Hi Jim
On (17 Oct 96) Jim Mcandrew wrote to All...
 JM> Readers of this echo may be interested in how U.S. power rates
 JM> compare with those in other countries.
 JM> Rank    Country    Cents/Kwh      % change from '95
 JM> 8       U.S.A.        7.13             0.50
 JM> 12      Australia     4.89             0.00
 JM> Residential rates are normally (in the U.S. at least)
 JM> substantially higher than industrial rates, even though
 JM> residential users are subsidised, as a class, buy the industrial
 JM> and commercial rate classes.
Very interesting. Here are figures from my latest power bill: 3 bedroom 
ouse,
two occupants, 62 days to September 9th-
Lighting and other energy       1324 kWH        AU$142.28       $US112.40
ie US 11.8c a kWH
Off peak hot water              561 kWH         AU$21.82        $US17.24
ie US 3.97c a kWH
The Off peak rate is available for winter "block" heating but we chose to 
eat
the house from natural gas, plus reverse cycle [heat pump] airconditioner. In
winter, dishwashing is an early morning chore, this warms our "family" area
quickly and cheaply and raises humidity usefully.
As an age pensioner, our bill was reduced by AU$ "pensioner rebate". One
dollar AUS buys 79c US, today.
NSW city rates are probably cheaper- we live up a mountain range in cattle
country.   Cheers....ALEC
... ........BUNDANOON, on a dirt track leading to the Info Superhighway
--- PPoint 1.92
---------------