Save Water, Save Energy
Water heaters are not something you ordinarily think about much. Count me as one who does not dwell on such things, but there is a company that does take them seriously and it’s starting to build a product that appears superior to what is currently available.
I am excited when engineering, hard work, and combine as effectively as they have on this product called MODEL1
MODEL1 by Heatworks
Water heaters use a lot of energy and a lot of cool water is wasted before hot water arrives where you use it. This product looks to solve those two problems, without creating new ones!
To be transparent, I will say that Realgy is not an investor and has no interest in this product other than as a customer.
We plan to install one in our building as soon as we receive it. I promise to keep you updated on its performance.
Additional press is at Nikkei Asian Review “And the most promising green technologies of 2014 are…”
Go Michigan!
Realgy supports energy choice and fair competition.
Realgy Energy Services–Invested in Service™
Over 90% of Great Lakes is covered by ice
With 20% of the fresh water in the world, being covered in ice is a big deal. Clearly it’s another example of the extent of winter.
As the March lion gives way to the lamb I know we all look forward to welcoming Spring.
NOAA Great Lakes Annual Maximum Ice Coverage 1973-2013 (from GLERL)
Check out the Wood TV article “Great Lakes Ice Growing“
Peoples/North Shore Gas Rate-Hike Request
Following on the heels of the highest gas bills in 10 years, the utility adds insult to injury with an increase in rates for delivery. Realgy agrees with CUB that the timing of this increase is insensitive at best and discouraging for many struggling with current bills.
This increase would cover the delivery service and doesn’t even address the coming increase that will be necessary by the utility for this winter’s costs.
Realgy joins CUB in challenging Peoples Gas and North Shore in order to understand the need and the reasons for the proposed increase.
We understand that investments are needed to ensure delivery and maintenance. However this winter has shown that expansion for storage facilities to provide some relief from short-term price increases would be prudent.
Peoples Gas/North Shore operates a regulated monopoly (with no competition) as opposed to your natural gas service competition; therefore the only supervision to what they charge comes from the ICCC and from interested parties (such as CUB, Realgy, and every customer).
Realgy will post messages as this rate increase unfolds and provide help in offering comments to the ICC as they review the rate increase request.
Check out the whole Citizens Utility Board Article “Statement by Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Executive Director David Kolata on the Peoples/North Shore Gas Rate-Hike Request”
So what exactly is a fixed price for energy?
A fixed price in energy is given for either a pre-determined amount of energy or is given for an “all you consume”. You can think of it as either paying for an entire dinner or returning again to the buffet tables.
In the instance of a fixed price with a closed or set amount, the amount of energy used that exceeds a customer’s historical usage is charged at market price there the market price must be defined in the agreement.
Under a fixed price for open quantity agreement, all usage should be charged at the same rate. If there are circumstances beyond what is considered normal, other costs can be passed through; those circumstances must be defined in the agreement. Typically an examination of these terms doesn’t take place until the circumstances arise.
A winter vortex is anything but normal conditions.
Niagara Falls has frozen due to the 2014 Winter Vortex
The costs for delivering energy this winter has far exceeded any reasonable planning. Hence utilities and marketers are looking to pass through weather-related costs to the customers. As the article mentions, COMED, along with every utility, will be increasing costs associated with this winter.
Realgy knows our costs and settles them monthly. This prevents the cost recovery process or delay that utilities go through.
Realgy’s offers fixed prices for both open (all-you-can-eat) and closed (set amount) quantities. For this winter, our PriceWatchTM was offered as open quantity. Realgy typically offers seasonal fixed rates or for one year periods. This avoids having to have “re-openers” or uncertainty for both ourselves and the customer that are part of multi-year contracts.
Check out the whole Crain’s Chicago Business article “Frigid temps spur suburban power supplier to hike prices”
Realgy Supports a Review of the January 2014 Energy Price Spikes
REALGY couldn’t agree more with the need to investigate this winter market reaction. As highlighted in the various articles posted on the Realgy blog, the cost borne by utilities, marketers and our customer’s sky rocketed.
This winter weather required every energy marketer and utility to purchase the energy being used by our customer’s (above their planned usage) at the going market price; there is no planning or negotiations during such periods.
Therefore, any manipulation by traders or owners/operators of power plants or pipelines that took advantage of this weather to inflate the market price needs to be investigated.
Realgy will look to send a letter in support of FERC investigating the market response and all/any irregularities. For instances, Feb 2014 pricing is above Jan 2014 pricing!
Realgy is continuing to work hard, as the weather vortex is back (as of Feb 26th 2014) to reduce the impact of this winter weather on our customers.
Check out the full Citizens Utility Board article “As Electric/Gas Bills Skyrocket, CUB and Consumer Advocates In 10 States Request FERC Review Of January Price Spikes”