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Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation CASL

· · Leave a Comment Community Building, Interesting

Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation comes into effect on July 1, 2014 CASL  This legislation is aimed at helping Canadians avoid spam and other electronic threats.

What it means is that you as the consumer get to determine who your email buddies are and how those email buddies are able to communicate with you.

If you would like to learn more about CASL check out the link above or listen to what our friends at BlueTrain Online Marketing have to say about it.

At Park Power we like communicating with our customers and friends and email and other electronic messages are one of the ways that we do that.  We also sometimes like to keep our friends and fans in the loop about community events and other cool happenings around the Capital Region.

If you would like to remain email buddies with us click this LINK to let us know.

 

Change Your Community: Pride BBQ and Silent Auction

· · Leave a Comment Community Building, Interesting

Change Your Community: Pride BBQ and Silent Auction

Please join our Community Partner the altView Foundation for Gender Variant and Sexual Minorities for their annual Pride Week BBQ Thursday June 12, 2014 from 6-9pm and the Sherwood Park Chamber of Commerce 100 Ordze Ave in Sherwood Park.

This will be a great event with a free BBQ, a silent auction, and a community challenge with some interesting and engaging discussions and activities about how we can help ‘Change Our Community’ and shape the world that we live in.   The event will also feature Dr. Ruth Dyck Fehderau as a keynote speaker. Dyck Fehderau carries a PhD in English from the University of Alberta and teaches numerous LGBTQ related courses in the Department of English and Film Studies at the university.

It’s Pride Week everybody engage yourself in positivity that surrounds this great event.

 

Is Enmax’s Choose Free really Free?

· · Leave a Comment Community Building, Consumer Info, Electricity, Interesting

Is Enmax’s Choose Free electricity promotion really free?

You may have heard about this promotion happening right now and thought to yourself, “Hey, that sounds like a great deal.”  Before you jump in here are some things to consider

Here is the skinny on Enmax Free Power giveaway.

A. Conditions:

1. You must sign up for both Electricity (at 7.79 ¢/ kWh) and Gas ($5.99 /GJ or Floating + $0.99 /GJ) for 5 Years.

2. Administration Fees are $7.10 per month for Electricity and $7.10 per month for Gas.

3. The customer will receive electricity at 0 ¢ /kWh up to a maximum of $750 for one year: applied just to the energy portion of the bill. This applies to either the first or third year of a 5 year contract. (The $750 is not what the customer would receive, but rather this is a cap on what the offer is valued at. This is equivalent to a customer using about 802 kWh per month – to achieve the maximum benefit). Once the $750 credit limit has been reached the customer will continue paying the 7.79 ¢/kWh rate.

4. If the customer cancels the contract the penalty is $95 per Electricity Site and $95 per Gas Site calculated for the remaining term of the 5 year contract. (A double dip penalty – will be expensive!)

B. Analysis:

1. One year free electricity comes at a cost.  You must remain an electricity and gas customer of Enmax for 5 years and should

2. The administration charges per month are not $7.10 but really $14.20 (as the admin fee is applied to both Electricity + Gas).

3. Remember you must buy gas and possibly pay $5.99 /GJ. Over the last couple of years (including the spike in price during February of 2014) the average Regulated Rate for Gas which follows the market price was $3.08 /GJ. Using history for comparative purposes, then consumers signing up for gas at $5.99 would be paying almost 100% more for gas compared to what they would have paid if they were on the Regulated Rate.The average consumer using 8 GJ per month would be paying over $275 a year more for gas (which is $1,375 over the 5 year term in premium rates) compared to what they would be paying if they were on the regulated rate.

4. Hidden in the “Fine Print” take note that ENMAX has now implemented a cancellation fee which it never had before. If you want to try or need to get out of this contract it will be expensive. If you cancel at the end of the first year of free power the penalty cost would be $760. On an annual basis the exit fee is not $95 but rather $95 X 2 (for both commodities) = $190 per year remaining on your contract.

 

How does this compare to Park Power’s current Residential Value Rate?

1. On a 3 year contract you would pay 7.75¢/kWh for your energy and $6.50 for your admin fee. Lower than Enmax’s $7.10

2. The 5% interest you earn on your $200 deposit brings your monthly admin fee down to about $5.40.

3. If you want or need to get out of your contract with Park Power you may do so free of charge.  We only ask that you give us 10 days notice of the cancellation.  After that you receive your $200 deposit (that has been earning you a 5% annual return) back.

4. We are offering you a great rate on electricity with superior customer service based right here in Alberta, not in India like Enmax.  We also won’t charge you any exit fees should you have to cancel your service before your contract is up.

 

Don’t believe the hype it makes more sense to choose a lower rate of electricity from Park Power and stay on the Regulated Rate for natural gas.

Shop Local and Power Our Community.

Albertans Warned of Power Price Spike Article – A Response

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 Albertans warned of power ‘price spike’

By Darcy Henton, Calgary Herald April 18, 2014 6:37 AM

Below is a response from a colleague of Park Power, Nick Clark of Utility Network and Partners Inc.

Dear Minister,

The numbers are clear: Some consumers are going to be hit with a massive price increase in May.  But not all.

Maybe now is the best time to promote the benefit of “Fixed Priced Contracts” verses the “RRO”.  In May RRO prices will go from approximately 7 cents into the range of 10 to 11 cents per kWh. This is a +50% increase in the cost of electricity which will impact 70% of residential consumers in Alberta.

But when the RRO is officially published for May, the actual RRO might be slightly higher than the Consumer Advocate’s estimate of a 30 to 40% increase, as referenced in the above article.   The NGX Electricity Index reported an increase of +60% re the Alberta Flat RRO Price Index and an +80% increase in the NGX Alberta Extended Peak Index (comparing April hedges to May’s numbers).

No matter which number you use: the bottom line is simple … the RRO published by ENMAX, EPCOR and DIRECT is expected to up substantially on May 1.

 

Good News:

 

Wholesale prices are expected to drop in June.  The forward market is already softening based on AESO’s re-statement and projected increase in generation supply during June.

 

More Good News:

30% of consumers in the province have discovered that there is no sense staying on the government’s RRO plan (and having to deal with the volatility or price spikes).  There are dozens of lower prices available to consumers in Alberta.   The average RRO over the last 18 months was approximately 8.5 cents.  But, compared to guaranteed priced contacts available, consumers can buy electricity for as low as 6.9 cents per kWh today (guaranteed as a fixed price until the end of 2016 & no exit fees).  This is more than 20% below the historical RRO prices.   Ask yourself – why pay more?  An electron is an electron regardless who you buy it from.  And, the current wires company that delivers electricity to the consumers home will not change.  The process of switching off of the RRO is seamless.

During April, the wholesale market in Alberta this month is exceptionally low.  Residential consumers on the “Flow-Through” rate are profiting handsomely, (Flow-Through prices are directly linked to the actual prices posted by AESO and paid to the generators). The 30 day moving average retail rate (as of April 18th), offered by independent retailers, is currently only 4 cents per kWh.  Amazing prices!   If generation supply during the balance of April remains relatively stable, then prices paid by customers on the Flow-Through rate will be well below the April RRO.  Ask yourself, when was the last time you paid only 4 cents per kWh?

 

Deregulation Simplified:

The retail market in Alberta is dynamic.  It is hoped that as Minister of Energy you will support a communications program to help consumers find the best rate that fits their needs.  This was one of the key recommendations in the Retail Market Review Committee report.  Consumers can be protected if they are given good information upon which to make informed decisions.

The government set up a process and encouraged new retailers to enter the market, focused on giving consumers a variety of rate plans.  This has proven to be successful.  This month, consumers are paying as low as 4 cents per kWh on the floating market rate plan and others are locked in for the long term ranging from 6.9 to 7.9 cents per kWh.  The Big Utilities Retailers are offering fixed rates in the mid 8 cent to 8.9 cent range.  Compare these prices to the double digit prices consumers still on the RRO will pay in May.  Possibly, the RRO should be phased out and our government should actively promote the private sector option.

www.ElectricityShop.ca is an informational web site with all the information consumers need: Just one click to find the rates of all retailers in Alberta. There is no reason to get stuck with paying 10 or 11 cents per kWh in May when prices from competitive retailers in Alberta are available at substantially lower prices.  One Click to find a comparative chart of all retailers prices in Alberta.

Alberta’s retail electricity market gives consumers a choice of service providers. A list of retailers and a price summary is available with the Utilities Consumer Advocate.

We hope that you find the above information of value.  Most importantly, it is hoped that all our MLAs will tell their constituents: ‘rather than complaining about the RRO, simply open your minds, put your hand on your wallet, stop paying the higher rates to the old utilities and consider signing up on a fixed term contract.

Deregulation is working and consumers have the opportunity to save some money and stabilize their monthly electricity bill.  It is called Consumer Choice!  Consumers can elect to continue to pay more and stay on the RRO as provided by the old utilities or switch.   But, it is time for our politicians to simply stop trying to pander to the market for votes.  The market is working – let it work.

The government commissioned a market review report (RMRC) undertaken by Mr McDonald and his team of MLAs and Kathryn Wood.  Please publish the findings and consider implement the recommendations. This will be a positive step in the right direction.

 

Regards, Nick

 

Nick Clark, Managing Partner

Utility Network & Partners Inc.

1316 9th Ave SE Calgary AB, T2G 0T3

www.UTILITYnet.net

Alberta Price Alert for Electricity in May

· · Leave a Comment Consumer Info, Electricity, Uncategorized

AESOAlberta Price Alert for Electricity in May.                                                                                                                                                   RRO Prices for Electricity are on target to increase 32% for May 2014.

This is a message aimed mainly at customers on the RRO (Regulated Rate Option) but is good information for all energy consumers.

The Regulated Rate Option (RRO) is the default rate for electricity. The RRO fluctuates month to month because it is based on short term market prices, just like the regulated rate for natural gas. The RRO provider is the default provider of electricity for a consumer who has not yet signed up with a competitive retailer like Park Power.

RRO prices are set prior to the billing month.  May’s rates will be set soon based on current market prices and are trending towards a range of 8.9-11.4 ¢/kWh rate for May 1st.

If like me you live in the Edmonton Region then your RRO provider is EPCOR.  If you pay your power bill to EPCOR then you have been lucky lately paying just under 7.00 ¢/kWh for the past two months but you can expect to see a drastic jump in your bill soon. The forecasted rate increase for May is based on current and trending market data posted by the AESO.

By signing up for  the current Park Power Residential Value Rate  of 7.75 ¢/kWh you could avoid the 32% jump in price and you will end up paying a rate that beats the 3 year average for the Edmonton Region RRO of 9.06¢/kWh.

Shop Local and Power Our Community.