Afternoon all!
It is above freezing - hooray! Snowhizo melting very fast!
It was further revealed the way the contracts for the power generators to the grid operators (N TX is ERCOT) work....this is choice!
The generators commit to the amount of power (MW) they will deliver and a contract price per/MW. Should they fall short, they are required to purchase electricity on the open/spot market to fulfill the requirement. It is their loss to absorb as they cannot pass the higher MW price to the grid/consumer as they have to stick with the contracted price.
Recently this would have meant that an operator falling short (i.e. a turbine failed) would have paid $9000/MWhr vs the more normal $15/MWhr (I think I have that right). Regardless spot prices in emergencies can be astronomical. The plant operator has to eat the difference.
Here is where it gets good - if the plant goes completely off-line, there is no penalty at all! They do not have to provide any energy to make up the loss if they are completely off line!
I can see it now....
Plant Mgr to CEO - BOSS! we have a turbine down! We need to purchase spot market power at $9000/MWhr to make up the shortfall!
CEO to the Plant Mgr - Shut it all down! Make it look like it is weather - spray some water to freeze up any working valves!
I challenge someone from the industry to tell me that is not true and not crack a smile!
Regards, Roy
OK Spank, nothing's changed much since you left in 2012, a bit more built-up now but nothing really radical as far as I know. C-ville's about an hour away from us so we don't get out that way too often.
The club is expecting to have a one-day train show out that way in either July or August at the Rivanna Volunteer Fire Department Hall, not finalized at this time. It's usually a good show for us.
wrmcclellanI challenge someone from the industry to tell me that is not true and not crack a smile!
Roy, what can you tell us about those sky-high energy bills we're hearing people are getting? The press being what it is I don't know what to believe.
Wayne
Wayne- a huge issue with our energy "marketplace" website is it allows the entity advertising their "deal" to be quite misleading. So they attract you with really low rates and the fine print is very hard to understand. What catches many people is once your one year deal is up the rates can go up significantly. As many folks do not pay good attention they go past the end of the first year introduction and "bam". Sorta like when your internet provider 1 yr deal expires.
However - the particular case of the folks who signed with an entity called "Griddy", they got it in the shorts big time. As I understand it (and it is likely more complicated), Griddy was selling folks electricity at near wholesale rates for a $9.99 per month base fee. Griddy did not do long term contracts with generators, buying/reselling using spot market rates. Fine when everything is normal. One can get a lower rate than those of us with normal annual contracts as spot market rates can be low outside of extreme heat and cold times. However - when the grid got strained, spot rates (for excess capacity) soared, so Griddy customers were paying the same as a utility (up to $9K per MWhr). Griddy customers had no ceiling for their rates. This is why in several cases, folks are getting hit with $2000 to $16000 monthly bills (driven by the 5 days things were bad - in other words just 5 days drove their bills through the roof). It was forseen and the Griddy CEO actually informed his customers of what was going to happened and suggested they drop Griddy asap (however - just as with internet there are penalties for dropping your contract within the first year with most providers - this may not have been the case with Griddy). BUT - the transfer of your energy supplier to another typically takes 7-10 days, so the Griddy customers were hosed anyway.
I can attest it is extremely difficult to understand what your true rate for power is when perusing the state power website. Our local consumer Dallas Morning News watchdog Dave Leiber regularly "roasts" the Public Utility Commission (Which he has relabeled "utility commission" in his articles as they do nothing for the public).
The other element I am waiting for is Texas has laws against price gouging during emergencies (like Katrina and Harvey) and one can report entities like grocery stores, home supply (i.e. Home Depot), gas stations, etc., for price gouging. To me the $9K per MWhr being charged to anyone during an emergency is guilty of price gouging
I am sure the energy companies probably get a pass on this...waiting for more on this one.
Tragically around 20 people died due to hypothermia or CO poisoning. One 14 year old in Dallas succumbed to hypothermia in his sleep in his bedroom.
Thanks Roy!
I'm expecting the same reaction to those energy bills that Santa Anna got when he visited Texas in 1836.
Things are starting to melt!!!!!
Grand-daughter, Madyson, her horse, brother and mother are heading to Florida for a show. Her and her thoroughbred are ready. Hope her the best of luck, but she don't need luck, Jax and Madyson are a great team.
Joined 1-21-2011 TCA 13-68614
Kev, From The North Bluff Above Marseilles IL.
fifedog Buckeye - Make a suggestion that the museum offer up scrap pieces of #19 for fundraising. I would certainly buy a little piece of movie history. Oh, and happy birthday.
Buckeye - Make a suggestion that the museum offer up scrap pieces of #19 for fundraising. I would certainly buy a little piece of movie history. Oh, and happy birthday.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Buckeye - They certainly look like a first rate outfit. And #19 looks ready for her "makeover".
So, was wondering where FifeMax was overnight. He was "trapped" downstairs, in the dark. Appears that someone dammed up his path by emptying both toy baskets...
God bless TCA 05-58541 Benefactor Member of the NRA, Member of the American Legion, Retired Boss Hog of Roseyville , KC&D Qualified
Thanks Chief, Jax is already there. He shipped out with a trailer full of horses a few days ago. DIL rented a house in Ocala for a week for them to stay in while the show goes on.
Menards has 11% off this week, our local store still has two of the Cripple Creek lumber sheds,,,, I may have to go! Water guys claim they are going to install the RO system tomorrow so I have to move some stuff around in the basement so they have room to work. Not much else, just cloudy and ABOVE FREEZING for a change.
Good afternoon,
I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Yesterday is was dry and sunny and it will be that way today too, and probably hit 55. Have a great Sunday!
Afternoon team!
50's and all snowhizo gone! A light freeze tonight and then we are hopefully done with Buckeye's weather!
Dishwasher leaking onto floor - spraying into a corner - appears to be a split in the lower wash arm - causing it to spray directly into the corner seal. Seal is good. Drying the spray arm out for a test wrapped with tape where the split is. Spray arm is in stock and available.
Kev - good luck to the grandaughter!
Snow rain mix tonight.
I went to Menards and did get that Cripple Creek lumber shed for the layout. First thing I have got for it in over a year. Got the water RO guys tomorrow but will place it when I can and share pictures as soo as it is set up. I like it.
Had to get the wife a grow light and make a shelf for it to pull it off but now she can watch her plants grow and I can play with my trains.
KEV
See my favorite drink I was drinking.
Red barn at the other end of layout. Just added Church.
Here are a few building facades that I might be adding to the Halloween layout.
Remember the Veterans. Past, present and future.
www.sd3r.org
Proud New Member Of The NRA
Morning all.
46* under cloudy skies calling for a 90% chance for rain and a high of 60* today. Today is housework day. :(Not much else going on. I have these plastic tubs with lids that are 27GL. Well, I got 6 of them up in the loft of the shed now full of train items. I have a lot more I need to find somewhere to place. I'm in the process of tearing down my layout to redo it so I have access to the trains on the shelves, so I don't have to walk across my layout.Happy Monday, Talk to you all later.
Morning, cloudy and cold, waiting on the water guys.
Wow Chief I forgot what it was like to have so much real estate on the layout. One thing about the Menards buildings they need a lot of space.
I set the building last night and wow it is a tight fit but will work. Later I will hook up the power and screw it in place. Here is first pass. I think it is a good fit next to the K-Line saw mill and logging scene.
44 and warming fast. Rain later today. Lowes delivery of frig. Scheduled for 8 to 12 today. We got call several days ago as Wifey chatted on the phone [ID'd on TV screen]. No more word. So she calls today. Doesn't tell them who she is. Says we are scheduled for a frig delivery today. They tell her 1 to 5. She says thank you and hangs up. What did they say. 1 to 5. You didn't tell them we delayed the delivery for several days to get this time frame. No, you can call them back and argue if you want to. Shake my head and walk out of the room. Why did I get up early and cook sausage biscuits to be sure I was out of the way?
Stay safe and well.
Your right Chief, the water guys said they would be here at 8:00am, it is now 10:00am???
The trade off for the Menards building was making this grow light shelf for Sandra's seedlings.She is happy!
Looks like a reused rotisserie chicken container. Pretty good.
ChiefEagles Looks like a reused rotisserie chicken container. Pretty good.
Yep that is it alright!! They work good.
ChiefEaglesWifey qualifies for the new phase of virus shots. Will not sign up. Like a kid, scared of shots.
Can't say I blame her, I don't like needles either, which is the reason I never got a tattoo when I was in the Marines. I never got that drunk either.
That being said, the wife and I are signed up for the flu shots which are being dispenced to the general population with typical "Blue State" efficiency. I don't like being snide but they've had months to get ready for this, and weren't.
No biggie, we can wait. We're really annoyed about the fact you don't get a lollypop after the shot. BOOOOO....
Morning/afternoon gang!
Sunny and will hit 60's today! Ready for that! Packed up the long johns and ski outer pants last night. They came in handy for when I had to go outdoors.
They are making a big deal here about all the folks with broken pipes and water pouring out of ceilings. At no time in my entire life have we not been informed that if pipes may freeze/do freeze and you cannot protect/thaw them (including folks being informed of such during the big chill this past week) - cut off your water supply and turn back on carefully, look for leaks after the thaw to minimize any damage to your home.
KEV and Chief - layouts and building looking great!
Mornin' All !
Dennis, Ordering stuff from Menards is somewhat hit-n-miss in the great state of Comufornia. Thanks to Prop 65's required labeling some of the items can't ship here. I have ordered several items some ok some forbidden. I don't blame them, some say well why doesn't Menards apply some labels so everything can ship. All it would take is for one item shipping w/o the label and you can bet that some shister lawyer would sue demanding a bundle. If you have family outside of Comunfornia have the "non-conforming" items shipped to them and have them forward it to you. It is a pain in the arse but if you want/need something that is one way around it. Plus shipping is a lot cheaper than a roadtrip, however roadtrips can be fun sometimes.
Dennis, Realtrax by MTH. This was before Lionel came out with Fastrack. Then I had too much invested in track and switches to change. MTH track is OK if soildered together. Switches are trash.
I don't have a Menards anywhere near me. I order on line. Last order was a Church. Got free trucks with the last two orders. See they may be doing 11%. For online orders, not any good. Print out coupons but can't use except in stores. No stores, out of luck. Mailed them to rifle forum buddy in MI. He uses.
Got two building "flats" from them. I find all their buildings are really good. Church has small foot print. Only thing is the front door is in the side. But it worked great in a corner where I needed something.
V8VegaNice looking buildings, no Menards around here but I guess I could order them. I'm not to that stage yet. One trouble with O gauge is the buildings do take up a lot od space.
I saw some Menards buildings "up-close-and-personal" last Friday. Very impressive, but you gents are right, they DO take up a lot of space, at least the ones I saw did. The gent at the club I was visiting says his guys like them a lot, they're put together like tanks, but that makes them a little hard to kitbash.
Since space was at a bit of a premium when I was selecting buildings for the layout I went with the Ameri-Town kits, they're kind of a compromise size between O and S gauge and don't take up as much room as some others do.
Water RO system is installed, What a hack that guy was, every time I pay to get something done,,, I hate myself for not doing it myself.
KRM Camaraderie Bar and Grill. I re-named it and changed the beer sign
So would I, I prefer Miller myself, great taste and value for the money! Or sometimes I go for Molson Golden or Shiner Bock, although being a traditionalist I only drink bock beer during the winter. January through March used to be the old-time bock beer season, at least in the part of the country where I'm from. Couldn't find it at any other time.
Nice work, man!
Good evening all,
Snow finally melting. Got to see all the kids over the weekend although not all at once. I hope everyone has a good day.
Keep on training,
Mike C. from Indiana
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