Permitting Requirements for Off-Grid

[Sunking]

I just want to get this system up and running before the oil fields in the Middle East dry. Credible estimates show we have no more than 20 years left of easy oil. We won't "run out," but it will be extremely expensive to get to and pump out what is left.

You will never live to see us run out of oil, neither will your children. Besides we have all we need right here in the USA.

Oil is not used to make electricity in the USA. We use coal, natural gas, and uranium which we have over a 500 year supply of right here in the USA, and millions of years of uranium.

[liquidDog]

There are many doubts about the validity of OPEC claims of true oil reserves. Industry insiders seem to point to about 20 years left of "easy oil."

Canada has a lot of oil, but they tend to be finicky about running elk off of wildlife preserves to get to the oil out. (That could change) The point is, we won't "run out" of oil, it will just become extremely expensive to get a hold of. $1,000/barrel oil is not hard to imagine.

Our electric provider claims 80% of their power comes from natural gas. We have an abundance of natural gas in this country. My central heat, dryer, hot water heater, and oven/stove all run off natural gas. I've never looked into exactly why, and I'm sure it's very complicated, but the electric rates move in tandem with oil prices.

[Sunking]

but the electric rates move in tandem with oil prices.

Not in TX, they follow the price of NG and coal, and in TX electric rates have dropped 20% since 2008. In 2008 I paid $0.131/Kwh and now pay $0.096/Kwh.

Not only is that happening in TX, but all US states who are energy exporters, 39 of the lower 48 states have lowered electric rates.

The USA has more oil, NG, coal, and uranium that what we know what to do with. Millions of high paying jobs could be open tommorow if the EPA and government would just get the heck out of the way.

[liquidDog]

We got slammed with .15/kWh when oil got close to $100/barrel. Right now we are getting .10/kWh. Again, I haven't looked into the basis for why that is, but it did seem to move with the price of oil.

I agree on the EPA. They are destroying our ability to compete globally. The EPA is not "cleaning up the earth." They are forcing pollution to move to China. All the jobs are following the pollution. CO2 emissions are not being lowered as a result of this completely misguided agency. We are regulating ourselves into the ground.

[Sunking]

Who are the providers in Austin beside Oncore?

One sad thing about Tx electric utilities, most do not know how to shop for electric rates. They just call TXU and asked to be connected and take whatever rate they charge. There are lots of options and the best place to start is Texas Electricity

I do this about every year. Last time I did it in 2009, I got a locked in rate for 36 months @ $0.096/Kwh. When this contract expires I will go shop again, and I suspect even a lower rate in 2012 locked in for 2 to 3 years.

[liquidDog]

We are in a strange area just on the edge of unincorporated land, but we are still in city limits. We have Austin water/trash service, no cable provider (Satellite only), pay ACC taxes, and Pflugerville school tax. Four houses down in our same neighborhood is unincorporated county land. They have to use a contractor for their trash service. I imagine somebody else meters their water.

I use Reliant for my billing company. I just re-signed and will stay at around .10/kWh but I get some cash back (credit on bill) for electric usage at night.