That massive spike of 50c/kWh at the left looks tiny compared to today even though that’s already insanely expensive

    • BenPranklin@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      1 year ago

      I hear this a lot since we converted to heat pumps. People don’t realize basically every heat source these days other than wood needs electricity. We kept our oil system as a backup for very cold days but it also doesn’t work with no power.

      • bluewing@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        ·
        1 year ago

        There are cheap ways to run a backup heat source. I installed a generator, which makes sense for my very rural location. But before the whole house automatic genset, I used a $100US switch that would allow me to run my LP furnace on a small portable generator. All the furnace requires is 110/120VAC to operate. Something cheaply and easily supplied by a small gasoline powered portable for less than $500US.

    • bluewing@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      1 year ago

      Back up generators if the expected outage is to last more than one day - and sometimes it can.