Comments on: Break Up with Your Utility Companies – or Get Dumped! http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/ Finding the keys to the future…and trying not to lose them in the mess. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:26:03 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: iphone http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-41643 iphone Thu, 26 May 2011 10:16:25 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-41643 This valuable blog is without a doubt interesting moreover truthful. We have found lots of helpful points from the jawhorse. I’d like to return over and over again. Many thanks! This valuable blog is without a doubt interesting moreover truthful. We have found lots of helpful points from the jawhorse. I’d like to return over and over again. Many thanks!

]]> By: sewage pumps http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-30585 sewage pumps Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:23:47 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-30585 This is viewing funny on my iphone. just though would let you know. This is viewing funny on my iphone. just though would let you know.

]]> By: Debts and cannibalization | Toban Black http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-5111 Debts and cannibalization | Toban Black Wed, 01 Oct 2008 00:27:12 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-5111 [...] writing from Sharon Astyk on the cannibalism of U.S. assets (in a blog post back in May, which obviously has to be viewed in retrospect — in light of [...] [...] writing from Sharon Astyk on the cannibalism of U.S. assets (in a blog post back in May, which obviously has to be viewed in retrospect — in light of [...]

]]> By: Trish http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-5110 Trish Sun, 25 May 2008 04:07:22 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-5110 very thought provoking. We are fortunate in Australia most are still public utilities but they still are in the process of selling off power. We also have fairly even temperatures and mostly our pipes don't freeze. very scary for some people who can't afford heating for just the basics. very thought provoking. We are fortunate in Australia most are still public utilities but they still are in the process of selling off power.

We also have fairly even temperatures and mostly our pipes don’t freeze.

very scary for some people who can’t afford heating for just the basics.

]]> By: Gail http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-5109 Gail Mon, 12 May 2008 20:03:00 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-5109 Please excuse my typo; I thought I had typed your name correctly as "Sharon." Please excuse my typo; I thought I had typed your name correctly as “Sharon.”

]]> By: Gail http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-5108 Gail Mon, 12 May 2008 20:00:39 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-5108 Sharone, I had a similar experience when I got the bill for the topping off of my 500-gallon propane tank. With that delivery, I have spent $2500 for a 4-month heating season, and 12-month use of a propane stove. And this is for a house that I am in only three days a week, with the thermostat turned down to 50 when I'm not there and 62 - 65 when I am there. My initial reaction to the tank-topping-off was to think, "Hey, I was thinking about getting RID of this propane tank--so why did you top me off now?" My second reaction was to realize that I don't yet have another winter heat source in place, and perhaps I can do what you are doing: make the fuel (that I've already paid for) last as long as possible. But I do intend for this to be my last fill-up of propane. Part of the problem was that when 271 gallons were delivered in January, the cost per gallon was $3.71 (!!!). The April price was $2.99/gallon. So now I am researching every space heating option I can think of. I won't need heating until mid-November, so I have until then to come up with a better solution. Sharone, I had a similar experience when I got the bill for the topping off of my 500-gallon propane tank. With that delivery, I have spent $2500 for a 4-month heating season, and 12-month use of a propane stove. And this is for a house that I am in only three days a week, with the thermostat turned down to 50 when I’m not there and 62 – 65 when I am there.

My initial reaction to the tank-topping-off was to think, “Hey, I was thinking about getting RID of this propane tank–so why did you top me off now?”

My second reaction was to realize that I don’t yet have another winter heat source in place, and perhaps I can do what you are doing: make the fuel (that I’ve already paid for) last as long as possible. But I do intend for this to be my last fill-up of propane.

Part of the problem was that when 271 gallons were delivered in January, the cost per gallon was $3.71 (!!!). The April price was $2.99/gallon.

So now I am researching every space heating option I can think of. I won’t need heating until mid-November, so I have until then to come up with a better solution.

]]> By: housing market, cold and colder « the hetkettle trophish http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-5107 housing market, cold and colder « the hetkettle trophish Sat, 10 May 2008 04:45:23 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-5107 [...] resale value of cars, and making them better, then there was a blogpiece at the grist blog about getting off the grid for heat. a really good blogpiece with a ton of good comments and some troubling aspects. By fall, if oil [...] [...] resale value of cars, and making them better, then there was a blogpiece at the grist blog about getting off the grid for heat. a really good blogpiece with a ton of good comments and some troubling aspects. By fall, if oil [...]

]]> By: Tina http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-5106 Tina Fri, 09 May 2008 01:46:37 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-5106 We are looking to buy a pellet furnace and a pellet stove by Fall. I am concerned about water and sewer though in our area. Our mayor wants to lease our water and sewer to a private company and use the money to send urban kids to the local University. Sounds like a great idea. However, privatization almost always means a rate hike and less control on our part. Luckily we have a petition drive going to put it on the ballot. Thanks for continuing to prompt us to make the changes now Sharon. We are looking to buy a pellet furnace and a pellet stove by Fall. I am concerned about water and sewer though in our area. Our mayor wants to lease our water and sewer to a private company and use the money to send urban kids to the local University. Sounds like a great idea. However, privatization almost always means a rate hike and less control on our part. Luckily we have a petition drive going to put it on the ballot.

Thanks for continuing to prompt us to make the changes now Sharon.

]]> By: Sue http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-5105 Sue Fri, 09 May 2008 01:39:38 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-5105 We had to buy a new septic pump with our rebate. We have supplimented our heat with wood for about 4 years now and brought our electric bill down. I believe we could do without, but it wouldn't be pretty. The dang ash gets everywhere and I feel like cinderella. We had to buy a new septic pump with our rebate.

We have supplimented our heat with wood for about 4 years now and brought our
electric bill down.

I believe we could do without, but it wouldn’t be pretty. The dang ash gets
everywhere and I feel like cinderella.

]]> By: Green Hill Farm http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/comment-page-1/#comment-5104 Green Hill Farm Fri, 09 May 2008 00:14:48 +0000 http://sharonastyk.com/2008/05/07/life-without-utility-companies/#comment-5104 As you say $2000 does not get you much but you might swing one of these http://www.yoursolarhome.com/solarsheat1500G.html You can make one: http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/mssungrabber.htm We have an uninstalled wood furnace (central wood powered heat) an inside one not one of those outside ones. Dh keeps saying he's going to get it reinstalled I have been bugging him but I think the idea of $5 gallon heating oil may get him going :). We do have a wood stove in our basement that does a good job taking of the edge in winter. We keep the thermostat quite low but due to some south facing windows on sunny days with the wood stove its quite nice. Beth As you say $2000 does not get you much but you might swing one of these
http://www.yoursolarhome.com/solarsheat1500G.html

You can make one:

http://www.builditsolar.com/Projects/SpaceHeating/mssungrabber.htm

We have an uninstalled wood furnace (central wood powered heat) an inside one not one of those outside ones. Dh keeps saying he’s going to get it reinstalled I have been bugging him but I think the idea of $5 gallon heating oil may get him going :) . We do have a wood stove in our basement that does a good job taking of the edge in winter. We keep the thermostat quite low but due to some south facing windows on sunny days with the wood stove its quite nice.

Beth

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