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 Vickie Smith, right, takes a power bill payment from Kenny Landtroop. Like many other DREMC customers, Landtroop was surprised and unhappy with his increased bill. (T-G Photo by Mary Reeves) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo] |
But many people in Bedford County got an additional shock when their electric bills showed up -- anywhere from $40 to $200 higher than normal.
"I think it stinks," said Kenny Landtroop, dropping his payment off at the Duck River Electric Membership Cooperative office. "I've never seen it so high. The people I work with, they've never seen it so high. It's ridiculous."
"I know it was colder and we had some Christmas lights, but I wasn't expecting anything like that," said Crystal Crowder of Wartrace. "How could I have used that much electricity?"
Crowder had been watching her bill closely for the last year and a half, ever since a mysterious "Fuel Cost Adjustment" fee began showing up.
"In April 2007, I noticed a $4 or $5 fuel charge on my bill," she said.
That soon crept to about $11, and on this last bill, it was $45.
Crowder said she was told by someone at Duck River Electric Membership Cooperative that the FCA was tied in with the rising costs for gasoline, to help pay for the utility workers' fuel as they drove around to read meters. Charles McDonald, DREMC's director of member services, said that is not true.
"It's a misconception," he said. "People equate the fuel cost adjustment to the price of gas and diesel. Really, what that represents is coal and natural gas."
According to McDonald, 55 percent of the fuel TVA uses to generate electricity is coal, which has seen skyrocketing prices in the past few years. Another major source of fuel for TVA is natural gas, which has also had major increases.
The FCA also helps cover the costs of TVA purchasing energy from other sources, something it has had to do more often since the three-year drought conditions have decreased the hydroelectric generation by about 50 percent, according to the TVA web site.
More power
But the FCA isn't all that seems to be bothering the DREMC customers. Some question the accuracy of the meters themselves.
"We got the electric bill -- it was $450. It's never been that high," said Anita Epperson. "The highest it's ever been is maybe $230, $250."
She said the kilowatt hours her bill claimed they used seemed too high.
"We use a wood stove, there's just the two of using the house and we keep the thermostat at 68 degrees. We didn't do anything different this month than we did the month before," Epperson said. "We asked them if they would come out and check the meter and they said they already did."
Epperson said she was told several unusually high bills were being examined by the utility service because they had received so many complaints.
Even discounting the $88 FCA on her bill, she said, the charges seemed too high.
"It's almost doubled," she said.
"Usage went up 55 percent in December," said McDonald. "That, on top of the 20 percent increase in energy costs -- that's why the bills are so enormously high."
That 20 percent increase (an average of $12-15 per 1,000 kilowatt hours) was enacted by TVA in August, its highest rate hike in about 30 years, but it also followed a 7 percent increase in April ($4 to $7). In all, according to a recent report from the Associated Press, TVA customers have seen an estimated 35 percent increase in less than one year.
Break down
As stated in a TVA press release, that 20 percent hike, passed in August and made effective in October, was broken down into two components.
"Most of the increase, $11.20 per 1,000 kilowatt hours, will go toward escalating costs of fuels used to generate electricity" the release stated.
The remainder, approximately $2.05 per 1,000 kwh, is an increase in firm wholesale electric rates to cover higher costs in related areas.
Those "related areas" include working capital, costs related to fuel inventory that are not covered in the FCA, the cost of reserving power for future purchase to get better prices, and investments in TVA's work to reduce the rate of growth in the region's power demand.
Crowder believes some of those operating costs include the clean-up from Katrina, as well as the upcoming clean-up from the two recent disasters involving TVA retention ponds, which could cost in the billions.
"I don't feel like we should have to pay for their mistakes," she said.
Rate hike, salary hike
The recent rate hikes are especially hard for her to take, she said, in light of recent news -- that TVA CEO Tom Kilgore just got nearly $1.1 million in incentive awards -- on top of his $655,000 salary and $300,000 deferred compensation package. Kilgore's compensation rose 11.6 percent in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. In the TVA's financial report to the Securities Exchange Commission for that same fiscal year, released Dec. 16 and available at both the TVA and SEC web sites, it announced an increase in its operating revenues -- of 11.3 percent.
In a press release from TVA, it states the organization earned "a record $10.4 billion in operating revenues," and that "The increased revenue in 2008 was primarily a result of rate and fuel cost adjustments, driven by a 21-percent increase in fuel and purchased power costs."
The revenue did not include any from the 20 percent increase, which only took effect in October, after the close of the 2008 fiscal year.
"Why am I still paying TVA to help recoup their losses when their employees are getting million-dollar bonuses?" asked Crowder.
What next?
"I feel like we should do something about it, but I don't know what," said Crowder. "I know of one woman, she lives in a little 600-square-foot apartment and her bill doubled. She's on a fixed income. I don't see how she can pay that. $45 may not be a lot to some people, but for me, it's half of a week of daycare."
"We try to help," said McDonald. "We refer people to help agencies, and we can try to spread their bill out over several payments."
DREMC also offers Project HELP, which allows customers to donate a dollar or more on their own electric bills to help cover the electric costs of the disabled or elderly. The Town of Wartrace recently began considering a similar project. Although their utility bill is for water and sewer only, customers could donate from $1 to $5 on each bill. The money would then be given to a help agency such as Good Samaritan, to assist people in paying their electric bills.
"Things are so hard for people right now," said Laura Gentry, the town recorder, at a recent Water Board meeting. "We're just trying to think of some way to help."
But even the help agencies are limited by tightened budgets and weakening donations. Organizations such as Good Samaritan and local churches can often only help out with $40 to $100.
One way to help lower your utility bill is to visit the DREMC and TVA web sites, said McDonald. Both sites offer tips on reducing energy waste, from turning off lights to improving the quality of your home's insulation.
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I not only intend to keep calling my public officials, but all the newspapers and newstations I can think of in Tennessee. I refuse to believe every house in Bedford County suddenly has a problem with their furnace, water heater, fridge, or what ever... BS!!!! I say everyone bombard the press, DREMC, and their public officials continuously until this big rip off stops!!!! Kilowatt hours increasing by 40-50% in every household in the county is obviously a mistake (HONEST???MAYBE NOT) on the part of the electric company, and I for one expect to be refunded with interest when the truth comes out.
Please join me in this campaign. Contact every news agency, Tennessee Consumer Affairs office, Better Business Bureau, what ever you can think of, but lets actually do something to correct this problem.
I am looking for information on propane heating, from someone who lives in a mobile home, a Duck River Electric Customer would be a plus!!
We are a family of 3, with about 1600 sq ft of living space. We currently use electric heat, and our bill was 446.00 this month, up from 320.00 last month. Of that 446.00, 80 of it was their extra charges! Our home is well insulated, vinyl windows, and on a permanent foundation. Our bills have never been this high....
What I am wanting to know is if it would be any less expensive for us, if we switched to propane heating? There has got to be something done... If anyone is out there that can offer some insight, you would be a true blessing. I don't want anyones address or anything weird, just maybe how much the propane costs, how long it lasts, compared to the electric bill, and the square footage of your house. Also if you could tell me if you use gas for cooking or water heating, that would be great too!!!
I know this may sound crazy but we are working people, and can't afford to keep paying such rediculous electricity bills.
Thank You for reading.
Regarding the Fuel Cost Adjustment, coal has come back down to where it was a year ago, and oil is trading in the mid to upper $30 range. Why is there the continued $40-ish fuel add on charge? Also, it was ironic reading how TVA was lowering water levels because of too much rain. Wasn't the drought cited in the article as one of the excuses for higher costs? So, we have drought (no), oil (no), coal (not really), electricity theft (as if), crazed meters (yawn). What ever happened to the truth?
This is the kind of problems you get when the govt has control of something. Plus there is no competition.
-- Posted by greasemonkey on Tue, Jan 13, 2009, at 10:20 AM
Sort of like oil prices, insurance, and food ... all capitalist driven industries that are or have been extremely outrageous... and all with PLENTY of competition. Your theory applies to anyone, not just government.
Okay now that my interest was spiked by the increase in my bills, since I have a duplex I recieve 2 seperate bills. The price for the TVA Fuel Cost Adjustment on the one that I live in was 41.68 and the empty side was 38.46 then below this was TVA Enviromental Charge my side was 6.55 the empty side was 6.05. Why is this increase charged to us the people when we already had a hike in the regular monthly bill and now the tremendous amounts for fuel and such, I have often seen the duck river trucks out and running and sometimes there isn't anyone in them at the time but it might be hot out so they need to leave the truck running for the air, or it might be cold out so there for the heat!!!!!!!!!!! But I strongly oppose that we should pay for this plus the extra costs we have to pay for the price hike. Then like I said before they won't hesitate to turn the power off on older people or homes with small children because they couldn't pay the months bill well with these kind of charges there may be a few more of us that can't pay our bills either but those in charge of the TVA can sit back and enjoy the heat and air in their homes because we pay for them to have those big raises they have been getting. But again this is just my opinion!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm waiting for the solar panels and wind farms to show up.
Maybe some of our construction could go to retro-fitting homes,schools,etc. and building earth-sheltered or otherwise cozy,efficient,green structures?
The funny thing about this is, I was out of state for 10 days during this bill and it doubled. I did notice I was being billed for 38 days. But if 1 light was on, fridge was set to efficient, water heater was set efficient and all computers were off. I cannot see how I used more electricity then normal.
Frequently asked questions about high electric bills on DREMC's website
http://www.dremc.com/News%20Releases/DRE...
OK, I am a little slow on the draw on this one. I just actually looked at my bill today (sat) and it was close to 8 times my normal for this time of year. My winter bills are usually around $30-50 and it was $274! I would have to agree that there is something fishy going on here. I have not even been using as much electricity, since for that time span I was not even at home that much due to several family issues, yet my kilowatts per day average went from 30 to 80, suprise me if someone "stole" my power. That would be quite a trick seeings as I live in the country and my neighbor would have to have a might long extension cord!
you need power! not much you can do but pay for it. Take into consideration what they are paying guys from PIKE to drive from out of state to work on the power lines and do the stuff these small towns can not do. Does not seem fair to me but I don't work for (PIKE)I bet they have ways around high power bills!
I called Jim Traceys office thursday, they recommended all of us call the offices of Lamar alexander, Bart Gordon, and the third one, whos name i cannot recall right now. The TVA is federally controlled. I told them all of my concerns, Im sure it went in one ear and out the other, remember, the people have to speak up! Make the phone calls. This is the only way to make a difference if any at all. It wont take more than 15 minutes of your time to call all of them. Just make the calls and voice your concerns. I will make the calls again today. And everyday next week. It wont take but 10-15 minutes a day. Be proactive in this and lets see if it does help. Im sure it wont, but, im willing to give it a try. I am more concerned about the people on limited or fixed incomes. We all have them in our families, so, if we all try, maybe by the "Grace of God" they will listen and quit gouging the small people.
Hey, everybody...here's the meat of the 6 pg article titans fan sent:
"Operating revenues and other income for fiscal year 2007 total over $135 million,
with the increase over 2006 being attributable to membership growth and increases in
rates by TVA that have been passed on to members. "Expenses in 2007 were more than
$133 million with payments to TVA totaling nearly $104 million, clearly the single
largest cost incurred to provide you with electric energy."
"A margin of $1,185,912 remained to operate your cooperative after expenses and normal loan principal payments were made."
The Board of Directors passed a motion at their July 2007 meeting that this margin be designated for capital improvements, new member facilities and system operating and maintenance expenses," Randolph pointed out.
This is good information, and I wish there was a way to organize another meeting. According to DREMC's website you can only go to a meeting a year, unless you put in writing a specific topic you would like to put on the agenda. Otherwise, no member can go to a Board of Director's Meeting. The date for the annual meeting is not on the website, at least that I have found yet.
marie77-
Here is the link you requested. Pay close attention to the last paragraph on page 5. You will see that after TVA takes out their huge chunk there is not much left to run a large electric company.
http://dremc.com/News%20Releases/News%20...
Quite frankly I really don't care if you have something to argue with me about this too because I'm done stating my opionon. This whole thing is just really petty and people need to realize who is actually charging you these fees and harass them instead of the messengers. Also if you don't like the way they are dealing with TVA maybe you should go to their meetings and tell them. It's amazing how people can fuss all they want on a newspaper blog but won't go to a meeting and state their opinions.
ammo30chief -
I'm sorry you took my statement so literally, but if you read my entire blog you will see that I am talking about electric companies associated with TVA. I wouldn't know anything about Virgina.
You all have fun fussing on here about the prices. I have better things to do like actually trying to do something about it.
Also, titans fan, DREMC is a co-op, the members who purchase power fromm DREMC all paid that little membership fee and return Duck River is SUPPOSED to be our voice to TVA. Show me a link where Duck River has been petioning TVA on our behalf about fuel surcharges, exorbitant salaries and bonuses for their CEOs/CFOs and other bureaucratic BS postions. I'll keep looking for more proof that DREMC has forgotten their original mission to be a voice for the members and have gotten into bed with TVA for the benefit of the corporation. DREMC is not supposed to be showing record profits, and I'd love to get a look at their balance sheet. they are supposed to be making just enough to pay operating costs. Can you give me a link to THAT information??
Honda, It's not $75.00, it's only 25.00 or 35.00 don't remember which, but it's on their website under policies on the very last page of the article. I wouldn't be surprised if they told you 75.00.
titansfan, as I said 50% might be a stretch, but if you look closely at your bill, which we got a printout for the past five years, it shows you the avg kwh/day. I haven't sat down to do the math yet, but I assure you when it goes from 50-70 kwh/day to 180 kwh/day and it has never been that high, ever in five years, either a)the meter wasn't read and it was "estimated" (as is their right to do according to their policy and procedures posted on their website)this month, or it was "estimated" for several months prior and it caught up to everyone at the same time. Funny though how everyone's meter was "estimated" if that is what happened, at the same time.
Oh, and btw, when asked for a five year statement they said the computer would only go back for two years...BEWARE, when you mention it can either be done then or handed over when requested by an attorny, suddenly the computer can go back as far as you want it to. IMAGINE THAT.
They are attempting to cover something up. Something stinks to high heaven. And hopefully someone will be able to get to the bottom of it.
There is something we can do. We can contact our elected officials.We should send our bills to them to see what they might say or do about it.
Could this be under price gouging?
Someone said that this is everywhere. I have news for you, it's not everywhere.
I'm in Virgina right now and I can tell you it's not happening here.
Dear marie77,
Thank you for the helpful information you provided. Like I said, I asked them to check my meter and they said they would do so, but if it came back as if nothing was wrong, then I would have to pay $75.00. I work in the utility business as well and we HAVE TO go check meters if it is requested. Thats what the monthly customer service charge is for. Thanks again!
I was wondering, does Shelbyville Power charge a fuel surcharge and environment fee? When I was with Shelbyville Power I never saw these fees but when I moved to Wartrace and joined Duck River, these fees popped up. Shelbyville gets its power from TVA also so how is it one doesn't charge the fees and the other does?
I am replying as promised. My home was inspected, we have flood lights on the front of the home on and the Heat pump running. I was told the heat pump cycled on and off excessively. The unit is two years old, Installed and checked by a local, reputable company and maintained by another local and reputable company. Now, i did not have the unit checked this past summer, I forgot to call. I did call yesterday to have it checked again. this should happen wednesday or thursday. When I called the company, to my surprise and theirs, they have a lot of calls like mine.
The design of the heatpump is to cycle like i was told mine was doing. I told them to check it anyway.
This still does not make any sense. Our bill has doubled since same month last year. Last December we had outside Christmas lights going, alot for my small house and the bill went up a little, but i knew why it went up. It was my fault, the extra lights. This year there were no extras drawing the power and it still went up 100% with us being home for only three days at Christmas. How can it be true?
marie77-
I could understand your frustration if your reasoning made sense. How could you possibly know that your daily kilowatt usage has gone up 50%? Have you tried doing the exact same electric routine every day for a month and checked your meter every day to see if it has changed? If so I could understand your statement and I would definitely start watching my own meter more carefully. The thing is your kilowatts have most likely not mysteriously changed, like I said before, the TVA continues to raise their fuel surcharge which is no fault of DREMC. The employees there who have electricity with Duck River are paying the same rates you are and are hurting just like you are. I completely agree that the electric prices are insane but until everyone goes to the source of the problem nothing is going to change. The source of the problem is not Duck River or any other electric company - it is TVA wanting the rest of the world to pay for their screw ups. Check out the following link. We are not the only ones dealing with this problem like you all think we are. There are several more links I'm sure if you would like to justify this.
http://investing.businessweek.com/resear...
never mind i continued to read down to section 306 pg. 19 which does state:
A member may request in writing that a meter be tested. A report will be supplied to the
member within a reasonable time after the completion of the test. A meter test charge, as
specified in the Fee Schedule, Appendix A, will be imposed if the meter is found to be within
plus or minus two percent (2%).
honda44 and everyone else
pg. 15, section 209 of the policies document found on the Duck River website under policies states:
The Cooperative will, at no charge, investigate, render advice and lend assistance needed for all
reasonable requests of the member pertaining to the member's account, load management
equipment and efficient energy use.
If they told you there would be a charge, they have lied to you. I urge you to call them out on it and tell them you are tired of their lies. Do not let this go! Load management equipment is defined as the meter, which is owned by DREMC.
I'm getting my deposit back...$150.00 is better than nothing.
-- Posted by can't keep my mouth shut on Tue, Jan 13, 2009, at 9:35 PM
Yea you can get your deposit back with Duck River if you have had your service at least 2 years and haven't been late. I don't think Shelbyville Power gives you a deposit back unless you turn your service off.
I'm getting my deposit back...$150.00 is better than nothing.
I'd love to know why the "Fuel Cost Adjustment", which is supposed to be used for recouping costs associated with the fuel for generating the energy, is being added to by Duck River.
Exactly how much electricity does the DREMC actually generate on its own?
titans fan, it doesn't matter if there are 28 or 58 days in the cycle, when the kilowatt hours per day increase 50% there is a problem. Especially when every single customer with Duck River seems to have had the same increase in use, even those who were out of town. Amazing how you can use more power out of town and the best they can come up with is theft? 50% may be a stretch, you get the point.
honda14...I don't think they can legally charge you to check the equipment, doesn't matter if it's ok or not. I'd talk to a lawyer about that if I were you. That's part of the job. They checked ours, which checked out A.OK and we didn't get charged an extra fee. They may be tired of checking meters, but I think they still have to do it. I get tired of working 8 hours a day too, but I still do it.
Also, why give them more money to draw intrest on all year with budget billing??? Keep your money in your account as long as you can. Let them figure it for you, then put that amt aside for the higher bills. You think giving it to them in advance is going to make it better?
are there any lawyers out there ready to post and take on TVA and Duck River?
My power bill is like all others, a second house payment ($390). I hired an electrician to check out my power after dealing with the power company.He measured the amps coming in for several days the highest numbers regestered don't equate to the kilowatts I was charged.We also had two DREMC employees at our house several times within a two week period, who verified the meter spinning and verified nothing was running in the home. I talked with everyone I could at DREMC including Marsha Bolin, the best I could get was a crash course in economics and they did change my meter out.Honestly I dont' think they know what to do so I suggest we as members request all information we are entitled, also lets call these listed below regularly and ask why is my power bill so high and what are you doing to help, and can you do any thing about TVA's fees?We need to call daily! Bob Corker (615)279-8125 Bart Gordon (615)896-1986 Curt Cobb (615) 741-6824 Jim Tracy (615) 741-1066
I personally do not know what Duck River employees make but I do know first hand what TVA employees make and it is about 30$ an hour more than they are worth. The electricians for TVA make about 62,000 a year not counting overtime (and they are really big on overtime) and that is not counting the per diem. At Watts Bar a TVA job there was about 2500 electricians not counting the fact it took TVA 27 years to build Watts Bar. Multiply that by 62,000 a year and the number is ungodly.This is not including the pipefitters, the plumbers, the carpenters, the steel workers TVA employed at Watts Bar. At one time TVA was spending over 1 billion dollars a day to fix saftey problems at Watts Bar I And that is just one small thing TVA does..now this is not counting Tom Kilgore's salary of 665,000 per year and his 1.9M dollar bonuses. Who do you think pays for this?
As far as DREMC not seeing any of these increases I do find it strange that everybody I have spoke with on Duck River Electric had a very large increase in their bill this month while Shelbyville Power customers saw no large increase.(of course I have not spoke with every customer on either side) I would think that Shelbyville Power has to pay TVA the same thing Duck River does.
The amount of misinformation in these comments is ridiculous. If everyone wants to get "up in arms" over their electric bill you should be pointing the finger at TVA not Duck River. Duck River buys their electricity from TVA. Did you think Duck River just magically pulled electricity out of their butt? Approximately 80 cents of every dollar you pay to Duck River goes to TVA, so guess what? If TVA increases the rates it gets passed to you. Feel free to be mad, just make sure it's at the right company.
time2relax-
Do you personally know someone that works at Duck River? If so, did they tell you they got a raise and a bonus? If so they were lying to you because it didn't happen. They are hurting just like you! DREMC does not see a dime of the fuel surcharges. If you pay attention to your bill, sometimes there are more days accrued in one month than on other months, depending on when they read your meter and how many days are in the month. This can make a big difference if you are looking at 10 extra days on a bill than the month before. Yes I know the bills are ridiculously high this month, but there is no sense in taking it out on Duck River employees who have nothing to do with the price increase. You might want to get your facts straight before blaming the wrong people.
--------------
Everybody in this town and across the country is having to make financial sacrifices...except DREMC employees. They are using their services to gouge us even more. I hope they are enjoying their raises and bonuses while their customers are suffering. The sad thing is, now matter how much we complain, there's nothing we can do about it. I don't care what excuse they give, this month's electric bills are beyond outrageous.
Oh, and their suggestion of adding $1 or $2 to your bill to help the even more less fortunate...that's a joke. The extra money wouldn't be used to help the less fortunate, it would be added to the pocket of Tom Kilgore...the same guy who already makes $655,000 a year plus other incentives and bonuses.
-- Posted by time2relax on Mon, Jan 12, 2009, at 9:59 AM
One last comment. DREMC tells someone that there must be an electric thief with a long extension cord, Shelbyville tells someone else that there's a mysterious 'something' making their meter spin like crazy, someone told me that 'they were told to say' that 2006 was the coldest Dec. on record...is there a TV station that does investigative reporting? I'm guessing (no fact) that this type of feces has been going on for quite some time. One person is told one thing, another something else. Thanks T-G for a chance to actually 'talk' with other people and find out how wide spread this actually is.
Yep there is no surpises in Budget Billing until the end of the year when you have paid less than you actually owe. Then there's a big surpise.
In response to bratgirl1216 ,
You might want to try budget billing. You pay the same amount every month and there are no surprises.
-- Posted by honda14 on Tue, Jan 13, 2009, at 1:58 PM
You might want to read the fine print on budget billing. You pay the same 11 months of the year. They compute to see if you owe any additional amount and you are billed for any accumulated differences in the 12th month. They get all their money if not immediately at the end of your cycle.
This is a bunch of crap! My company told me they couldn't afford to give a cost of living raise this year and my husband lost his job at the beginning of December. I thought TVA said it was only a 20% increase. If it was only 20% why did my bill almost double?? We use all the energy efficient stuff and keep the thermostat on 68 - 72.
I guess we all better learn really quick how to survive in the cold and fire up the grill since we won't have a way to cook either.
I think I'll just quit my job and go on welfare. I'd have a better chance of getting my bills paid that way than I do working these days.
In response to bratgirl1216 ,
You might want to try budget billing. You pay the same amount every month and there are no surprises.
In response to kev51565 ,
I asked DREMC to examine my meter and figure out why my bill is so high. They said they would but if everything come back okay on their end then I would have to pay them a fee. Forget that. No matter what I say it will not be their fault because they are out to make $$$. This is a monolopy and until someone else provides electricity in Bedford County, this will continue to happen.
Shelbyville power says its something inside my house making the meter spin like a frisbee.In eight years i've never used this many killowatts and i have kids! I think it's a big load of CRAP!
This is the kind of problems you get when the govt has control of something. Plus there is no competition.
My wife has also posted on this as "taking a look". We called DREMC Monday, I spoke to Pat Garrett, His explanation was that while we were gone, that someone went in our home and turned up the heat, Or, maybe one of my neighbors has been stealing our electric. How? Our outside outlets are GFCI protected and on a 15Amp breaker, for those not familiar, this would do good to run maybe a refridgerator and a TV, but, not much more than that. Now figure also that they would have to have 250 feet of extention cord also which would limit the amperage. Doesnt make any sense to the analytical mind. Maybe to him, but not to anyone in the "real world".
We are working in an industry where our fees are built in to the homeowners premiums. My thoughts now are this, If we are paying for the "Fuel adjustment cost fees" ours is around $60 a month, I suggest you all do as I have and have DREMC come out to my home and inspect it for usage. We are paying for it, so , get your monies worth folks. Now I know with us being out of town, that when and if Mr. Garett calls me back, he will say that everything is A.O.K. with the equipment. Even though he cannot go in the home and see that nothing but the A/c and refridge are on and set to a low setting, also on digital thermostat to save electricity! What a joke!
I am waiting for the phone call back now, but as I said, I already know the answer he will give. As stated above, If you are paying for it, then get all you can for the hard earned money that you are paying out. Make them run their butts off inspecting the homes around the county.
I have a mother on the Mboro city power grid. Her bill went up $20 last month, but is still in line with the same month a year before. No problem there. My brother is on the Rutherford county service with the same effect on his bill. I still havent heard from my dads home which is on the Sheblyville Power system, but, do we want to bet it is inline with last years same month bill?
ONCE AGAIN, WE CANT BEAT THEM, SO LETS AT LEAST GET OUR MONIES WORTH OUT OF THEM. CALL THEM AND HAVE YOUR METER, EQUIPMENT, AND HOME CHECKED FOR EXCESSSIVE POWER USE. WE ARE FORCED TO PAY IT, SO FORCE THEM TO EARN IT!!!
I will post again when Mr. Garrett calls to tell me that everything with my home and equipment is A.O.K.
It is not just DREMC, I have Shelbyville Power, and my bill went up to $468.00. I have no idea how I am going to pay that kind of bill. Shelbyville Power will not work with you or budge either. It is pay it or you get cut off. Something has got to be done about this. They know that they hold the upper hand, since we need electricity, however, people cannot create the money to pay those kind of bills. It is rediculous.
takingalook, two years ago my Dec. bill was huge. When I called DREMC, a nice person on the phone told me that the bill was due to the coldest Dec. in years. I told her that we had been out of town for 10 days (heat on 55, water heater off) and prior to that, it had been in the 60's and 70's. She said that she was relaying what she had been told. This year again, we had several days where we did not run the heat, were gone for 8 days, and no longer run heat to half of our house. We try to save a buck and the electric company takes more. I believe their 'explanations' as much as I believed the oil companies this past summer...not at all.
There is help on the way--President-Elect Obama has promised new jobs in construction....could it be building new Government Projects for us to live in?? Where do I sign up?
-- Posted by shelbyvegas on Mon, Jan 12, 2009, at 8:14 PM
I wonder if the people out of work can hold out until 2011 when these jobs are suppose to begin?
I think the new cashier at Duck River is soooo HOTT!
There is help on the way--President-Elect Obama has promised new jobs in construction....could it be building new Government Projects for us to live in?? Where do I sign up?
Dear DREMC customers,
I have some good news for you!! Some of you anyway. If you paid a deposit to have your account set up (as everyone at some point did) you may be entitled to receive your deposit back, if you meet "certain critera" set forth by DREMC. No one will tell you about this if you call to complain about your bill. They will not volunteer this information to help you, however this is your money and they have to write you a check (if you request) and have paid your bill on time. If you aren't aware and don't request it, it continues to sit in their account drawing intrest, while you struggle to pay an outrageous bill for heat and electric. They really get squirley if you ask for a check vs. having this amount credited to your account, so I suggest you make them write the check.
So, please call Marsha at 931-684-4621. You may have to go to the office in person, as at least on one occasion I have found that the phones go unanswered when workers are in the office. It is my opinion, though I have no proof yet, they may be using this money and the intrest drawn on it to make their other profit numbers and figures look inflated in order to obtain certain bonuses or pay raises. This is just my opinion, but I plan to continue to investigate and keep you posted.
Sincerely,
D. Russell Burks
Wartrace, TN
Since I am out of state (please note my comment from yesterday) I signed on to the DREMC website to check my bill. Keep in mind no one has been there for months. My bill is $399.33!!!!!!!!!! What in the heck is going on? I have never in my life had such a high electric bill, even in summer with air conditioning going full blast, doing laundry, pool pump running, computers and TVs going, kids running in and out the door. Being out of town I can't imagine what the bill would have been had we been home using this electricity. Maybe $750.00? We immediately called DREMC, they had no explanation as to why the high bill but assured us we are not paying for the spill in East TN, YET! Gas stations aren't the only ones guilty of price gouging. Boys and girls, can we say Class Action Lawsuit? Side Note: Please remember when calling DREMC, not to take out your frustrations on the person answering the phone. They just answer the phone, they are not in charge of making decisions about what you are charged.
I absolutely agree about the difference between Shelbyville Power and DREMC . . . when I moved two years ago I noticed a big difference in rates and cost in that Duck River was definitely higher than Shelbyville which confused me since both of them receive their power from the same source (or at least that is what I was told at one time). Both places were about the same square footage but the place I live in now is better insulated and has new windows and even a new heating/cooling unit but yet I evidently use more power from Duck River then I did from Shelbyville. I don't get it . . . it always seems as though Duck River is gouging customers more than they should.
I agree I think TVA should pay for their own clean up. They also need to learn how to live on 25000 a year or less like most of us do. They could take a pay cut and still make twice the income we make. How do they expect people to pay all this when people are losing their jobs every day. I think we all need to sit at home and let the Government take care of us for a while. It looks like people who don't work and try to make a living, live better than the working people.
I usually don't buy into the "conspiracy theroy" mindset, but there is a dramatic difference between what Shelbyville Power customers are paying and what DREMC members are paying. I compared my bill to my girlfriends'... I keep my thermostat on 72 and burn half the lights in the house.....Shelbyville power bill.. increased 20 bucks. She cut her thermostat to 60, and her kids are dressed like eskimoes, DREMC bill increased by 150 dollars. Is DREMC so poorly mismanaged that they cannot provide service for relatively the same rates that Shelbyville Power does ?
I'm wondering how much of these bills are "estimated", and how much of them are actual meter readings. I wonder if one put a piece of duct tape over their meter this month, if it would still be there when they received their bill next month.... hmmmmmm....
What happened to Al Gore's global warming? LOL.
Everybody in this town and across the country is having to make financial sacrifices...except DREMC employees. They are using their services to gouge us even more. I hope they are enjoying their raises and bonuses while their customers are suffering. The sad thing is, now matter how much we complain, there's nothing we can do about it. I don't care what excuse they give, this month's electric bills are beyond outrageous.
Oh, and their suggestion of adding $1 or $2 to your bill to help the even more less fortunate...that's a joke. The extra money wouldn't be used to help the less fortunate, it would be added to the pocket of Tom Kilgore...the same guy who already makes $655,000 a year plus other incentives and bonuses.
I agree Dianatn . . . there doesnt seem to be any good news lately.
Per the 12/09/2008 News Release on DREMC website:
Duck River Electric members will see a slight decrease in the amount paid per kilowatt-hour of electricity on electric bills issued after January 1, 2009 as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) announced it will lower its quarterly Fuel Cost Adjustment on that date. For the average retail residential consumer of Duck River Electric, the decrease will amount to $4 to $6 per month. Because the Fuel Cost Adjustment is a per kilowatthour charge, amounts consumers will save depends on the amount of energy used. The
current Fuel Cost Adjustment is $0.01806 and it will fall to $0.01418 per kilowatt-hour,
effective January 1. "Recent reductions in purchased power and natural gas prices have helped
reduce our actual costs and forecast for the second quarter of 2009. Unfortunately, coal
prices remain significantly higher than they were a year ago, and sustained drought conditions across the Tennessee Valley have cut TVA's hydro generation by more than 50 percent, preventing TVA's fuel costs from dropping further," explained Kim Greene, TVA's Chief Financial Officer. Greene said economic conditions led to a decrease in wholesale power sales July through September, which also helped lower the FCA by reducing TVA's reliance on its most expensive power sources.
About 60 percent of TVA's power supply comes from fossil fuels -- primarily coal,along with oil and natural gas. When fuel prices increase, TVA's cost to produce electricity increases as well.
TVA began using a fuel cost adjustment mechanism in October 2006 after experiencing a spike in fuel costs caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Utilities across the country use such mechanisms to help recover the costs they must pay for
fuel and purchased power. The amount of the FCA can go up or down, depending on quarterly increases or decreases in these costs.
"Duck River Electric is pleased that TVA has been able to lower its FCA beginning in January, a time when electricity usage across our service area will be at its highest as our members face the winter months, colder temperatures and rising
demand for heat," DREMC President and Chief Executive Officer Jim Allison explained.
Ms. Crowder, you hit the nail right on the head! I agree we need to band together and stop this somehow. I don't know what but we need to brainstorm!
What I can't understand is why WE have to pay for TVA's screwup! Why is it our problem????? We don't even live near where the spill occured. Sounds like TVA should take care of their own problem not us!!!! If we had done that they wouldn't pay for it!!!!! It would have been OUR problem. Maybe the CEO of Duck River needs to take a pay cut.
I think we need to let them all know how we feel.We need to stick together on this and form some kind of leagal protest out in front of their office for about a week. I think we all need to go out and buy play money and mix it in with our payments and let them sort it all out. I tell you this, I am mad and I don't think we should let them get away with this without our voices being heard loud and clear. This is all out price gouging!
What are you supposed to do? My electric bill went up from 246.00 this time last year to 376.00 last month. My mother in law lives behind us by her self, her bill went from 88.00 to 277.00 what is with this? You have to pay it or go with out electricity there is no where else to buy it! My bill had 60.00 fuel adjustment with a 17.00 enviromental fee that is by it self 77.00. This did'nt start till they changed my meter to a digital meter. You cant read it like the old ones it just flashes the kw # evry 10 seconds you cant see the wheels turning to see about what you are using. I think that is a way of sticking it to you with out you knowing what is going on. We need to get hold of washington and get in line for a bail out. If the porn industry can do it so can we! Working people cant afford keeping the C.E.O.'S POCKETS DEEP
The news just said we will be paying extra for the spills from TVA.. How much extra do they think we can pay?
The news also said gas prices was going back up to probably where they were 4 months ago. It would have been nice if they had stayed low for just a little longer :>(
I've decided I am not watching the news anymore it's just too depressing.
Let's see, electric bills go up during a mild winter, during a cold winter, when fuel prices go up, and when fuel goes down. We don't really have a choice, and they know it. Don't worry though DREMC, like Boxer in Animal Farm, we "will work harder."
this is rediculous. my bill went from 211 to 418 and i even got a gas heater 2 help lower mine if anything it should be lower than the last one and i agree with the others we shouldn't have 2 pay 4 somebody elses mistake.
If DREMC is having such a hard time financially purchasing coal to generate the electricity they are selling to their members, why don't they make cuts is other areas that are not of a necesssary nature, like the thousands of dollars spent every year for Ann Throneberry to put on a Christmas demonstration and print hundreds of cookbooks? The decorations, printing and supplies, man hours, food, electricity, travel expense and all other related expenses spent on this demonstration would go a long way to help provide heating for the needy. I have attended these demonstrations, and while they do provide a nice outing, in tough economic times, it could be considered an extravagance and an unnecessary expense. While Ann does an outstanding job at what she does, "what she does" could be expended with in lieu of the added burden being placed on the membership.
I have lived in my house for 5 years, and my electric bill has never been this high, I think that it is pretty low down that we have to pay this charge. I believe that it is nothing more than a way to cheat people out of more money. And evidently they don't watch the news or follow the economy because if they did they would know how hard it is on everyone these days and wouldn't have added this outragous charge to start with. If the TVA had enough money laying around to give their CEO his nice little package then they shouldn't have raised anything on our bill! And as far as their recent spill goes I say they clean up their own mess using all those millions that they have gotten from us already!
I noticed my last month's bill was for 28 days, and this month's bill was for 38 . At an average of 87 KW a day, this would justify some of the larger bill this month. but it is still outrageous. Just one of the many increases we are having to cope with -- but why so much at one time.
I have been out of state for several months. Only thing on at home is fridge and heat. Heat is set low because no one is there and yet my electric bill has skyrocketed. Over $200.00 last month, dread to see this month. My water bill was the usual, around $17.00. Guess the ghosts at my house were using alot of electricity but not bothering to take a bath. Maybe someone can give me another explanation. Could it be that TVA needs more money for those private jets. We do have to admit jet fuel is pretty expensive these days. Just doing my part to keep the rich in the lifestyle they are accustomed to. :)
At one time I was told that all the Christmas Light Decorations Uptown and down Madison Street, Calsonic Arena, and at the Public Park had an impression on residents bills. May be true, or may be not.
I know my light bill went way up this month and I actually have done things to my house to help lower electric use so I don't see how this is occurring. I expected a little increase due the rate hike but they are saying I am using more power than I normally do so it seems a bit suspicious to me. What can you do though . . . it seems they have you by a rope and no hope in sight.
Grandpat - why are you yelling at readers of your post? Using all upper case makes your rant harder to read, so I didn't. Instead of yelling with all upper case you should just make your point using normal narrative type.
I have found over the last few yrs.....YOU have to watch them because they WILL try and cheat you! I have caught them twice in the last 4 yrs, and that was just what I caught. No telling what slipped through on me because I am out of town most of the time working. When caught, they say it was just a computer error that they had already caught it and adjusted my bill. I say BS, if I hadn't gone down there and said something, it would not have been adjusted.
WHY DID NES NOT RAISE THEIR RATES IN NASHVILLE???ACCORDINGLY,TVA BACKED DOWN THEIR RATE INCREASE IN NOVEMBER,AND DID NOT RAISE THEIR RATE THE TWENTY PERCENT THAT WAS PROPOSED.SO THE TWENTY PERCENT RATE INCREASE NEVER HAPPENED!!!DUCK RIVER ELECTRIC BOARD OF DIRECTORS,CHAIRED BY OUR OWN BEDFORD COUNTY RESIDENT HAS A LOT OF EXPLAINING TO DO IT SEEMS.MR MACDONALD CANNOT SPEAK FOR THE DREMC BOARD BEFORE THE BOARD HAS REEVALUATED THE PROBLEM ABOUT THE TVA RATE INCREASE THAT WAS'NT.LOOKS LIKE A DREMC PROBLEM CAUSED BY DREMC ,NOT A TVA-CAUSED ONE.