In bad economy, power cutoffs soar

they cant shut off during the winter months.
I know my bill has gone up on average 50 more a month. Just what I need an extra 600 given to nyseg!

Its gonna be a long cold winter for some of us . Something has to give we all need help everything is going up except the paycheck.........

They shouldn't cut people off in the winter months, but they will, that's when they can REALLY collect because we NEED them more than ever during winter. And they know that. Why don't thier prices EVER go down??? With as many people needing power, you'd think they could lower the price even just a little bit, they will STILL make billions a year.

National Greedy thats what some people are calling them!

And that's the truth!!!

Gamma ma wrote:

National Greedy thats what some people are calling them!

Perhaps people that are having difficulties need to prioritize all the items that they have or want to maintain in thier lives.

Some of the non essential items could be;

1)Cell phones

2)revert BACK to ONLY basic cable TV and stop paying for HBO, Digital, movies, tvo etc.

3) Instead of having a $200 deductible on your vehicle/vehicles and Homeowners Insurance policies, up it to $1000 and save about $40%

4)Make your own coffee instead of the daily trip or 4 to Starbucks or Dunkin Dognuts or Stewart's.

5) Brown Bag it.

6) Install an energy efficient furnace and a Hot water storage tank which saves the boiler from maintaining that hot water and stores it in a tank for on demand use.

7) If you have central AC and baseboard heat, close the AC ducts and cover the Return giant duct with cardboard to shield against heat loss.

8) Turn off unnecessary lights and TVs in other rooms that aren't in use.

9) If you have an outside light or one of those telephone lights that YOU pay for, if it's not a High Pressure Sodium fixture (orange colored light) then have it changed immediately as you will save hundreds immediately.

10) Turn off your home computer when not in use as it sucks electricity.

We all have difficulties especially those on fixed incomes, but if you dont or haven't received a raise at work you are ALSO considered on fixed income. Learn to live within your means.

It's a shame that Americans didn't listen to thier parents or grandparents when they "thought" that they teaches them to live within your means, if people listened we most likely wouldn't have come to that Bail out for idiots that bought homes beyond thier means.

I often hear how people "spin" that Homes values have gone down and we are in a crisis because of THAT.

Listen, when I built MY house I built within what I could afford so that I could STAY in my home when the going gets tough.

These young kids that are supposed to be educated and know more buy homes that they CANNNOT afford in the first place and then that $500k home value drops to $200k they panic.

I didn't build my home with intentions that I needed to watch what home values are each month.

I couldn't care less if my home TODAY is worth $10,000 or 1 million dollars as I'm NOT selling. So, it's a mute point and for most Americans this applies, it's those that are flipping homes or changing homes like thier jobs each year that get into trouble.

It's only when we take parental responsibilities and TEACH kids the VALUE that penny and they will not get themselves into financial fixes.

Invest in compact Flourscents, or go with solar power, to save some money. Customer service is bad at National Grid. I am seeing more people going with the solar power around the Capital Region. One day I think everyone will get there electricty from the sun and it is free.

what about the elderly that are on fixed incomes. These are the one's affected the most.

jim wrote:

what about the elderly that are on fixed incomes. These are the one's affected the most.

The elderly can apply for HEAP which will pay a portion of their heating costs.

Heap payments help pay a portion this is true ,but as soon as you default in the payment cycle { not able to pay the outrageous bill} they are back to square one.....

You're right about that Gamma, and they get meaner after you make an agreement and default....if you are low income and don't qualify for HEAP, you're screwed.

Gamma ma wrote:

Heap payments help pay a portion this is true ,but as soon as you default in the payment cycle { not able to pay the outrageous bill} they are back to square one.....

Yes Miss Thang, its a very vicious cycle isn't it ?

The problem with solar power and alot of other projects that work are the costs involved in preping your home to get these types of savings........yes, they do work but truthfully, many people here in York do not have the money or the ability to put in a new furnace, buy solar panels etc. etc............It's funny we have programs to weather proof your home in some situations, but none that will work in all climates and prepare us for the 21st century and beyond.

Spendaholics wrote:

The problem with solar power and alot of other projects that work are the costs involved in preping your home to get these types of savings........yes, they do work but truthfully, many people here in York do not have the money or the ability to put in a new furnace, buy solar panels etc. etc..........It's funny we have programs to weather proof your home in some situations, but none that will work in all climates and prepare us for the 21st century and beyond.

Great points!

I'll even tell you a funny story about this point. An old friend of mine who is partially disabled (aka, he's overweight) has rented houses for a long time and moved from place to place. He was in a house and one day about a year into his first 'free check', he gets a call about weather proofing his house. He said he was in a rental, the lady didn't care..........the total to weather proof including windows etc.$30,000. He then figured this out as a way to scam them once again and he moved into his daughter's own rental house, guess what.$42,000 later, his daughter's rental gets a new make over. Did this work, well in a way, yes, but did it prepare either place for the 21st century and beyond, absolutely not! it was $72,000 dollars that should have been used to prep either house, weather wrong or not, for something much more clean and green so to say. By the way, I know he just moved again about a year ago and I also know his daughter owns about 5 houses, so I guess the tax schmoos are going to have to foot another re-do project? It's proof positive that as long as the plans to modernize out of dependency of oils etc. are argued by lobbyist by the oil companies, we'll never get out of this mess for another 100 years!

Wow you are a fountain of information aren't you. Thanks for sharing it with us .