation im picking up and it's on a slab. I do wish it did have a basement but in turn i think it will save me a bit on power for heating as well.

One of the things that buzzes me is the tax benifit for renovations. It's so minimal and never enough. but overall I will take anything they will give of course

Turn key's are nice, but depending on the contractors who built it, they could of skimped or forgot to do some things. I've seen (cousins house) no insulation around the windows and they always had a cool draft, needless to say the company looked after it with no additional costs.

Oh yeah I def know what you mean there. I have heard a many horror stories in that aspect. We're just gonna have to wait and see on that part. Hopefully everything is well so they are smart enough not to waste time and resources fixing it. (which in a ideal world would make sense)

When have you noticed this to be an ideal world lol. They probably dug a hole out back, built a shed around it threw in a toilet as your half bath. lol.

Jul 09 50.8 KWh per day.