By the way, our electric company always has a little slip in the monthly bill promoting green energy, and giving a choice of three or four companies or organizations or whatever that you can pay extra on each monthly bill for green energy. However, after carefully reading this same slip every month for several months, I finally called the electric company because the wording of the promotion just didn't sit right with me.

Turns out as I suspected. If you pay the extra, you are not actually *getting* green electricity. You are paying to support the development of green energy technologies by these specific companies. Still a good thing, I suppose, but I was quite upset because of the wording - I have a hunch that 95% of those paying extra think they are actually getting green energy. Kind of slimy, IMO, of the electric company, especially since they use this as self-promotion as being green, etc.

:)
Dee

My electric company (Xcel Energy) makes that clear to those who sign up for their program (as I have), but I can see where it might be confusing to some. Without creating a separate power grid for the "green" electricity, I can't think of a good way to make sure my lights are powered by windmills, but at least it's a step in the right direction.:-)

more people should do that phone and ask, there is a lot of this what i call "rabbit out of the hat" routines going around.

people pay extra on their power bill is common, they are not getting power from green sources that should be obvious to work out all power still comes down the same lines. and worse those paying these levees have no idea what is happening to that money, there are simply no checks and balances. the most likely end result more profits for the power people.

same with carbon certificates, the money just dissappears and in the end those paying for them so no result in our climate/atmosphere, all just a "feel good" measure.

len

If I may be allowed a little personal vent :) I will also admit to thoroughly disliking my electric company, so I may have a chip on my shoulder regarding them. In addition to past annoyances, not only did they recently raise rates by 50%, but a few months ago they made a mistake on my bill, and the "amount due" was wrong. Not knowing this, (my bill fluctuates every month, so it's not always the same) obviously I sent the "amount due" only to get a whopper of a bill the next month. I called and was told they had made a mistake on the previous bill. I paid partial (2/3) on the current one, and soon got a shut-off notice (this after 20+ years of paying my bill without a hitch, and after making a good-faith partial payment, and after only one month of a delinquent bill!)

Anyway, when I called again, they had the nerve to tell me it was MY fault because I didn't question the original faulty bill. In other words, they told me flat-out that they made a mistake, but the whole situation was my fault because I should have caught that mistake. I was livid. This was the only time I've ever gotten into a shouting match with customer service at any company. Needless to say I hung up the phone and immediately called a local company about installing solar panels, lol, and I'm still seriously looking into it.

Okay, I'm off my soapbox. Sorry, but I get so mad at the (lack of )customer service with this company, and it makes it worse because I can't switch companies. Didn't mean to rant and go off topic - but boy did it feel good, lol!

:)
Dee

The actual value to customers and the environment varies so much. There is one company here who quite recently (during the 80's) bought a number of hydroelectric dams. These dams were built in the 50's and have been in operation a long time. They have low operating costs, lower than most fossil fuel plants, which is partly because they consume no fuel to make electric. Good for the environment of course, but the company who own them are selling their electric at somewhat inflated prices because it's "green". My issue is that these dams would be in operation regardless if customers pay more for the electric from them or not, and they would still be making more profit than most companies in the electric market if they sold it at regular prices. The company who own them have also invested no money back in to producing more sources of green energy, and they have no plans to do so either. What value is this to customers who willingly pay more because they want to help the environment? It seems they're just inflating this company's profit margin.

This example highlights something that is happening with a number of electric resellers. Existing forms of relatively eco-friendly electric that have been in operation for years are now being resold to the environmentally conscious for inflated prices under the guise it's making a difference.

There is another company however who make a point of only buying/developing green energy sources, and they reinvest large amounts of money in to producing more sources each year. They do seem to be achieving what their customers are hoping for when they pay more.

People who want to buy green electric really need to research the companies behind the marketing and claims.

:)
Dee