With the Johnson City Power Board’s new peak-time use billing policy on the horizon, many customers are voicing their concerns about what it could mean for their monthly bills.
The program, which has been adopted by the Tennessee Valley Authority and will be initiated by the Power Board in the fall, will charge a higher rate for electricity used during peak periods of high demand.
Peak-use periods change according to the season but typically range from 5-11 a.m. in the winter months to 2-8 p.m. in the summer.
Gray resident Susanne Seiler is not a fan of the utility’s smart meters, and she believes the new billing policy is going to cause inconveniences for families, especially those who have low incomes.
“I think that’s going to put crunches in people’s lives that they don’t need,” she said.
The Power Board is still in negotiations with TVA officials to determine what the retail customer rates will be for peak and non-peak times.
Until the rate is decided, customers like Danielle Russell are not sure how much they will be affected by the new policy.
“I guess it depends on how the prices are going up. If it’s just a little I don’t think it’s going to affect me. If it’s going to skyrocket, we’ll wash our clothes at night or something,” she said.
Russell recently moved to the area from Boulder, Colo., where she had higher power bills than in Johnson City.
Even if prices go up, Russell said she doesn’t think it will affect her very much.
“I guess it’s more of a supply and demand thing that they’re going through so much during the day. I don’t know. I don’t think it’s really going to affect me, to be honest. We have really low power bills,” Russell said.
Officials with the Power Board plan on rolling out a massive public relations campaign over the next several months in order to educate customers about the time-of-use policy. The campaign will include education on bill presentment, bill inserts, town hall meetings, paid advertisements, web-based education, videos, social media, podcasts, blogs, a mobile app, newsletters and press releases.
Members of the Power Board’s board of directors will join utility employees in a pilot program in order to gain a better understanding of how the change will impact customers. Employees will be encouraged but not required to participate.
Robert White, the utility’s chief public relations officer, likened the time-of-use energy policy to a similar policy used by the cell phone industry.
Cell phone carriers allow unlimited minutes after a certain time to encourage customers, while charging customers a fee if they go over their allotted minutes.
White said it costs more to produce energy during those peak-use times and by spreading out one’s energy use, customers will be able to reduce their bills.
“If we’re not creating new peaks, we’re not getting billed from TVA because of our demand then it helps us save costs and we’re asking you to help us do it. If you’re doing it, it’s going to save you money. If not, it’s going to cost more to provide that energy during peak times during the summer and the winter,” he said.
White said the entire concept is to get customers to a point where they are using more energy during off-peak hours, which will lower the Power Board’s revenues.
“That means our revenues will go down, which is fine. The hope is that if our revenues go down, that means our cost to TVA on the wholesale side is also going to go down,” he said.
jcresident writes:
February 23, 2013
9:41 PM
The whole point is to get customers to a point where they are using more energy, which will lower the Power Board's revenues. Who believes this? The power board is trying to charge more during peak hours so that they can lose revenue. They know good and well that their customers cant use less electricity during non peak hours, you cant turn your electricity off at 6am in the winter time. They will make much more revenue, thats the point.
MannyCalavera writes:
February 23, 2013
9:45 PM
The JCPB has some pretty reprehensible business practices, especially when you consider they sell something so essential to life (and are the only game in town).
timullen writes:
February 23, 2013
11:40 PM
Then 'off peak' hours will become the new 'peak hours'. Mostly this is a marketing ploy. Do not use the 'peak hour' discussion to justify 'control' and 'profit'.
Also the smart meters are too nosy. They track what appliance you use in your home and when you use it. It also tracks your private information of when you are home, not home, etc... This information must be, - by state law -, not allowed to be shared with any form of marketing firm. By law.
Also, we would like a complete technical analysis of why it costs JCPower more to supply more electricity at "peak hours". .. We the public do not understand why it costs 'more'. We require this information.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_meter
Most people cannot change their whole life schedules or spend the time analyzing if their hair blow dryer is costing them more at 4:30 than at 5:00 etc.. This is a globally tested failure for actually providing customers any savings from what I read.
The profit ends up for the company, not the consumer.
We have the meters, so JCPower, use the technologies so you can cut how many people you need to employ, use the conveniences the smart meters give that we accept, sell us electricity... but do not nose into our private patterns of use...
... and do not charge us for the convenience it gives you.
truthful writes:
February 24, 2013
8:01 AM
I don`t understand we are paying for what we use now . Why go to peak min`s and off peak min`s .Why is the demand higher than now when it`s going to be peak min`s . It don`t matter and they are not right on this they know when we use more power no matter what time it is we are paying out the behind for it anyway They need to get some of their employees off pay roll at JCPB that just ride around in the trucks burning fuel and nothing to do heck let them swept the floors or wash their truck to make for their pay i know when it`s bad weather they out getting power back on but i would to if i made what they do under unions wages. If they don`t want to do their job tell them to hit the road .
Remove Money from Politics writes:
February 24, 2013
8:09 AM
It doesn't cost "more", the higher price is an incentive to avoid using high load appliances such as dryers during the peak load period. This is coming from the TVA so stop complaining about the JCPB. Much of the rest of the country has been dealing with peak billing for quite some time.
As for revenues, the JCPB is a public utility. They aren't supposed to be itching for revenues to climb so they can pocket the extra cash.
MFFB writes:
February 24, 2013
10:31 AM
Even a public utility can have bloated salaries for their staff. Regarding the complaint of men riding around in trucks. I suppose that can happen. I had some minor work done, 3 guys showed up in the truck, 1 of them worked. However, I would rather have the extra men available for power outages, so if they have to goof off when the power is up, so be it.
cityguy writes:
February 24, 2013
10:47 AM
"That means our revenues will go down, which is fine. The hope is that if our revenues go down, that means our cost to TVA on the wholesale side is also going to go down,” he said.
My grandmother would stick a bar of soap in his mouth for telling this whopper. What is the very first thing that Mr. White and the JCPB yell, as soon as they announce their revenues have gone down ? "We must increase or rates to customers, because our revenue levels are not what they should be. And with the so called "Needed addition to..blah blah, and the increased costs of employee insurance and blah blah" plus mandatory replacement of Blah blah due to its age..." So unfortunately due to the increase in cost of providing electricity to our customers. We are required/forced by law to maintain a certain profitt level. Therefore, we will be raising residential rates to (Insert percentage amount here) beginning with the next billing cycle. I ask Mr. White or anyone in authority to deny this is what they do. And lastly, what are the people who work 12 hour shifts, that also happens to be the so called "Off peak hours" supposed to do ? The only times they will be able to do their laundry and other electricity consuming chores, will have to be during the higher rate times. Plus they can't do those chores when they have to sleep. This is the biggest Trojan Horse just to increase the JCPB income plus control of peoples private information. That has ever been forced on we the users.
activecitizen writes:
February 24, 2013
12:08 PM
Amen. Its all a money racket and anyone that doesnt believe it is either dumb or on jcpb payroll!
searchcitrus writes:
February 24, 2013
12:15 PM
Charging more for peak hours is like charging more for gas pumped after a price increase. It is the same electricity (gas) as what was in there before the increase.
You compared this practice to cell phone usage to try and justify it. Well I don't know if you have noticed but the cell phone industry has realized that this is an out dated way of billing and are all moving away from the process.
I don't want to pay more an cannot afford to pay more just because you say it is the busy time. Leave the prices alone they are too high already. If you want to give a discount for the "non peak" hours then lower the rate for that period.
This cost increase will in NO WAY give the customers more value or better electricity, It will only fatten the pockets of the GREEDY SHAREHOLDERS period.
Tau'ri writes:
February 24, 2013
12:36 PM
Well, looks like the Power Board is just going to force me to save more money so I can buy all those Solar Panels that I need to stick onto my roof so I can then sell the electricity back to the Power Board.
It's all about greed folks. All about greed...
kman66 writes:
February 24, 2013
1:00 PM
We all know this about more money for JCPB. That is a mute point. What I want to know is where does all the electricity go created by our Hydro power Dams? We have 3 of these in the area. One in Carter county, One in Kingsport, and One in Bristol. Just a little food for thought.
Wendyp writes:
February 24, 2013
2:44 PM
The real reason the rates keep going up up up is that they have to pay for that fancy new building they built in very expensive boones creek area, also as better appliances more energy efficient they don't want to loose that revenue, also the solar power business in this area seems to be getting better. Hopefully one day everyone can afford not to have to deal with this monopoly most of us are stuck with!
bam0555 writes:
February 24, 2013
4:14 PM
So JCPB are we going to have night and weekends free? Just wondering.
Jeff Adams writes:
February 24, 2013
6:49 PM
They are three reason why they installed the smart meters. 1 - To gather information on their customer power usage inside your home. 2 - This allows them to justifies a secondary funding stream for their operation. and 3 - allows them to track fraud when someone plugs and unplugs a meter. JCPB increased rates to pay for the new smart meters and we as rate payers footed the bill for this. Now we will pay even more because now that they have your personnel data from your home and they will be able to tell when your heat pump turns off and on and how long your water heater runs after you take a shower or when your dishwasher comes on and how long it takes to do your dishes. Can you image what they can do with this type of billing structure and how the will penalize you for say taking to long in the shower? or maybe you ran your heat pump to long and they can charge you for that? Think I am exaggerating as to where they can take this if they need to justify billing increases in the future. The whole marketing scheme here is to find a way to make you part ways with your hard earned money and not have a rout on their hands or they might have to put a permanent police sub station in the lobby of the JCBC. This is a institutional monopoly and its function is to make sure it has a solid funding mechanism for the future and the future Is data and how much you can sell it for and also use it to make money. Oh BTW If you believe all the hype about energy efficiency program that will save you money I have a Island in the Bahamas that I would like to sell you. They want you to spend your money lowering the cost of your electrify bill that why they don't have to buy as much energy and than charge you more for it.
kpierson writes:
February 24, 2013
7:45 PM
Welcome to Johnson City....remember to pickup your lube on your way moving into the city.
Did anyone think the smart meters was about anything more than gouging customers for more and more money?
lunarity writes:
February 24, 2013
8:23 PM
This is absolute trash. So glad my full time minimum wage job won't be able to cover the cost increase. Thanks, JCPB. Can't wait to not make payments and then get charged even more money for a late fee. Great!!
pkj46 writes:
February 25, 2013
5:08 AM
This is just outrageous!! My bill is already ridiculous. The power board and all the monopoly companies should be ashamed. There is no need for this peak time idea. We are already overcharged!!! My bill is already outrageously high. No one is going to be able to have electricity. It seems that the power board is flexing its monopoly muscles and trying to be the bully on the block. People can hardly afford to eat or buy gas to get to work already. Never thought I would see it; but here it is, we have to decide to eat or pay our electricity.
shylocxs writes:
February 25, 2013
7:04 AM
You people are surprised? Didn't you realize that this is what happens in American capitalism every time you have a monopoly?
brownie writes:
February 25, 2013
8:23 AM
People are barely getting by now and this crap goes down. Really JCPB? Like you dont charge enough now. This is ALL about money. Whoever said they needed to pay for the fancy building on land that is incredibly pricey is right! I will never understand how the public utilities will continue to gouge people who already make decisions about whether or not to pay bills, get meds, put gas in their car or buy food. Monopolies really screw people. Most people HAVE to do laundry in the 2-8 time frame, run dishwashers, etc because their kids go to BED and those appliances make noise. I guess we are all supposed to sleep immediately after work, then get up about 10 and do our housework all night, then go to work. I guess that is the plan they want us to follow. I should have been a hippie in a commune with no power. This is complete and total bull.
cityguy writes:
February 25, 2013
9:50 AM
Well I guess the JCPB just made my decision, of what to use my tax return on. That plus some savings I have luckily been able to have, will now be going to buy the solar panels I have been checking out. And like another poster said, I will take pride in cashing my check each month. That I will be getting from the JCPB, from the excess electricity I will be generating. And the nice part is, they are required by law to buy it from me .
MFFB writes:
February 25, 2013
10:12 AM
Solar power is a big myth too! Face it, JCPB has you over a barrel. It would take me 20 years to get even on solar. By that time, the panels will need replacing. I suppose I could do without heat, and AC and not use the oven, or water heaters, then solar would be fantastic. What JCPB should do is make the the salaries of all personnel open and easy to find. They should show they are truly a not-for-profit and not a high salary generating entity. I don't know where that information is published. Does anyone? What are the operating expenses? How about a financial statement?
NiteRider writes:
February 25, 2013
11:07 AM
Their financial statements are published on their website under annual report. It looks like 2011 that 80% of our bill goes to purchasing power. The rest is operating money. And there were no profits or shareholders, every cent of the remaining 20% was spent on operations.
MFFB writes:
February 25, 2013
1:25 PM
Well, there ya go. Sounds reasonable to me. Guess not many here have a leg to stand on.
cityguy writes:
February 25, 2013
3:35 PM
Solar power is far from being a myth. You have to do the research, and invest in the equipment wisely. Sure there are ripoff solar companies out there, but I personally know 3 friends who get 100% of their power from solar panels. The panels have improved greatly over the years, and the costs are going down. Depending on the amount of electricity you need, and get advice from people who actually use solar power. On average, you can recoup your investment in 4-7 years. Then it is all profit. And look at it this way, if you don't use solar power. How much money will you be getting back from the Power Board, after the 4-7 years have passed ? A smart investment, may be a long term investment. But at least it is an investment that will eventually give returns. Unlike making no investments.
Jeff Adams writes:
February 25, 2013
5:30 PM
Your best bet is to go to a solar thermal system that uses your electricity as a back up. You can remove your water heater and heat pump off the grid and just have it for back up. if your a good do it yourselfer you can build them cheaply. Also led bulb prices are coming down and you can run allot of them of solar power if you want to. And btw I love the trolls for JCPB who posted earlier, nice try guys.
Jeff Adams writes:
February 25, 2013
5:45 PM
Your best bet is to go to a solar thermal system that uses your electricity as a back up. You can remove your water heater and heat pump off the grid and just have it for back up. if your a good do it yourselfer you can build them cheaply. Also led bulb prices are coming down and you can run allot of them of solar power if you want to. And btw I love the trolls for JCPB who posted earlier, nice try guys.
Jeff Adams writes:
February 25, 2013
5:50 PM
There's a different between for profit and not for profit organizations. For profit pays executives and shareholders and not for profit pays out the extra money in wages and benefits.
Jeff Adams writes:
February 25, 2013
5:54 PM
Here's something for people to watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JNFr_j6kdI
NiteRider writes:
February 26, 2013
8:30 AM
Jeff, have you ever taken an accounting class? That is not the difference in for profit and not for profit. It surprises me how many people try to villify the Power Board. I know someone who works there, and believe me they are not evil. Nor do they make an exorbitant salary. I asked them about this and they don't even know all of the details yet or how it's going to affect people's bills. So I am going to withhold my judgment until all of the facts are on the table. I don't know who sits on the Board of Directors but I wish they would have a public forum for people to voice their concerns and listen to the public. They should do this at least once a quarter. It would also be a good opportunity for the to present FACTS, rather than the public having to make ASSUMPTIONS because the public does not have any FACTS.
opiniontoday writes:
February 26, 2013
2:52 PM
I live in the county. Done installed a propane tank with gas logs and gas cooking stove. Hot water heater is next. Gas is not cheap either. I'm just doing it for spite!
provided.