GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!! Direct/Center Point Energy

[venchka]

OK. This is the last straw. They just broke my last nerve. For the 3rd time Center Point has put a red disconnect tag on my electric meter in NW Houston. Naturally they point to Direct Energy. Direct Energy points to Center Point. Where are the morons who thought that deregulation would be a good thing?
Is this justifiable grounds for "going postal?"

[picman]

Ask to speak to supervisors, then let both parties know that you are filing a complaint with the PUC if they don't fix the problem today.

[SCone]

Hard to choose a side without any details...............

[venchka]

and.........
It's a holiday! Go figure.

[venchka]

Originally Posted by SCone

Hard to choose a side without any details...............

Details? My power was disconnected 3 times. In error.

[venchka]

I almost lost it.......

"Since today is a holiday, we will TRY to restore your poer today."
"You turned my power off on a holiday."
"Yes. We will TRY to get it restored today."
"You should try very hard. You turned it off on a holiday. You better turn it back on today."

2 hours after the power was cut it came back on.

[TheFantasticG]

This thread would be a lot better with details on the errors and whatnot.

Bad billing practices is why I left Reliant and TXU. Haven't had any problems with Texas Power in over two years ... yet.

[Flea77]

Originally Posted by venchka

Is this justifiable grounds for "going postal?"

Absolutely! Just as soon as you sign this piece of paper saying you are leaving me all your camera equipment you just go right ahead and go boy!

Allan

[jkderby]

How can any one complain to the PUC if it is deregulated. That is why IMO that all utilities should not be deregulated. Sometimes I wonder if the oil industry should be regulated. Everyones welfare depends on it.

[picman]

Originally Posted by jkderby

How can any one complain to the PUC if it is deregulated. That is why IMO that all utilities should not be deregulated. Sometimes I wonder if the oil industry should be regulated. Everyones welfare depends on it.

Still regulated by PUC
Power to Choose: Your Rights

[markfh]

Originally Posted by jkderby

How can any one complain to the PUC if it is deregulated. That is why IMO that all utilities should not be deregulated. Sometimes I wonder if the oil industry should be regulated. Everyones welfare depends on it.

That's a good idea. Let's have the guberment seize all industry then everything will run perfectly and prices will be extremely low. Hell, everything will be free since the guberment will own it.

[Cajungaltx]

Originally Posted by markfh

That's a good idea. Let's have the guberment seize all industry then everything will run perfectly and prices will be extremely low. Hell, everything will be free since the guberment will own it.

+100000




Here's the problem I have with the whole electric thing....

Nothing changed.

We are now allowed to select a 'new' middle man to pay our bill to. That 'middle man' doesn't actually service our energy needs....the retail electric entities that we pay the bill to....they don't own their own generating plants and must buy power in the wholesale market...

They didn't deregulate anything....they just made us believe we had choices....and really it's like buying gas....doesn't matter what store you fill up at....it all pretty much comes from the same place....

[venchka]

Originally Posted by Cajungaltx

+100000




Here's the problem I have with the whole electric thing....

Nothing changed.

We are now allowed to select a 'new' middle man to pay our bill to. That 'middle man' doesn't actually service our energy needs....the retail electric entities that we pay the bill to....they don't own their own generating plants and must buy power in the wholesale market...

They didn't deregulate anything....they just made us believe we had choices....and really it's like buying gas....doesn't matter what store you fill up at....it all pretty much comes from the same place....

No more phone calls. We have a winner!
Who were the folks that talked the talk about how "competition" would lower electric rates? Lobbyists for Relient? The only competition is to see who can charge the most for the longest period of time until they loose money and have to lower their rates for a time. There is still only one guy making electricity. He can charge whatever he likes. The consuming public fell for another snake oil pitch.

[stephenpinn]

More to it than that, if you look at a recent bill you will find that almost half of your bill is for "Transportation" costs, yes the wire and transformers, etc.

As I understand it when deregulation first took place Texas was divided into 6 area each with sufficient generation capacity to look after itself. It took about 15 minutes for the "managers" of those areas to consolidate there generation facilities and begin to buy and sell on the spot market. This left some areas with plenty of customers but no generation capability, this was OK because the provider could buy electricty from other suppliers for less than it would have cost him to make. It took about 15 seconds for the owners of the wire between the supplier and consumer to relize they were being left out of the money, so they started charging a transportation charge for any electricity crossing their geography.

Once again we demonstrate if you support your politicians generously they will find a way to make you rich :). It is really quite sad

[jkderby]

This is why I mentioned the basics of life should be regulated. To stop large greedy companies getting richer than need be off of the little guy. Regulation does not mean the government owns it, just watch dogs to make sure things are done right. Remember Enron.