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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 7, 2013 17:34:30 GMT -5
No water comes out of the well without being pumped. The pump requires electricity to run. I just don't think I should have to pay more money for electricity because I'm a small farmer, than a large farmer would have to pay. I think I should pay less. I use less because I conserve water.
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Post by dustdevil on Jun 7, 2013 21:55:21 GMT -5
Hi Holly. This might be of interest: www.hobbyfarms.com/farm-equipment-and-tools/alternative-water-well-pumps.aspx"Conergy’s Solar Slowpump (formerly the Dankoff Solar Slowpump) was the world’s first commercially available low-power solar pump. While it’s non-submersible, it neatly draws water from shallow wells, springs, cisterns, tanks, ponds, rivers and streams and pushes the water as high as 450 vertical feet and through miles of pipeline. Slow pumping minimizes the size and cost of the solar array, wire and piping necessary. Made in a range of sizes, it survives most freezes, and its wearing parts typically last five to 10 years, with an overall pump life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. Sunelco offers a variety of solar-powered pump brands for farm use, including Shurflo and SunPumps. The Shurflo 9300 is designed to be able to run dry or process dirty or silty water without sustaining damage. The 9300 delivers 112 gallons per hour at its maximum depth of 230 feet. The SunPumps SDS series are low-cost submersible pumps that offer 1/2 to 5 gallons per minute with up to 230 feet of lift." I think a 12v pump with enough lift is another avenue worth exploring. |
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Post by steev on Jun 7, 2013 23:05:06 GMT -5
So you think being more responsible is more important than being more profitable? Surely your elected representatives can square you away on that.
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 13, 2013 7:28:24 GMT -5
The world is a place where ignorance flourishes and thrives Holly. Getting around the stupidity is the trick. We are living without AC for as long as possible this summer so we have a hope of buying a newer car with better MPG in a few months. We turned it on for about an hour one night last week. Last night was tough because it was over 90 degrees in the house. We took a dip in our lovely swimming pool instead! VERY refreshing!!! Interestingly, it's hard to go to sleep when you are so hot, but I seem to sleep more soundly?!?!?
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 14, 2013 0:34:02 GMT -5
Thanks Dust, I'll look into it.
Steeevvvveee, you know me, of course I think being responsible is more important that being profitable. However, profit on the farm would be a good thing, but not at the expense of the long term health of the farm itself. The tomatoes have very stern opinions about this.
Jo, I wish I had something I could turn off that I haven't already turned off! I've battened the hatches, and then battened them again. There's been some grousing around here about my cost cutting measures and nazi control of electricity.
And miracle of miracles, I believe I've found an error on my Big Pig's bill. I've asked for an audit. I can't even understand the bill. I called to ask where the heck they get their multipliers from...(I feel like Bugs Bunny...) Fellow I spoke to said, they "may" be using the wrong multiplier.
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Post by steev on Jun 14, 2013 0:45:54 GMT -5
All things considered, the thing that works for me is building a house that relies on the prevailing air-flow, rather than AC; the predictable breezes are more reliable, on the farm, than is PG&E AC. I'm not trying to AC an office.
If it gets too hot, I'm gonna go ride the hammock; at night, I'll sleep under a sheet (like a log); the East/West airflow is mostly decent at night. Frankly, the natural cycles are more dependable than PG&E; although their poles are on my land, I'll never hook up to them. They want too much money (for too little service) and I can hear every generator in my valley running every time they poop out, (which happens with, though one would wish not, embarrassing frequency).
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 14, 2013 21:54:43 GMT -5
As I said, they've made off with the profits and not invested in the infrastructure. Why should I give them extra money. Steve, I've seen your place, and I've seen plenty a coastal house designed with same breeze catching efficiency. More on PM.
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Post by steev on Jun 15, 2013 0:34:57 GMT -5
Living in Oakland, as I do, where some poor bastard taking off a liquor store for forty bucks with a saturday-night-special will get years of hard time, do I have any patience for a multi-billion dollar monopoly that controls delivery of utilities (gas and electricity) and "CHOOSES" not to spend money it has been allowed to assess its customers for safety/infrastructure maintenance/upgrading on doing so to give that money to its executives/shareholders? Even after its negligence has destroyed dozens of homes and killed people, am I supposed to accept that forcing them to spend the money on the maintenance they were supposed to do is too punitive?
Please! Are there no people who should be fired for gross incompetence, if not corruption?
Are there no people who should be convicted of felonies, if only second-degree murder or manslaughter?
Have we really come to the point that one can grow above the law, and be a law unto onesself, as a corporate "person"?
If so, we are all screwed, unless we are backed up by an adequately powerful corporate structure. Not embedded in a powerfully positioned corporate structure?
Fuck you; you are meat, to harvest!
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Post by mnjrutherford on Jun 15, 2013 17:14:21 GMT -5
As I see it we have two choices, lay low and out of sight or bring your own jar of petroleum jelly to the get screwed party... did you see the PBS Newshour piece this past Thursday where Otnasnom got called down??? I sat and smiled and watched it again from archives... just sat and watched and smiled.
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Post by 12540dumont on Jun 27, 2013 15:46:32 GMT -5
So, where's the fry the bastards emoticon?
PG&E called. Yes, for the last 10 years they have been overcharging me. Will I get a refund? They say no. If I was being over charged, I was supposed to notify them. It's all my fault. You see, when I had the pump changed 10 years ago, and PG&E stood by and watched, it was not THEIR responsibility to notify the billing office. According to their supervisor, the Billing office and folks in the field have NO connection.
End of story, they refuse to discuss it further.
Once again, I must point out that this is WRONG in so many ways. Over billing is nothing short of stealing, especially when you do not refund the error. I believe that no matter what your business is, you are responsible for the folks in the field and the folks in the office....they are all part of the same company. And finally, all utility bills should have complete explanations on them, so that errors are easy to detect, not hidden in some mumble jumble, hocus pocus, you can't find it cause it's out of focus.
When Long Pig comes into season...
Sigh, another day, another one of my dollars floats down the freeway thermals, just out of reach.
I just don't know if farming is worth it anymore.
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Post by ferdzy on Jun 27, 2013 17:08:31 GMT -5
Holly; start with the Better Business Bureau. Then, small claims court. I know someone here who took their local water company to small claims court and won... yes, it was a pain. But they won. Also, we had a 2 year long fight with Union Gas and could not get it resolved. Eventually we called the BBB, and they managed to get us what we had wanted. (An address change, believe it or not - long story.)
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Post by steev on Jun 27, 2013 22:36:31 GMT -5
Well, PG&E is a biggie, but it is incompetent, so if you fuck with it, you will likely win (being intelligent and competent). Could be a long fight (they're counting on that); prove them wrong!
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Post by dustdevil on Jun 28, 2013 8:41:07 GMT -5
Holly, you need a lawyer that rattles their sabre! You will have to reconstruct your water usage and payments for the last ten years. The more original bills and copies of payment checks you have, the easier it will be. Possibly, some of this will be found if you can access your PG&E account through the internet. Since you probably have been entering water expense on Schedule F, previous 1040's may be helpful.
I'd consider removing your phone number from your account. Then write them a letter asking why they aren't refunding your money. Hopefully they will be stupid enough to write back with an explanation you could use in court, since they can't reach you by phone.
PG&E is rotten. It is common sense that if you knew you were aware you'd been overcharged for ten years, you would have done something sooner. Fight this injustice!
There may be a citizen watchdog group that might be of some help...
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Post by dustdevil on Jun 28, 2013 8:46:22 GMT -5
You have been cheated, fight PG&E!!! I was overcharged by a city water department 15 years ago due to a defective water meter. They refunded me $800 without giving me any flak. That is the way it should be. |
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Post by steev on Jun 28, 2013 20:00:25 GMT -5
'Kay; I started reading this thread from its beginning and I am struck by an idea. Having had time to recover from the impact, I must inquire: being in feudal bondage to PG&E, you get electricity 24/7, right? So why don't you water at night, or off-hours, whatever? There are many reliable valve controllers, some battery-powered (what I use on the farm). Granted, you would have to jigger things around, but couldn't it be worth the pain you'd not suffer from being screwed by PG&E (think of Rosemary's Baby)? Cheaper by far than converting to solar, so far as I understand your circumstances.
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