The local power company is raising our rates by 50%, between 2 and 7 pm, until September.

[Siwsan]

When the temperatures start spiking, which is in the forecast for later this week, these rates will be rough for people who might be house bound and financially stretched.

I'm generally outside, working in or wandering around the yards and gardens, in the afternoons so I don't anticipate being greatly affected. And I don't really doesn't like air conditioning. I am fortunate to have a big shade tree in my back yard.

However, no more doing laundry in the afternoons, until September, though. Or, maybe I'll try to rig up a clothes line.

[roamer65]

1. CMS Energy?

[Siwsan]

2. Consumers Energy

People are not happy, but I suspect there's really nothing that can be done.

[roamer65]

5. That means DTE Energy will do it as well.

If one does it, the other one will as well.

[msongs]

3. and what is the excuse for the increase? nt

[WarGamer]

4. Is there a good reason?

Like a switch to sustainable sources?

[Siwsan]

9. Something about avoiding the need to build new power plants, heading towards a cleaner future.

I got a little packet in the mail explaining how to mitigate the charge, and they SAY rates will be lower at other times. Maybe that's just when they hit peak demand? It would seem like that kind of power usage would come later.

Anyway, they are saying, and I quote: "Most people will see less than a $2 increase to their monthly summer bill if they don't shift when they use energy."

I do question that $2 estimate but who knows.

[WarGamer]

13. When I used to live in AZ, we had graduated billing.

a kwh at noon cost 3x as much as a kwh at midnight.

So we did dishes and laundry at night Kept the AC at like 82 and turned it down to 75 after like 7-8.

[Siwsan]

17. On the rare occasion I turn on the AC, it's set about the same - high 70's to 80.

I had a whole new furnace/ac installed about 4 years ago, and last year was the first time I used the air conditioning. I'm usually fine with just a fan, but things got really steamy, last summer.

I don't have a dishwasher, but laundry time is now going to either be early morning, or maybe in the middle of some of the nights when I just can't sleep.

[WarGamer]

18. yup, makes sense...

[roamer65]

20. DTE keeps threatening to build the Enrico Fermi Unit 3 nuke.

Goddamn NRC gave them a combined construction and license permit for it about 6 years ago.

Last cost estimate I heard was around 20 to 30 billion dollars. I smell nasty protests coming over there at Unit 1 and 2 if they decide to break ground on Unit 3. I’ll even go to protest. Maybe I will get to meet Jane Fonda!!!!!

[hlthe2b]

6. My local utility charges by peak hours too. I just have to schedule laundry in the wee hours

or late at night. I have gotten through two summers without A/C, but I'm sure all my fans probably eat up a lot of savings.

Reminds me that I have to put up a line to hang clothes to supplement my drying rack in the basement now that it is warmer.

We adapt...

[WarGamer]

14. exactly! Been there, done that.

[Siwsan]

15. Being able to adapt is a definite bonus

And it will give me an even better excuse for utilizing my 'air conditioned tree', lounging, reading and sipping on some cold beverages.

[MichMan]

7. Consumers Energy in Michigan

"The summer peak rate rewards customers for taking advantage of lower-cost electricity that’s available most of the day. The on-peak pricing will be in effect on weekdays from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“We know we all can take steps to protect the planet, and using less energy during peak times provides us all an opportunity to make a difference,” Lauren Youngdahl Snyder, Consumers Energy’s vice president for customer experience, said. “By shifting energy use to mornings, nights, and weekends when the demand for energy is lower, customers can help lower their bills and make an impact on our clean energy future – helping to keep Michigan beautiful for generations to come.”


Consumers Energy developed the summer peak rate in collaboration with the Michigan Public Service Commission. It’s part of the company’s Clean Energy Plan, which calls for eliminating coal and meeting 90 percent of customers’ needs by eliminating energy waste and adding renewable energy sources."

https://dailyenergyinsider.com/news/30382-consumers-energy-launches-new-standard-summer-peak-rate/?amp

[PortTack]

8. I'm not sure there aren't peak hours anywhere in the US anymore

[Siwsan]

11. Yea - 2 to 7 seem weird. Later in the day would make more sense to me.

Of course, that would also be far more inconvenient.

Oh well, I am still pretty adaptable.

[JoanofArgh]

10. How hot does it get in Michigan? We couldn't do this in the South.

[Siwsan]

12. We're heading into the high 80's, low 90's, this weekend and into early next week

Our summers can get pretty hot and humid. I did end up turning on the AC, last summer, because Sophie Stinky Toes was looking up at me and PANTING. I swear she was perspiring, too. Fortunately I didn't have to run it for too long, and I definitely had it set on the high end.

[Hortensis]

16. I remember a thread, here I believe?, that asked what thermostats

were set at in the summer, and I was shocked to find many set very low, under 70 degrees, all the time. I'm especially heat sensitive, a medical condition, but with fans am able to stay comfortable with the windows open and AC off until the temp tops 80 degrees. In any case, I'm guessing most of your neighbors have lots of room to increase the temperature a couple of degrees without any pain at all.

Our power company instituted a program that charges one lower rate all year, and we really appreciate it in the summer.

[Siwsan]

19. My body temperature runs pretty low - in the 97 range - so I'm not very sensitive to heat.

The few times I've used it, I've never run the AC at night. I just open the bedroom window and turn on a fan. Most mornings I wake up beneath the blanket.

[Hortensis]

21. Same here. This is GA, and in the worst of cream-soup summer nights

I will have the AC on, but most of the time it's lovely with a fan and windows open to any breezes and the chorus of summer creatures.