Forum: Internet Links
Topic: I'm about to be forced to pay$21 for 2 light bulbs
started by: GORDON

Posted by GORDON on Oct. 06 2009,13:35
< http://www.newsnet5.com/money/21210294/detail.html >

QUOTE
Akron-based FirstEnergy said Monday that distribution will begin in mid-October. Two compact fluorescent light bulbs will be mailed or hand-delivered to residential customers of Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. and Toledo Edison.

The cost of the program will be underwritten by customers, who FirstEnergy said can recover three times the cost through projected energy savings. Reports indicate that there will be a 60 cent charge on customers' bills for the next three years.


I wonder if one can opt-out.

Posted by GORDON on Oct. 06 2009,13:40
On the "Contact Us" page at firstenergy.com...

QUOTE
I just heard about your plan to deliver two fluorescent light bulbs to all of your customers, and charge them $.60 a month for the next 3 years.

Tell me how to opt-out of this plan.  I already buy 6-packs of these light bulbs for $15, and I don't need another two for $21.


I doubt I will get satisfaction.

Posted by GORDON on Oct. 06 2009,13:46
QUOTE
FirstEnergy has received your inquiry. We will respond to your message
within 48 hours. If you need to contact us about this request, please reply
to this e-mail, including the Request Number in the Subject line or call
your FirstEnergy Contact Center.

Thank you for visiting FirstEnergy's Web site.

Posted by TheCatt on Oct. 06 2009,14:33
You will get 2 lightbulbs, and like it.
Posted by TPRJones on Oct. 06 2009,16:27
It would be a shame if the lightbulbs were broken in the mail and they had to give you a refund.  And of course if someone shows up to hand them to you, just refuse delivery.

Given the price they are charging it sounds like a bit of a scam, sort of like those printer cartridge phonecall scams.  Might be fun to take them to court if they push the issue.  But only if have a free/cheap lawyer friend who is interested.



Posted by TheCatt on Oct. 07 2009,18:27
Dude, just < go to this website > and when you navigate away, they'll give you 2 free ones.

Tell your energy people to visit once for every customer.

Posted by unkbill on Oct. 08 2009,04:48
Great they last 10 times longer. I already have a house full of them now. So by the time they burn out and I need the new ones I will have lost them. Which means I will have gotten 0 dollars use out of my 21$.
But if anyone is serious about them I have found the best deal on them at Lowes.  Mid 2$ a bulb.



Posted by GORDON on Oct. 08 2009,12:07
What complete bullshit. especially the last paragraph:

QUOTE
Thank you for utilizing FirstEnergy's Customer Care website for your
account needs. Ohio Edison/Toledo Edison/The Illuminating Company is
focused on helping our customers lower their electric bills by reducing
energy use and increasing the energy efficiency of their homes and
businesses.  CFLs are simple yet effective tools for saving energy. For
example, replacing a single 100-watt incandescent bulb with a CFL of the
same light output can reduce your electric bill by $10 a year.  That’s $10
for every bulb you switch, so your savings can add up.

If a delivery person comes to your house when you are home, please simply
ask them not to deliver the bulbs to your home, and they will move on.  If
you do receive bulbs – either through the mail or at your door – feel free
to give them to a neighbor, friend or a family member.  If you want to
dispose of them, check if your municipality permits you to put CFLs in the
garbage.  If so, seal the bulb in two plastic bags and put it into the
outside trash, or other protected outside location, for the next normal
trash collection.  If not, you will need to properly recycle the bulbs.
CFL recycling is available free of charge at The Home Depot stores – or
your municipality might have other CFL recycling programs available.

This CFL program is part of a statewide effort under Ohio’s new energy law
(Senate Bill 221) to reduce the amount of electricity customers use.  As
with most state-mandated programs that are designed to benefit all
residential customers – such as energy efficiency programs and
environmental projects – the costs incurred by the utilities to implement
the program are included in residential customer rates.  So all customers
share the costs of the programs over a period of several years.

Sincerely,

Rachel
Customer Service




Posted by TPRJones on Oct. 08 2009,12:12
Time to get a new utility company, IMO.
Posted by GORDON on Oct. 08 2009,12:14
Yep, lots of options available for my electricity needs.

On a serious note, I have the highest roof in town and I'm thinking about a wind turbine.

Posted by TPRJones on Oct. 08 2009,12:16

(GORDON @ Oct. 08 2009,14:14)
QUOTE
Yep, lots of options available for my electricity needs.

On a serious note...

Wait, does that mean you were being sarcastic?  You don't get to choose your electric service provider in Ohio?

That sucks.  Move to Texas.

Posted by GORDON on Oct. 08 2009,12:26
Only one electricity provider as far as I know.  I hope I am corrected.
Posted by TheCatt on Oct. 08 2009,12:41
Texas is one of the few places where you can pick.
Posted by GORDON on Oct. 08 2009,13:03
I think I read that even if I generated my own power with solar or wind, I AM NOT allowed to sell it back to the grid, like other places can.  First Energy doesn't allow it.  The best I can do is a $0 bill that month.  They'll take my excess electrons, they just won't pay me for it.

If I recall correctly.  I heard this quite a while ago.

Posted by Malcolm on Oct. 08 2009,13:06

(GORDON @ Oct. 08 2009,14:26)
QUOTE
Only one electricity provider as far as I know.  I hope I am corrected.

Same here.  Xcel shitty-ass power.
Posted by unkbill on Oct. 08 2009,16:29

(TPRJones @ Oct. 08 2009,12:16)
QUOTE

(GORDON @ Oct. 08 2009,14:14)
QUOTE
Yep, lots of options available for my electricity needs.

On a serious note...

Wait, does that mean you were being sarcastic?  You don't get to choose your electric service provider in Ohio

What the fuck you talking about? People get to choose?
Posted by unkbill on Oct. 08 2009,16:32
Great I can give them to my sister. Just looks like I still have to pay for them. Fuck me already lowering my bill years ago, cheaper. This is about as big of bullshit as I have heard in awhile. And fuck no I'm going to refuse delievery. Might steal a few more when he turns his back.
Posted by GORDON on Oct. 08 2009,16:53
I suppose we could break them on the pavement of our local First Energy office, then inform the EPA they have a mercury spill.... I might get $21 of entertainment from watching that.
Posted by TheCatt on Oct. 08 2009,17:28

(GORDON @ Oct. 08 2009,16:03)
QUOTE
I think I read that even if I generated my own power with solar or wind, I AM NOT allowed to sell it back to the grid, like other places can.  First Energy doesn't allow it.  The best I can do is a $0 bill that month.  They'll take my excess electrons, they just won't pay me for it.

If I recall correctly.  I heard this quite a while ago.

We can sell back, but only at wholesale prices, not retail.
Posted by TPRJones on Oct. 08 2009,19:54

(unkbill @ Oct. 08 2009,18:29)
QUOTE
What the fuck you talking about? People get to choose?

< Yup >.  I just checked my zip code and there are over 30 companies offering over 100 different plans where I live.
Posted by Malcolm on Oct. 08 2009,23:31

(TPRJones @ Oct. 08 2009,21:54)
QUOTE

(unkbill @ Oct. 08 2009,18:29)
QUOTE
What the fuck you talking about? People get to choose?

< Yup >.  I just checked my zip code and there are over 30 companies offering over 100 different plans where I live.

You lucky motherfucker.
Posted by unkbill on Oct. 09 2009,04:06

(TPRJones @ Oct. 08 2009,19:54)
QUOTE

(unkbill @ Oct. 08 2009,18:29)
QUOTE
What the fuck you talking about? People get to choose?

< Yup >.  I just checked my zip code and there are over 30 companies offering over 100 different plans where I live.

Well that is just plain craziness. What would people do with so many choices? People need to be told what to do. Or is our case a limited choice. First Energy or darkness.
Posted by unkbill on Oct. 09 2009,04:16
Congratulations Gordo! It was just reported on the 6 a.m. news that your letter to First Energy has made them decide to postpone their light bulb fiasco until they can answer the PUCOs(Public Utility Commision of Ohio) questions on the price.
Posted by TheCatt on Oct. 09 2009,06:27

(Malcolm @ Oct. 09 2009,02:31)
QUOTE

(TPRJones @ Oct. 08 2009,21:54)
QUOTE

(unkbill @ Oct. 08 2009,18:29)
QUOTE
What the fuck you talking about? People get to choose?

< Yup >.  I just checked my zip code and there are over 30 companies offering over 100 different plans where I live.

You lucky motherfucker.

Until you realize how much more he's paid than you for electricity lately.
Posted by GORDON on Oct. 09 2009,07:05

(unkbill @ Oct. 09 2009,07:16)
QUOTE
Congratulations Gordo! It was just reported on the 6 a.m. news that your letter to First Energy has made them decide to postpone their light bulb fiasco until they can answer the PUCOs(Public Utility Commision of Ohio) questions on the price.

Fucking A.

Though nothing will change.  If the "government" has already approved the swindle, that means First Energy has already put millions into those politicians' reelection coffers.  The cost of the bribes has already been built in to the $21, I am sure.



Posted by unkbill on Oct. 09 2009,09:36
Although the PUCO allowed FirstEnergy to implement its program, we did not approve the charge that will appear on monthly bills as a result. Reports in the media place the cost to customers at sixty cents per month for three years, which equates to $21.60 over the life of the program. The PUCO has not approved these additional dollars nor have we received a request by the company to do so.
Posted by Malcolm on Oct. 09 2009,11:09

(TheCatt @ Oct. 09 2009,08:27)
QUOTE

(Malcolm @ Oct. 09 2009,02:31)
QUOTE

(TPRJones @ Oct. 08 2009,21:54)
QUOTE

(unkbill @ Oct. 08 2009,18:29)
QUOTE
What the fuck you talking about? People get to choose?

< Yup >.  I just checked my zip code and there are over 30 companies offering over 100 different plans where I live.

You lucky motherfucker.

Until you realize how much more he's paid than you for electricity lately.

Alrighty, TPR.  What's you typical monthly electric bill?

EDIT : Although, I suppose what I really care about is the kilowatt-hour price.



Posted by TPRJones on Oct. 09 2009,13:16
I run my A/C almost 24 hours a day, because I set it for 68.  My bills range from $240 in the high summer to $30 in the middle of winter.
Posted by Mommy Dearest on Oct. 09 2009,19:59
We have choices  too and the present energy company has stopped the program.  Choices are so confusing that I for one stay with the devil I know.  Probably stupid
Posted by unkbill on Oct. 10 2009,07:26

(Mommy Dearest @ Oct. 09 2009,19:59)
QUOTE
We have choices  too and the present energy company has stopped the program.  Choices are so confusing that I for one stay with the devil I know.  Probably stupid

Ohio only has 3 electrical companys which divide up the state. Only one has competition I believe it is the one down by West Virginia. And from what I saw of their choice if I could switch to them my bill would be higher.
Posted by Alhazad on Oct. 10 2009,16:56
In Columbus some of our electric is provided by the city itself. I know my last two properties were under city wires.
Posted by GORDON on Sep. 12 2011,14:50
There is a local family-owned general store with locations all over this area called "The Andersons."  A Wal Mart competitor, basically, but they've been here for a long time.

They are selling these bulbs, 2-packs, wrapped in paper that says "FIRST ENERGY," priced 2 bulbs for $1.

I guess they had a warehouse of bulbs they were never allowed force customers to purchase for $10 each.

I bought 6 of them for $3.



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