Trouble is, if you slow down, you’ll have to stay slow the entire way to where you’re going, and at some random point in the future there’s going to be a mattress across a couple of lanes of road.
I can see the merit of aggressively (more aggressively than this guy) getting past them and putting them FAR in my rearview, if I think I have a window to do it.
Amen.
Nah, it wasn’t a tire, it was a wheel. Big round chunk of steel.
Nesrie
1599
Oh right, yeah that would be terrifying. Actually anything coming at a car is pretty scary. I mean even a single pebble to the windshield is fear inducing.
lordkosc
1600
Well thats one way to charge for power… Cue bigger in Texas meme…
Calelari
1601
Bow down before the might and wisdom of the free market unconstrained capitalism, plebs.
Enidigm
1604
I mean if i got that bill… i just wouldn’t pay it.
That’s what i don’t get about these weird stories about people becoming “bankrupted” from Griddy overcharging… why are they paying off these bills the second they receive them? Is there something about Griddy forcing you to pay the moment you get a charge? And if you did pay it on a credit card, can’t you go for a few days without paying on it?
LockerK
1605
They had autopay set up and since they had no power and/or more pressing issues at hand didn’t cancel it? That’s the only thing I can think of.
Related: Never setup autopay :)
That was exactly what happened. It’s sort of like my Starbucks card automatically refills once the balance drops below $10. But in this case, it’s like I ordered 10,000 drinks at once.
Something I read also seemed to indicate that, as part of their “the only good regulation is a dead regulation” attitude, there’s nothing in Texas rules to stop the company from cutting off your power if you don’t pay.
Enidigm
1608
I mean, sure, but again, even Texas bills monthly. Unless their monthly bill came due right in the middle of the storm, which is certainly possible. You’re not going to be in arrears until a bill cycle AND your late payment period has passed.
The one story I saw on the news it was about a guy who got a $16,000 bill that was automatically pulled out of his checking account before he realized it.
Enidigm
1610
That would be super-BS if true. I would be warpath furious.
Seen that but I’m not sure usage from a week ago would have already been charged last week. It might be on a usage chart though. And the story I read indicated the person was notified to change their account since the electric company knew wholesale rates would shoot up but she said no one could would take him inside of a 10 day period. Seems odd since I literally changed my electric provider a couple of weeks ago and they said they could get it done inside a few days if I wanted.
No reason I can see to do variable rate anything when prices are relatively low anyway. And to tie them to auto pay where you’re another step away from knowing what/when of associated costs.
Nesrie
1612
I read the same thing. They closed the account or something. It was tied to a debit card I believe. That’s insane. I mean I don’t care about some weirdo plan to push out these bills on 10 year payment plans… no one in this country should have to budget 10 years out to pay for like a 5 day stretch of energy.
Enidigm
1613
I’m grandfathered on a “flex rate” plan where they charge me the base rate (whatever that is) + some % on top. When i look at the breakdown of my per kilowatt charge, it’s always lower than every plan offered by any provider, save those weird “7¢ a kilowatt, but only between 1000 and 2000 KW” plans.
I still end up paying about 200-300$ a month in electricity though.
Agree, but the point I was trying to make–as Charlatan sort of made–is that the threat of having your power cut off encourages people to set up autopay, which is apparently what is stinging people now.
Nesrie
1615
They should use a credit card, if the company will allow it. That’s what I use to avoid any company emptying out my account. I also have accounts at more then one bank. It’s a risk even without a historic storm and ridiculous surge pricing.
