SMECO rates going up AGAIN

[Editor]

SMECO receives approval for rate adjustment

On May 15, 2023, the Maryland Public Service Commission approved SMECO's request to increase its distribution rates (also called the Distribution Charge on your bill) by less than half a cent per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and restructure the rate classes for commercial accounts. The adjustment will result in a monthly increase of approximately $4.85 for a residential member who uses around 1,200 kWh per month, though figures will vary depending on individual usage.

The new rates went into effect for residential members and lighting customers on May 15, 2023. New distribution rates for all other rate classes will go into effect on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

We know customers are sensitive to cost increases and SMECO works hard to control our Distribution Charge while also implementing infrastructure that provides our members with greater control over their bills, more flexibility in how our members do business with the cooperative, and continued reliable service. Electric distribution charges reflect the cost of delivering electricity to your home or business. This includes costs associated with installing and maintaining substations, overhead poles and wires, underground cables, transformers, fleet vehicles, office buildings, and connecting new customers and electrical load, along with the expense associated with restoring electric service following a storm event. This is the first request for an increase to the distribution charge in seven years.

The modest increase to SMECO's electric distribution rates will enable us to continue to provide the level of reliability customers expect and to maintain SMECO's financial integrity.

For more information about the rates and restructuring, please visit https://smeco.coop/straight-talk

 

[my-thyme]

Breezeline going up, too.

 

[NOTSMC]

Breezeline going up, too.

I called Breezeline about a month ago to see if there was a way to reduce my bill. I had been paying $105.00 for internet only. Long story short, I was paying for the plan I had had for years and they had a new plan they could offer me that that now runs me $66.00 a month.

It's the same crappy service but at least it's not as expensive as it was.

 

[David]

I assume you did have the 200Mb plan? What do you have now for the $66?

What is the deal with these guys? If you look on their website, you see ads that list the service at a fraction of what we are paying. No where can I find that it says it is an introductory price and/or only good for xx months.

 

[NOTSMC]

David,

I assume you did have the 200Mb plan? What do you have now for the $66?

What is the deal with these guys? If you look on their website, you see ads that list the service at a fraction of what we are paying. No where can I find that it says it is an introductory price and/or only good for xx months.

View attachment 170708

David, I have no idea what I had before. Not too checked out on speeds or whatever I should be checking out. I usually just have my oldest son look things over and recommend something for me. I had the plan on was on for over probably 20 years or so. He was the one who originally called Breezeline and they talked to him about a six month special, reduction in rate, speed, whatever. He gave me the number and I called and that's what they told me, something about a special, going automatic payments to reduce it further. When the six months is over, it will go up to $76.00, but I can bring it back down to $66.00 by setting up automatic payments and reduce it further when I stop renting their modum(?) maybe and buy my own.

I understand your frustration, I don't know, well I guess I do know, why they just couldn't tell me months ago, that I could get a better deal.

BTW I like your new dohicky. Is that you when you were little?

 

[NOTSMC]

I take that back. My current balance due for June is $46.00 not $66.00!

 

[David]

when I stop renting their modum

Definitely do not rent the modem. I think it is $10/mo just for that. You can buy modems for under $100 now. I have a Netgear CM1000v2, which is a high end. You could probably do with a CM700:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-32-x-8-docsis-3-0-cable-modem-black/6058901.p?skuId=6058901

Just have your son verify first. I used to use Arris, but had nothing but problems.

 

[Clem72]

I assume you did have the 200Mb plan? What do you have now for the $66?

What is the deal with these guys? If you look on their website, you see ads that list the service at a fraction of what we are paying. No where can I find that it says it is an introductory price and/or only good for xx months.

View attachment 170708

Click the little "i" next to the price and get the popup.

 

[SamSpade]

Definitely do not rent the modem. I think it is $10/mo just for that. You can buy modems for under $100 now. I have a Netgear CM1000v2, which is a high end. You could probably do with a CM700:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-32-x-8-docsis-3-0-cable-modem-black/6058901.p?skuId=6058901

Just have your son verify first. I used to use Arris, but had nothing but problems.

Unfortunately for us - none of the modems they recommend has telephony - and that's where our phone comes from.

 

[NOTSMC]

Definitely do not rent the modem. I think it is $10/mo just for that. You can buy modems for under $100 now. I have a Netgear CM1000v2, which is a high end. You could probably do with a CM700:

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/netgear-32-x-8-docsis-3-0-cable-modem-black/6058901.p?skuId=6058901

Just have your son verify first. I used to use Arris, but had nothing but problems.

Thanks for the advice - I'll run it by him.

 

[David]

OK, so basically they're playing games to disguise their real price by adding a phony tax onto it.

What are these Taxes, Fee & Surcharges you may ask?

OK AZZHOLES. That's called overhead and it should be part of your basic fee. Let's also not forget that they are granted a monopoly by the government to operate.

 

[David]

Here's their document which lists supported modems and any caveats about whether you can use your own modem:

https://www.breezeline.com/assets/documents/2023_approved_modems.pdf

 

[LightRoasted]

For your consideration ...

The SMECO increase is becasue they want to recoup the millions they spent forcing everyone to convert to the privacy intruding smart meters that no one wanted. Basterds.

 

[Clem72]

It is pretty funny that I used to pay $25/mo for 50mbit over cable 20 years ago. The only thing that has changed is the version of DOCSIS used. It's literally cheaper now for them to provide 100mbit service then it was to provide 50mbit back then (100mbit uses far less cable bandwidth on DOCSIS 3+ then 50mbit did on DOCSIS 2).

But they continue to increase the cost and the fees. One of the biggest rackets out there, they would make NJ Casino operators blush.

 

[David]

But they continue to increase the cost and the fees. One of the biggest rackets out there, they would make NJ Casino operators blush.

It's a Cash Cow for sure. Look at Comcast. I sure am glad we have anti-monopoly in the USA to prevent these very things.

 

[Gilligan]

We pay for 500mb Breezeline commercial service..phone plus internet. Never once have I seen it go over 120MB...usually hangs right around 100MB download and 50MB upload.

 

[Clem72]

We pay for 500mb Breezeline commercial service..phone plus internet. Never once have I seen it go over 120MB...usually hangs right around 100MB download and 50MB upload.

Well obviously it's all your neighbors using the bandwidth with limewire and napster.

 

[Gilligan]

Well obviously it's all your neighbors using the bandwidth with limewire and napster.

Considering the limited infrastructure that we sit on literally the bitter end of...yeah, I've always known our service was oversold and overloaded. No other options, unfortunately.

 

[Clem72]

We pay for 500mb Breezeline commercial service..phone plus internet. Never once have I seen it go over 120MB...usually hangs right around 100MB download and 50MB upload.

On a more serious note, are you saying Megabit (Mb) for each of these measurements or mixing Megabit and Megabyte (MB)? Megabyte being 8 times larger, a 500Mbit service could be expected to provide download rates of around 60MB per second.

If all your numbers are in Megabit then you should see if your connection has guaranteed minimums in the service level agreement (SLA) which most commercial connections should have.

 

[Gilligan]

On a more serious note, are you saying Megabit (Mb) for each of these measurements or mixing Megabit and Megabyte (MB)? Megabyte being 8 times larger, a 500Mbit service could be expected to provide download rates of around 60MB per second.

If all your numbers are in Megabit then you should see if your connection has guaranteed minimums in the service level agreement (SLA) which most commercial connections should have.

Mbps, of course. Duh.

We pay for 500 Mbps down/100 Mbps up service. Running any internent speed test shows we actually get around 100/50.

Compared to the T1 crap we had previously, its fine. I've thought about getting more aggressive with Breezeline about the difference but I know its pointless...what are they going to do about it? Surely not going to install new line all the way to the end of the island just for us. When I have some free time (ha!) I'll beat on them about the issue.