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degggendorf t1_j5x2run wrote

Reply to comment by WafflesTheBadger in What if we all just decided not to pay our February electricity bills? by WeakAndWeary

> The biggest problem is that utilities are monopolies. My ONLY option is RIE. I can't even get solar because my roof cannot support the panels. And it's not like I can call up Eversource to be like "hey can you beat this rate?"

Supply is deregulated. You absolutely can call up a different supplier and see if they can give you a better rate. Just be careful to understand their terms before switching.

https://ripuc.ri.gov/utility-information/electric

There are also ground-mounted solar options you may have if your roof isn't compatible.

> Others with solar can't sell me their unused power because legally they have to sell it back to the utility company in exchange for credits

You can absolutely buy power from some one else, you just have to set up your own independent power system to get it to your house from theirs. Naturally if you're using the RIE grid to store and move the power, they are going to manage the process.

> (which ideally SHOULD lower overall price for every non-solar customer but it doesn't)

It does, but kinda in a roundabout way. See here if you want to dive in: https://upriseri.com/how-are-electricity-rates-determined/#:~:text=They%20start%20at%20the%20lowest%20price%20and%20they%20get

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Coincel_pro t1_j5yaxp7 wrote

Yes you "can" find a different supplier but which of them are cheaper than the current RIE rate? Before RIE had a rate hike the only available options were more expensive, after RIE's rate hike they are still more expensive.

I am not sure if they were just that high before the hike, or if they had one of their own. The system for seeking an alternative is in place yes, but the alternatives are not cheaper making the whole thing moot.

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degggendorf t1_j5yh3lw wrote

>which of them are cheaper than the current RIE rate?

I left the link so you could check for yourself, but I guess I can click it for you to tell you that SmartEnergy is currently cheaper.

You can also join a community solar project and save 10% off your total RIE bill whatever the rate is.

>the alternatives are not cheaper making the whole thing moot.

If ever other option were more expensive, that would mean you're getting the best deal possible. You see that as a bad thing?

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Coincel_pro t1_j5yobh4 wrote

Hey that's great, 1st time in 3 years I've seen an advertised supplier actually cheaper than the default.

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Given that "the best deal possible" is 49% higher than what you were paying a few months before isn't really a deal it's just a way to normalize being shit on by a monopoly.

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It's not "Good" that alternative sources are now competitive because the default source has increased their pricing so much.

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I already have my own solar array so I did everything I could to avert this bullshit.

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degggendorf t1_j5ypqzl wrote

> Given that "the best deal possible" is 49% higher than what you were paying a few months before isn't really a deal it's just a way to normalize being shit on by a monopoly.

Do you really think that the only reason rates are higher is because RIE is making more money? Nothing outside of PPL is influencing the cost of energy?

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