I have TXU.  I think they're pretty stable.  They recently bought out Oncor.  I'm getting good rates with them.

 

The electric company I had back home, the more Kwh's you used, the more you paid.  I signed a 2 yr contract with TXU and locked in as 12.9 the first 1000 Kwh's, 12.6 for 2000 Kwh's and then 12.4.  I thought that was good rates when everyone else is charging 13.9-18.0 per Kwh.

 

Need to find someone to check out the fire place in this house and make sure it's safe.  I don't know the last time it was used.  At one time it had natural gas going to it, but that line has been capped.  So...........WTH am I going to find a Chimney Sweep or anyone smart enough to tell me if it's safe or not here in the Twilight Zone??

lol...not sure about that...but that could be a tad difficult in your neck of the woods.

However, the temps are quickly going down.  I would check and see if any bricks or insulation are loose before hand and it needs swept regardless since you don´t know when the last time was.  Make sure it is free of debris such as leaves, ect.  There are log cleaners that work ok...but then you still need a chimney sweep. 

 

Maybe someone from Dallas would be willing to head that way and check it out of you are going to do the sweep too?

STX,

There are no chimney sweeps in the yellow pages there? I'd get it cleaned first .

And can't a building codes inspector let you know if it is safe?

 

Blessed be

STX, get a qualified gas fitter to make sure there is no piping near the grate. you will then need a qualified builder to ensure that the chimney is still capeable of supporting a solid fuel fire, and that the pointing ( if it is a brick chimney) is up to scratch..( the last thing you need is to find out that the blow back gizmos in the flue have been removed and you end up with a room full of smoke every time a gust of wind blows down!!!

 

Then yes, get a sweep if you can, although it is not rocket science.

 

Most hardware rental places will have the equipment, and as long as you cover everything with a dust sheet, cleaning the chimney is not too difficult..( especially if you have a four year old to climb up inside with the brush MWAHHAHAHAHA!!!!  sorry..been reading Dickens again.....)

The PSC just gave Alabama Power an 8% increase. So our power bills are about to jump tremendously.

I just got my electric bill today.  I couldn't believe it!!!  It was $160.00!!!!!!!!!!!!   YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

First bill (for 30 days) at this big house we moved into and I was really dreading it.  The weather has been cool this week and we haven't even ran the A/C at night, just the ceiling fans.  When it was hot I set the thermostat on 80 because with the ceiling fans going I'd freeze to death.  And.........I keep all the lights out during the day because I have so many windows that I get plenty of light.

 

I think I did good!!!

I am gonna make you mad at me STX...my bill came in at 783 Lempiras...or $41.45 which is expensive for here...my neighbor´s was half of that...sorry I had to do it...just could not resist...but yeah in the states that would have been a cheering session for me too.