Energy bills

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Count Steer
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Count Steer »

We've incentivised people to use off-peak for years, this form of dynamic pricing is just a bit more modern. You have to laugh that this news of a 'grave crisis' comes from the land of rolling 'brown-outs'.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

Count Steer wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:17 am
We've incentivised people to use off-peak for years, this form of dynamic pricing is just a bit more modern. You have to laugh that this news of a 'grave crisis' comes from the land of rolling 'brown-outs'.
Well yeah - Economy 7 anyone?

Double lols in solidarity with CS. I don't think I've ever suffered a brown out in the UK. Hell I can't remember the last time I even suffered a power cut due to more mundane reasons, it would have been while I was a child.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by ZRX61 »

So what happens at 6pm when everyone decides to cook dinner?
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Mr. Dazzle »

ZRX61 wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:41 am So what happens at 6pm when everyone decides to cook dinner?
That's why they're testing it / rolling it out gradually.

Only a fake American would take issue with a scheme designed to save Energy, for whatever reason :lol:
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Horse »

Count Steer wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:17 am
We've incentivised people to use off-peak for years, this form of dynamic pricing is just a bit more modern. You have to laugh that this news of a 'grave crisis' comes from the land of rolling 'brown-outs'.
And there's long (decades, since the IoT was first being talked about or before) been ideas and planning for dynamic control of power use (with suitable cyber security, of course. Flap oink flap oink).

That's included from remotely switching off fridgefreezers for a short while during expected high demand (the 'half time kettle' effect) through to phased/timed EV charging overnight.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Dodgy69 »

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:49 am
ZRX61 wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:41 am So what happens at 6pm when everyone decides to cook dinner?
That's why they're testing it / rolling it out gradually.

Only a fake American would take issue with a scheme designed to save Energy, for whatever reason :lol:

Save energy???
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Felix »

Would this not just move peak time to later in the evening
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Re: Energy bills

Post by MrLongbeard »

:flame: :angry-cussingblack: :angry-cussingblack:
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Horse »

Felix wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:45 pm Would this not just move peak time to later in the evening
If everyone did the same, yes. But that won't happen, will it?
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Re: Energy bills

Post by ZRX61 »

Horse wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:00 am And there's long (decades, since the IoT was first being talked about or before) been ideas and planning for dynamic control of power use (with suitable cyber security, of course. Flap oink flap oink).

That's included from remotely switching off fridgefreezers for a short while during expected high demand (the 'half time kettle' effect) through to phased/timed EV charging overnight.
Similar deal here where they could switch off your A/C when it was 120fucking degrees & it was running off the solar on the roof, not the grid... WTF???

Quick phone call put an end to that idiocy.

The fuckers still turn off the solar when we have rolling brown outs.. which kinda defeats the entire goddamn purpose of having solar.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Count Steer »

Horse wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:21 pm
Felix wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 4:45 pm Would this not just move peak time to later in the evening
If everyone did the same, yes. But that won't happen, will it?
They only need some to move the usage to a later time to smooth out demand and reduce the peak. Since only a few can benefit from the offer that's exactly what they'll get. So, the short answer to the question is....no. :D
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Mussels »

ZRX61 wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:27 pm
Horse wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:00 am And there's long (decades, since the IoT was first being talked about or before) been ideas and planning for dynamic control of power use (with suitable cyber security, of course. Flap oink flap oink).

That's included from remotely switching off fridgefreezers for a short while during expected high demand (the 'half time kettle' effect) through to phased/timed EV charging overnight.
Similar deal here where they could switch off your A/C when it was 120fucking degrees & it was running off the solar on the roof, not the grid... WTF???

Quick phone call put an end to that idiocy.

The fuckers still turn off the solar when we have rolling brown outs.. which kinda defeats the entire goddamn purpose of having solar.
I read that most solar is designed deliberately to switch off when there's a power cut, it's to prevent you feeding back into the grid and frying workers who think it's dead.
For me that negates a massive benefit of getting solar, apparently an installation can be wired differently and it would pretty much have to be for me to invest. I'd probably need some sort of load to prevent me ever feeding back in, that will likely be aircon powered effectively for free.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by ZRX61 »

Mussels wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:52 pm I read that most solar is designed deliberately to switch off when there's a power cut, it's to prevent you feeding back into the grid and frying workers who think it's dead.
For me that negates a massive benefit of getting solar, apparently an installation can be wired differently and it would pretty much have to be for me to invest. I'd probably need some sort of load to prevent me ever feeding back in, that will likely be aircon powered effectively for free.
It just requires a simple switch doodad to prevent feeding back to the grid.. which they (SC Edison etc) don't allow you to install in the vast majority of domestic installations. They also don't allow you to install enough panels to be *off-grid* either. It's a big fucking con.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Mussels »

You have a limit on panels? Over 4KW was discouraged here through incentives but they've gone now, the feed in tariff is so low I'm better off saving 50% by not using a government approved installer that is needed to get paid for generation. I'll have a decent battery and aircon instead.
What seems to be lacking lacking is a decent control system that can draw from the grid or batteries at the right times, reviews I've seen haven't been good so I'd like the tech to mature a bit more.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by ZRX61 »

Just got the latest gas bill.... $521, of which $351 is the "Commodity Charge" bullshit @ around $3/therm
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Re: Energy bills

Post by ZRX61 »

Mussels wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 8:55 pm You have a limit on panels? Over 4KW was discouraged here through incentives but they've gone now, the feed in tariff is so low I'm better off saving 50% by not using a government approved installer that is needed to get paid for generation. I'll have a decent battery and aircon instead.
What seems to be lacking lacking is a decent control system that can draw from the grid or batteries at the right times, reviews I've seen haven't been good so I'd like the tech to mature a bit more.
They look at your last three bills for an average & then supply less than that. Some people run the electric full bore for three months to get the average up, AC running 24/7 with it set at 60deg etc to get more panels. It's rare that anyone with leased panels gets enough to cover their use.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Ant »

Mussels wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:52 pm
ZRX61 wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:27 pm
Horse wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 10:00 am And there's long (decades, since the IoT was first being talked about or before) been ideas and planning for dynamic control of power use (with suitable cyber security, of course. Flap oink flap oink).

That's included from remotely switching off fridgefreezers for a short while during expected high demand (the 'half time kettle' effect) through to phased/timed EV charging overnight.
Similar deal here where they could switch off your A/C when it was 120fucking degrees & it was running off the solar on the roof, not the grid... WTF???

Quick phone call put an end to that idiocy.

The fuckers still turn off the solar when we have rolling brown outs.. which kinda defeats the entire goddamn purpose of having solar.
I read that most solar is designed deliberately to switch off when there's a power cut, it's to prevent you feeding back into the grid and frying workers who think it's dead.
For me that negates a massive benefit of getting solar, apparently an installation can be wired differently and it would pretty much have to be for me to invest. I'd probably need some sort of load to prevent me ever feeding back in, that will likely be aircon powered effectively for free.
Ideally you'd have an automatic change over switch which opens the circuit going back out to the grid, effectively completely isolating your from the supply so that your solar panels can power just your house.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Mr Moofo »

Got back from holiday - but turned off the heating and hot water - because of the current pricing.
It has got a tad cold on the house. Some of the house plants have died - and the olive oil in the cupboard has gone solid!

Taken 5 hours to get the kitchen up to 19 using a wood burner
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Kneerly Down »

Ant wrote: Sun Jan 29, 2023 9:33 pm
Mussels wrote: Thu Jan 26, 2023 6:52 pm I read that most solar is designed deliberately to switch off when there's a power cut, it's to prevent you feeding back into the grid and frying workers who think it's dead.
For me that negates a massive benefit of getting solar, apparently an installation can be wired differently and it would pretty much have to be for me to invest. I'd probably need some sort of load to prevent me ever feeding back in, that will likely be aircon powered effectively for free.
Ideally you'd have an automatic change over switch which opens the circuit going back out to the grid, effectively completely isolating your from the supply so that your solar panels can power just your house.
I really, really wouldn't advise trying to power your house from solar panels (+inverter) without using a hybrid inverter and batteries in the mix.
If your unbuffered solar output didn't provide enough to power the loads on your system it could really mess up your devices/appliances.
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Re: Energy bills

Post by Mussels »

I'll be getting batteries as well, much better to use my own energy than make a big loss selling it to the grid and buying it back again. There are a few loose ends to tie up before I start spending cash, the tech seems to promise more than it delivers.