Posts: 3360
Threads: 120
Joined: January 19, 2015
Reputation:
30
The Terror of Monopolies
September 11, 2015 at 8:30 pm
I'm in the final stages of purchasing a mobile home here in Phoenix. It has a gas water heater, central heater and range. I looked up Southwest Gas today because they are the sole provider in this area and what I found shocked me. This company is like something out of the Old Testament. I found dozens of reviews online, all scathingly negative. One reviewer compared it to the Mafia. Brutal fees and connect/disconnect policies, horrible customer service, outright lies - the list goes on. My favorite: If your usage goes down, they'll up your rates so you pay more! People with 1500 SF houses are paying $150.00/month - in PHOENIX!!! WTF?
Job #1 is pulling that gas water heater and replacing it with an electric model. We barely use the range anyway so a hot plate will take care of that need for the near term. We never even turned the heat on the last two winters so no worries with the central heater either. That fucking, EVIL gas company isn't going to get one penny from me. I'm going to write the fuckers too to let them know why. I guess most people just resign themselves to the fact that their place uses gas but not me.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
Posts: 20476
Threads: 447
Joined: June 16, 2014
Reputation:
110
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 11, 2015 at 8:46 pm
Agree ...
I consider it akin to legalised theft...
All we can do is pick and choose the thieves carefully ...
No God, No fear.
Know God, Know fear.
Posts: 9176
Threads: 76
Joined: November 21, 2013
Reputation:
40
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 11, 2015 at 8:48 pm
One of the downsides of capitalism. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. With the exception of the One True God. The FSM.
Posts: 3360
Threads: 120
Joined: January 19, 2015
Reputation:
30
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 11, 2015 at 9:01 pm
This kind of shit is what makes the U.S. Libertarian party and their shithead heroine Ayn Rand such a freaking joke. You would end up with a society run by evil corporations. It would be nightmarish.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
Posts: 28566
Threads: 525
Joined: June 16, 2015
Reputation:
89
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 11, 2015 at 9:09 pm
In the online reviews did the people use their real names? I wonder how long a memory the gas company has? Not that a gas company would ever retaliate in the future.
Being told you're delusional does not necessarily mean you're mental.
Posts: 69247
Threads: 3759
Joined: August 2, 2009
Reputation:
258
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 11, 2015 at 9:28 pm
Republicunts love monopolies. Guess which party runs Errorzona?
Posts: 3360
Threads: 120
Joined: January 19, 2015
Reputation:
30
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 11, 2015 at 9:44 pm
(September 11, 2015 at 9:09 pm)mh.brewer Wrote: In the online reviews did the people use their real names? I wonder how long a memory the gas company has? Not that a gas company would ever retaliate in the future.
First names and last initials.
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
Posts: 30129
Threads: 304
Joined: April 18, 2014
Reputation:
91
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 11, 2015 at 11:36 pm
As high as the gas rates are, might be worth a little math and degree days to make sure electric really is cheaper.
My dumb cousin Ron started buying those $300 Amish electric heaters for every room in his house. He learned a tough lesson that a BTU of heat around here is 3X the price if bought from the electric company instead of the LP truck.
The granting of a pardon is an imputation of guilt, and the acceptance a confession of it.
Posts: 3360
Threads: 120
Joined: January 19, 2015
Reputation:
30
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 12, 2015 at 12:30 am
Gas appliances are much more efficient than electric for an obvious reason: If you burn fuel to make electricity, you have a 50% conversion loss. Burn the same fuel to produce heat directly makes much more sense. But if your fuel comes from a fucking Nazi who is determined to screw you anyway he possibly can and you can't get it from any other source...the physics goes out the window.
There is also the issue that you just don't need a lot of heating in Phoenix. Like I said, we have never used heat at all in previous winters. Admittedly, that's living in an upstairs apartment where we would receive residual heat from the apartment downstairs. We'll probably need to use some small amount of heating during the coolest days in the new place but nothing a small space heater can't handle. We have no problem with wearing a sweater in the winter - hell, we're just happy to be getting a break from 100+ degree F days!
Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.
Albert Einstein
Posts: 13901
Threads: 263
Joined: January 11, 2009
Reputation:
82
RE: The Terror of Monopolies
September 12, 2015 at 3:16 am
If I lived in Arizona I'd invest in some solar panels.
But I live in England and think I caught a glimpse of the sun once.
You can fix ignorance, you can't fix stupid.
Tinkety Tonk and down with the Nazis.
