Latest news with #utilitybills
CBS News
3 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
New Jersey state senator introduces bills to combat high energy costs
A New Jersey state senator has introduced a series of bills to combat high energy costs as utility companies plan rate hikes that will increase bills as much as 20%. Sen. Britnee Timberlake held a press conference Friday, saying her constituents tell her they're being forced out of their homes because of high utility bills. "You have to account for the cost to heat and cool the home ... and these utility companies need to be stopped," she said. "People need the relief now" Timberlake says the Board of Public Utilities approved raising electricity rates by 17-20% starting in June. The Democrat is introducing a series of bills that in part call for a study of what she refers to as private companies that are monopolies, going back to 2020 energy levels, and placing a 2% cap on rate hikes every five years. "It needs to be fast-tracked because people need the relief now," Timberlake said. PSE&G said in a statement that the company "works hard to keep customer bills as low as possible while providing safe and reliable energy." They added both the demand for energy and cost are rising, and utility companies like PSE&G don't profit on the 17% increase. Timberlake's bills have made it through the Legislature. It remains to be seen if Gov. Phil Murphy or a future governor would sign them. CBS News New York reached out to the Board of Public Utilities but has not heard back. New Jersey residents describe difficult costs Tabetha Bassit, with Echoes Inc., says it costs $2,000 a month to light up her counseling center and the neighboring funeral home. "The more we absorb these costs, it creates a difficulty for us to offer free counseling," she said. East Orange resident Rev. Ella Johnson said her utility bill, which includes gas and electric, is out of control. "I have been a widow for 11 years, and it's not easy trying to maintain a home," East Orange resident Rev. Ella Johnson said. "The bills are not easy to pay because they can run anywhere from close to $600 in the month of January, and it gradually comes down." The 85-year-old wants to stay in the home she's been in for 56 years but says it's getting more difficult. "It is terrifying ... because not only do I have this to take care of, but I have other things to take care of as well," she said.
Jordan Times
21-05-2025
- Business
- Jordan Times
The expensive green delusion
Ask families in Germany and the UK what happens when more and more supposedly cheap solar and wind power is added to the national power mix, and they can tell you by looking at their utility bills: it gets far more expensive. This goes against everything that we're being told. Green energy is supposed to be incredibly cheap. But we're not hearing the real story. The idea that power should get cheaper as we get more green energy is only true if we exclusively used electricity when the sun is shining and the wind is blowing. But modern societies need power around-the-clock. When there is no sun and wind, green energy needs plenty of back-up, often powered by fossil fuels. What this means is that we pay for not one but two power systems. And as the back-up fossil fuel power sources are used less, they need to earn their capital costs back in fewer hours, leading to even more expensive power. This means real energy costs of solar and wind are far higher. One study looking at China showed that the real cost of solar power on average turns out to be twice as high as coal, while a peer-reviewed study of Germany and Texas shows solar and wind are many times more expensive than fossil fuels. Germany and the UK now have so much low-cost solar and wind that their electricity costs have become among the world's most expensive. The latest data from the International Energy Agency makes it clear that there is a strong and clear correlation between more solar and wind and much higher average energy prices for households and industries. In a country with little or no solar and wind, the average electricity cost is a bit over 11US¢ per kWh. For every 10 percentage points of solar and wind, the cost increases by more than 4US¢. The results are nearly similar for 2019, before any impacts of Covid and the Ukraine war. Look at Germany, where 34US¢ per kWh means over twice the US cost and nearly four times the Chinese price. Germany has installed so much solar and wind that at full capacity, it could produce two-times Germany's electricity demand. In reality, on days with plenty of wind and sun, renewable energy produces close to 70 per cent of Germany's needs. Such days get excited press attention. The press hardly mentions the days that are dark and still, when solar and wind deliver almost nothing. Twice this winter, when all of Europe was cloudy and nearly windless, solar and wind delivered less than 4 per cent of the daily power Germany needed. Battery technology can't cope: Germany's entire battery storage runs out in about twenty minutes. That leaves more than twenty-three hours of energy that needs to be powered mostly by fossil fuels. The result: during these lulls, Germany saw some of the costliest power prices, with wholesale prices reaching a phenomenal $1 per kWh. At least climate-enthused governments in Europe are generally honest about these costs because electricity prices include most of the solar and wind costs, so consumers feel the impact of green energy policies. However, in the US, solar and wind costs are paid indirectly through tax deductions, implying that the actual cost of electricity with solar and wind is perhaps 25% higher than stated prices. Poor countries are especially hurt by the lie of cheap green energy. Rich countries now refuse to help poor countries with fossil fuel projects. If solar and wind really were cheaper, the world's poorer countries would have an inexpensive way to leapfrog from today's energy poverty to energy abundance. New energy infrastructure would all be solar and wind. Yet, this only happens in rich countries, where electricity consumption is declining, while generous subsidies and a large, existing fossil fuel backup infrastructure make our solar and wind deception possible. Instead, across poorer countries, where electricity consumption rose almost 5 per cent from 2022 to 2023, most of the addition came from fossil fuels, with coal contributing more than all solar and wind additions. In China, there was more new coal than new solar and wind. Bangladesh added 13-times more coal than solar and wind. Despite India's ambitious solar targets, its coal additions were three times larger than solar and wind additions. This is the background to the US bribery accusations of the Indian billionaire Gautam Adani: Since most Indian states don't want to 'risk 'intermittent' renewables' according to Reuters, he allegedly had to massively bribe government officials to buy power from his $6 billion solar project. We will only fix climate change and make a transition when green energy truly becomes cheaper than fossil fuels. Investment in green energy research and development, for example, to develop fourth-generation nuclear and much cheaper batteries, should be our priority. But mostly, we need to face up to the truth. The claim that cheap solar and wind is taking over from fossil fuels is a dangerous, expensive lie. Bjorn Lomborg is President of the Copenhagen Consensus, Visiting Fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution, and author of "False Alarm" and "Best Things First"
Zawya
19-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EtihadWE partners with Emarat's EmCan loyalty program to enhance customer experience
Dubai, UAE: Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) customers will soon be able to earn loyalty points by paying their utility bills on time, thanks to the company's partnership with Emirates Petroleum Company PJSC (Emarat) to integrate the EmCan loyalty program. This collaboration forms part of EtihadWE and Emarat's ongoing efforts to build strategic partnerships that deliver added value and prioritise customer needs. It also marks a pioneering step in the UAE's utility sector, with EtihadWE becoming the first utility provider to integrate with a nationwide rewards platform through a dedicated loyalty program. Through the integration with EmCan, EtihadWE customers will be able to earn loyalty EmCoins — redeemable across a wide network of EmCan partner outlets — transforming everyday transactions into rewarding experiences. EmCan, developed and operated by Emarat, is a comprehensive loyalty program that rewards members for their daily spending. Points can be earned and redeemed at Emarat service stations, convenience stores, and a wide variety of participating retail, dining, and lifestyle outlets across the UAE — making routine purchases more rewarding. 'Consumers have always been at the heart of EtihadWE's strategy — from households and farms to heavy industry,' said Eng. Yousif Al Ali, CEO of EtihadWE. 'With decades of experience delivering reliable services, we are evolving as a truly customer-centric organisation — one that champions exceptional service, competitive tariffs, and innovative solutions that maximise savings and satisfaction. This partnership with Emarat is a clear example of how we embrace innovation to deliver tangible value. By rewarding simple, everyday activities like paying utility bills, we are building deeper connections with our customers and delivering experiences that reflect our promise of service excellence and peace of mind.' Ali Khalifa Al Shamsi, CEO of Emarat, highlighted the importance of the partnership, stating: 'Our collaboration with EtihadWE marks a key milestone in extending the EmCan ecosystem into essential public services, enabling customers to earn meaningful rewards through routine actions like paying utility bills. Through this partnership, we aim to build a more connected, customer-centric future—where convenience and value go hand in hand. At Emarat, we believe that customer loyalty should be recognised across all aspects of everyday life'. The partnership reflects a shared vision between EtihadWE and Emarat to deliver seamless, customer-focused services through smart integration and operational collaboration. Loyalty points will be automatically earned via EtihadWE's secure digital platforms and authorised payment channels, provided payments are made promptly — offering customers a smooth, secure, and effortless experience. Beyond convenience, the initiative rewards timely payments, responsible usage, and engagement with wider sustainability initiatives, strengthening EtihadWE's commitment to customer satisfaction and long-term value creation.
CBS News
17-05-2025
- Business
- CBS News
PG&E proposes another rate increase beginning in 2027, claims bills will stabilize
STOCKTON -- Pacific Gas and Electric has proposed to state regulators another rate increase beginning in 2027 but says customer bills are expected to remain flat. Don King has owned Fat City Brew & BBQ in Stockton for almost 15 years. For his 3,000-square-foot restaurant, he paid about $7,500 in utility bills just this month. "PG&E is most expensive right now," King explained. "I mean, it's more in my payroll. It's more than my rent. That's crazy." PG&E alerted customers on Friday, saying it's asking the California Public Utilities Commission to sign off on a 3.5% annual rate increase from 2027 to 2030. This, the company says, is the smallest increase in a decade. That would add roughly $126 more each year. However, with some add-on costs built into rates that are set to expire in 2026, PG&E says bills will actually remain flat in 2027 compared to costs this year. According to The Utility Reform Network (TURN), there's more to it. Lee Trotman, the director of communications at TURN, says at least 17 pending rate increases that have been sent to the commission are not included in this General Rate Case. This means your bill could go higher. "If they say this is going to happen, wait till you get your bill," Trotman said. "That's the proof, right? Did the rates really stabilize, or did they go up? So, and to be honest, customers don't care about the rates. They care about the bill, the total amount of the bill." With Stockton recently making the switch to Ava Energy, with the promise of 5% lower rates, utility customers are trying to stay hopeful. "I think that's going to be on this bill that'll be for this current month right now," King added. "We should see how that works for us, and we're looking forward to that 5% that we're supposed to be saving. So, you know, that helps." CBS Sacramento has reached out to Ava Energy, asking how this will impact Stocktonians. The company said that since this proposal recently came out, they are doing an analysis of the proposal but still promise that 5% discount. PG&E says it's trying to stabilize costs as much as possible, but state regulators still have to sign off on these changes.
CNET
16-05-2025
- General
- CNET
The Real Cost of Owning a Gas Fireplace
While the weather may be warm right now, it's never too early to start preparing for later seasons when it gets a little cooler. Especially if you live in locales that aren't blistering hot all year round. When it does get a little chilly, nothing beats the sound of crackling firewood and the warmth of a fireplace. It's the perfect way to unwind after a long day if you're feeling a chill. So why not just fire up your gas fireplace and run it during chilly days to keep you warm? Well, here's the thing: It comes at the cost of an increased utility bill. But just how much does it actually cost to run a gas fireplace? We'll walk you through what you can expect to pay as you consider making use of your fireplace when the right time comes around. (You can also find out how much it costs to run a space heater, and how much you can save by setting your thermostat to this temperature and by changing your furnace filters.) How do gas fireplaces work? While the more traditional image of a fireplace includes tossing logs on a fire, gas fireplaces have been growing in popularity. There are a number of reasons for this: primarily the fact that it's much simpler, more efficient, produces no mess and requires no clean-up. But not all gas fireplaces are created equal. There are two common types of gas fireplaces, vented and vent-free. A vented gas fireplace works via combustion, taking air from the outdoors through an outer vent, heating it, and redistributing it through the room to provide additional heat. A ventless system is more contained than that. It uses air already in the home, heats it and distributes it while producing moisture as a byproduct. Ventless gas fireplaces are more energy efficient but need to be managed and installed in a room of the proper size because of the moisture. A vented gas fireplace is less efficient but requires less management and is more of a one-size-fits-all approach to your heating needs. Easy Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills and Save Money Easy Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills and Save Money Click to unmute Video Player is loading. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Next playlist item Unmute Current Time 0:03 / Duration 8:13 Loaded : 7.32% 0:03 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 8:10 Share Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Close Modal Dialog This is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Easy Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills and Save Money What is the cost of running a gas fireplace? The first thing that you'll need to consider is the amount of space that you'll be heating. You'll want to make sure your fireplace is properly equipped to heat the space where it's being used. If you try to heat a space that's larger than the fireplace is capable of effectively heating, you'll run the risk of running up your energy bill. You'll also want to consider the energy efficiency of your gas fireplace. Ventless fireplaces typically experience significantly less wasted energy and continuously heat the air that is filtering through the space to keep you warm. Vented fireplaces are pulling air from an outer vent and heating it and can experience energy loss if the fireplace isn't properly sealed. This can add to your overall energy bill as your fireplace will be less efficient in heating your space. Finally, you need to consider the cost of gas in your state or municipality. Usually, your utility provider will tell you the cost of natural gas usage. This is typically expressed in cost per therm, which is equivalent of 100,000 British thermal units, or Btu. This is tricky since your fireplace will likely tell you its fuel consumption requirements in Btu per hour. You can expect this to be anywhere from 10,000 Btu per hour to up to 90,000 Btu per hour. To determine the cost of running your fireplace, take the cost of running it in Btu per hour, multiply it by the per-therm cost of gas in your area (the national average is $1.59), and divide that by 100,000 to get the cost per hour. Here's an example to help illustrate this, with a fireplace with a Btu rating of 30,000: (30,000 x 1.59) / 100,000 = 0.47. That means it will cost about $0.47 per hour to run your fireplace. If you run your fireplace for 8 hours a night, it will cost $3.76 a day. That can cost you $117 a month to run if you use the fireplace for 8 hours a day every single day. Do settings affect the cost of running a gas fireplace? Some gas fireplaces have settings available that allow you to adjust the level of heat. In effect, this also lowers the level of energy consumption, using less of the Btu than the fireplace is capable of using at its maximum capacity. If you run your fireplace at a lower setting, it can cut down your energy consumption by half, assuming the fireplace uses half of its full capacity at this level. A gas fireplace is a great way to provide yourself with the comfort of heat during the winter months. But it does come with a cost. Make sure you determine how much it will cost to run your gas fireplace during these months and budget accordingly, or you might be caught off guard at just how much it can cost to stay warm through the winter. The comfort of the heat is welcome, but that must be balanced alongside the potential cost. For more money-saving tips, check out seven simple ways to lower your utility bills this winter and how much you can save by turning off your lights at home.
