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Green Energy

January 2nd, 2011 at 04:45 pm

With the economy and all, didn't expect a raise this year at all.

Anyway, when trying to cut costs, I decided to drop out of our city utility's green energy program. I was hoping to save $6 per month, but it didn't work out so well. Since our balanced budget billing is based on past bills, it didn't change anything when they re-calculated our monthly amount.

Bah!

That said, 2011 is turning out better than expected with all the tax breaks. In addition to extended tax cuts (wasn't sure about those even, before they passed), and the payroll tax holiday, my state income taxes also went down by about 75% (some tax increases expired).

In the back of my mind I had decided to add back our Green Energy option, but hadn't gotten around to it.

Today they just happened to be talking, on the radio, to a marketing person from our electric company. So, when I got to work, I signed up again.

The perk that I didn't intend, was that I could choose a gift card from a handful of vendors. $10 for signing up! (Maybe I should quit and re-sing up ever year - Wink )

I don't know when the gift card arrives but I just picked jamba juice thinking of my upcoming surgery. If my throat is sore, etc., might be nice to have some smoothies. I might not be as up to making my own.

We actually have a different utility company for our natural gas. I have heard not to invest in their green programs. I have heard over the years that our electric company's programs were particularly good. (They are also a non-profit, which makes them a very different animal of sorts).

After hearing about all the program does do, in more detail, I feel more commitment to stick with it.

For merely $6/month, the utility will buy renewable energy - enough to cover our home's entire electric needs. In addition (& this part I didn't realize or I forgot) they use the money to implement more green energy locally. They have used the money to buy solar panels and wind turbines. For the long run they want to make most of their renewable energy, versus buying it from others.

3 Responses to “Green Energy”

  1. ThriftoRama Says:
    1293989019

    For $6 a month that sounds like a good investment. We have no such option.

    We also were thinking of cutting our $12 a month curbside recycling. We could drop it off for free. But we decided to keep it so far. We feel it's important to support all recycling initiatives, and out city council always uses the curbside subscription rate to gauge interest in free citywide recycling.

  2. Looking Forward Says:
    1294006965

    It sounds like a good thing. And (lol) I thought the same thing about you cancelling and signing back up for the gift cards too. Wink

  3. FrugalTexan75 Says:
    1294036448

    I hope the gift card arrives in time!

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