Here's a link to a story that I found really interesting on utility consumption. It's written by someone who calls himself the Green Canadian.
http://thegreencanadian.blogspot.ca/2009/07/how-low-can-you-go.html.
At the City Environment Committee, I've asked our Sustainability Manager to ask our local utility providers to include similar information on the utility bills they send out to their customers. I believe that knowing how your bill compares to an average household will help people to monitor their own usage. Let's hope they adopt this practice.
As for the letter below, this was sent out to our local MLAs, but the information is meant to be shared. Chad Mielke is a reputable business owner (and fellow engineer) and I have no problems whatsoever endorsing his business and have no affiliation with Peace Power at all. I believe we need more competition to keep prices in check. Perhaps this information will help you save some money on your future electricity bill.
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I am sure
you have heard of Peace Power; one of Alberta’s independent
boutique retailer of electricity in the province. Located in Grande
Prairie, the company is operated by Chad Mielke.
During
February residents of in your ridings of Grande Prairie, Smokey and Wapiti, who
are buying electricity from Peace Power paid only 4.6 cents per kWh compared to
the governments Regulated Rate Option, provided by Direct Energy at 7.7
cents.
The
Bottom Line? During February the RRO energy rate is 66% higher compared
to buying from Peace Power.
As you
most likely are aware, Direct Energy owns the GP franchised territory and is
the approved RRO Provider. But why switch off of Direct? First of
all consumers in your region will save some money and this should be good
enough. It is hard to comprehend customers complaining over 2 or 3 dollars
added to the cost of transmission when they ignore the potential of saving +$20
last month alone as the difference between Peace and Direct.
Education
and awareness are the obvious problem. We hope that this is one of the
key priorities addressed when the RMRC 5 MLA member group assembles.
Consumers need to know, that the government, through a well designed
policy, guarantees that every consumer regardless who they select as a retailer
will continue to be well serviced by their existing Wires Operator. The
lights will not go out !!! Government policies have made it easy to
switch retailers.
Want
another reason to promote Peace Power in your local market?
Consider
the following:
- DIRECT: Direct Energy has outsourced call center jobs to the Philippians, Financial services moved to India and their marketing operations are run out of Texas in the USA. Profits on the sale of the RRO are likewise exported for consolidation as part of their world wide income on the Centrica’s balance sheet in the UK. This is good for the stock holders of Centrica. (Cut costs, increase prices, consolidate profits) But it does little for our local Alberta economy.
Customers have a choice and we hope that you and other
MLAs will start to promote small independent business run by folks like Chad:
- Buy Local (and reduce your cost of electricity).
- Support the private sector (innovation is driven by small business ventures).
- Keep the jobs and profits in Alberta (why not – it just makes good business sense).
Support
the private sector by signing up and letting your constituents know that the
concept of choice is thriving.
We hope
that you will lend your support to one of your own independent business located
in Grande Prairie.
Yours
truly, Nick
Nick
Clark, Managing Partner
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