Thursday, July 31, 2008

Reading the Electric Bill: Supply and Delivery

Rejected post title: "Coned to customers: Just send cash."

A little over a year ago, I posted Choosing a Green ESCO, and subsequently changed my energy SUPPLIER to Con Ed Solutions, which generates energy from renewable resources (wind and large water hydro mainly). Of course you notice no difference in electricity (the lights may be a little greener, but we try to keep the smug index low) and the bill is combined so really nothing to do it but sign up. I knew that I was going to pay a little more for the service, but I agreed with the hope that I somehow helped out... somehow.

So my most recent bill comes today, and I nearly snarfed coffee when I saw the amount. Guess we should have spent the $$ and replaced the old carbon belching air conditioner downstairs (like we claim to do every year)... Oops. Next year, honest. We're doing it.

So to get to my concern, I pay 18.000000000000002¢/kWh for supply from my ESCO. Delivery is still by ConEd (6.89¢/kWh), and I can't change that. But with all that talk about ConEd's rates going through the roof last month, I wondered what con ed charges for supply. Does it finally pay to be green? Transparent information on the web and coned's site is hard to find.

If you are a regular con ed customer (supply and delivery) and your bill states the supply cost, would you share it in the comments? If you are a reader from a far away land, I'd love to hear what power costs in your neck of the woods.

Tuesday, July 8, 2008

Dancing your way to a greener you!

"If 10,000 NY Biters turn off their A/C for three hours, two nights a week, we'll save enough collective cash to buy 475 pairs of dance shoes."


While I may not be into dancing, the idea of saving money to buy more shoes sure is alluring! (You'll now note that this is Columbia's DW writing, as Columbia doesn't buy more than 3 pairs of shoes a year.) The fact above came from ideal bites, a site dedicated to providing bite sized tips for living a greener lifestyle. This is the perfect amount for me... too much information and I'll never remember it! Better yet, they'll even email me their daily tip! You can sign up for their regular daily tip or one just for New Yorkers (like the one above).

Thanks to Heather at Freebies 4 Mom for spoiling me with another free idea! Now maybe I should take DD out and introduce her to Filene's Shoe Department...