A house divided against itself cannot stand. – Abraham Lincoln
We must work together to keep Vero Vero. – Richard Winger
Ray of Hope: Moving beyond divisiveness
A house divided against itself cannot stand. – Abraham Lincoln
We must work together to keep Vero Vero. – Richard Winger
Indian River Guardian 
It would be easy to keep Vero Vero if it was not messed up some years ago with poor decisions. I am all in favor of making Vero Vero again, however some things have to be fixed and that is found to be a difficult task. Mark, the ray of hope is certainly in the depth of your beautiful photographs. Keep them coming, it takes my mind off the high electric bills!
Larry, Thank you for the complement on the photography, but all I did was show up in a beautiful spot, mount my camera on a tripod, and then press the shutter release button. “Grant me the grace of seeing this day, Oh God. Grant me the grace of seeing.”
I posed a few questions to you yesterday, and I really would be interested in your answers. Also, about being fixated on electric rates, one way to get one’s mind off of a negative thought is to make a gratitude list. Seriously!
Submitted on 2015/10/19 at 9:33 pm | In reply to Larry Wapnick.
Between now and the end of 2023, the revised OUC contract will save the customers of Vero Electric and estimated $171 million. Additional savings will come from decommissioning the power plant. $171 million may be pennies to some, but for others it is significant.
Larry, how is it you determined the OUC’s wholesale power rates are 30 percent higher than those charged by FPL? Or, what rate comparison are you making?
How will Turner, Heady, Howle and Moss save anyone any money? Do you believe their claims that they will be able to conclude the power sale? And, how do you think they will accomplish that?
First of all it is a minimum 20% difference, add the losses in rebates for air conditioners and efficient appliances you get an easy 30% difference.My friends house is a little larger than mine, he has FP& L and he is paying $290 per month compared to $520 that I am paying. There is a marked difference between Vero Electric and FP&L and I am unhappy about my high electric costs every month. Fuel has come down to 1/2of what it was two years ago and the fuel adjustment cost still sits there on the bill. You for one have no problem with the rates as you are living in New Mexico and not Vero Beach. Selling the grid to FP&L Heady, Howle, Moss would be saving me a lot of money every year, the present group wisely and selfishly want to keep it, but in the long run all of the residents will have to pay the price for the past decisions of the previous City Councils.
Mark, in regard to just showing up, if it were that easy there would never be any great pictures, for all would never see the trees because of the constant forests!
Larry, I don’t exactly follow your numbers, but I suppose this is a point that could be debated endlessly. Comparing bills/rates requires knowing kWh used. I have yet to hear from Moss, Heady or Howle a credible strategy for “selling the grid to FP&L. Some 2 million electric customers in Florida who are served by investor-owned utilities regulated by the Florida Public Service Commission are paying rates equal to higher than Vero Electric. Are you suggesting that those companies also be forced to sell to FPL? That’s just not how utility law works. The sale you seek will NOT happen. The legal victory you desire for the Shores will NOT happen. The County’s appeal to the Supreme Court will NOT succeed. Despite opposition from the County, the Shores, and from the three challengers, the current City Council is going what can be done to lower rates.
About rate comparisons, I would say this. Your neighbor who is served by FPL should factor in the cost of mold remediation that might be required the next time the area is hit by a hurricane. Three weeks without air conditioning and do wonders for the interior of a beautiful, well-appointed barrier island home. Following the 2004 hurricanes, some FPL customers in Indian River County went three weeks before their power was restored. Talk about being discontent!
Agreed
Dear Larry, Just think you will be saving $2.50 per month. BTW you do know that Vero Electric provides quicker service that FPL. Also, Maybe you and your neighbor cool your luxurious homes at different temperatures, Maybe you heat your swimming pools at different temperatures, maybe his house has better insulation. Oh ,btw if heating your pool is too expensive buy an old pot belly stove and heat your water. Now between the pot belly stove and the kerosene lamps I advised you to get last week you will lower your costs. And yes once again your 30% is way off the mark.
Dear John, What you say is really “different strokes , use a potbelly stove”, now fine where would I buy the coal to fuel it? I wish I had your adding machine, mine confirms 30 plus percent. Any how, for a city slicker you do make sense but you never advised me about fans instead of air conditioning. Regards and thanks for the concern, it is apparent that we both love the city and wish we could help, according to Mark however, I am doomed!
Larry, What I am suggesting is that, going foreword, you are likely to be paying rates within the statewide average. You can, however, choose to “doom” yourself to remain discontent over the face that some in the state are paying rates below the average. Instead, why not be grateful you are not a customer of one of the FSC-regulated investor-owned utilities that are charging rates well above the statewide average?
Dear Larry, Now that you mentioned fans, I will give more advice on how to save on your electric bill. First buy a few fans, then make a large amount of ice. Place the ice in a bucket and then turn the fan on making sure the air passes over the ice filled bucket. Sit in front of the fan and you be chilled beyond belief.