Does your electric company give you a discount or allow CPAP users to be on the priority restore list?

[crab-legs]

Read this old post.. viewtopic/t5646/Special-Electric-Rates- ... c+discount

Thank you for finding that! That post is old. Wow...from 2005. I didn't even know this forum existed back then. I read the first page only. Most of the posters are people I never even heard of, except CapnLoki.

[Goofproof]

XPAP isn't a life saving devise, it's a treatment device to TREAT Sleep Apnea, If worried get a power back up in place, on your dime...
Crap use little electric, as far as not having power you can make battery backup, big brother doesn't need to pay for XPAP! If you are put on a Iron Lung, call them..
Sometimes you need to take care of yourself. Jim

I appreciate your sentiments Jim. The problem with me is that is is life saving. If I can't use CPAP, I can't fall asleep. And without sleep, a person will eventually die. There was a case where a POW was interrogated and denied sleep for 30-45 days. Every time he began to sleep, the interrogator woke him up. He died from lack of sleep.

Even if I do "sleep" a few hours a night, my life will be so miserable that I would not be able to function. As I said in my last post,before CPAP, I slept up to 20 hours per day and was so groggy that I just sat at my computer at home and surfed the internet.

Also, I think it is so funny in that form I posted, NVEnergy considers an electric bed or chair a device that qualifies for the program, but not adult CPAP. If you don't have power for an electric bed or chair, you will still live and be able to function.

If you can't get out of your bed, or chair to get in your wheelchair or to the bathroom, I can see that need. XPAPs are needed too but you can easily deal with the power needed to run XPAPs. Electric Medical Beds, Medical Lift Chairs, and in use 24 hour O2 Compressors, are sometimes Life or Death necessary, But not all of them are, people just want to snuggle up to the Pig. Let the other people pay for everything you want even if they are worse off than you. Welcome to the 21 century. Jim

Now the Restore list not a bad thing, but it makes little difference if you are on one, power will be fixed just as fast as if you aren't on one, but you can think it will help, it's good PR. Here we also have a automated call update on repair, it keep you hopes up.

[crab-legs]

If you can't get out of your bed, or chair to get in your wheelchair or to the bathroom, I can see that need. XPAPs are needed too but you can easily deal with the power needed to run XPAPs. Electric Medical Beds, Medical Lift Chairs, and in use 24 hour O2 Compressors, are sometimes Life or Death necessary, But not all of them are, people just want to snuggle up to the Pig. Let the other people pay for everything you want even if they are worse off than you. Welcome to the 21 century. Jim

Now the Restore list not a bad thing, but it makes little difference if you are on one, power will be fixed just as fast as if you aren't on one, but you can think it will help, it's good PR. Here we also have a automated call update on repair, it keep you hopes up.

I agree with your post Jim.

I do think you should get an allowance from the power company though. We are on CPAP through no fault of our own. Society has an obligation to take care of its most vulnerable disabled, young, and elderly people. That is the same reason these vulnerable people get Social Security, Medicare, SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline, TANF, LIHEAP, HUD HCV ("Section 8"), etc. This is the same reason people with no kids or who have never had kids, like me, still pay school taxes...for the good of society. And why should renters have to subsidize homeowner through the mortgage interest tax deduction? My point is we all have to pay for things for others that we do not use or want. Life is not fair.

Regardless, health care should be universal, as it is a human right. This is how it works in most European countries and Canada. Parental leave, child care, and college should also be free. Even if you choose not to work and be a voluntary homeless person, you should still get free healthcare (and housing and guaranteed income). Unfortunately, that means people who do work must subsidize the others, but that is life.

Someone posted on that old 2005 thread here that LSAT linked to on page 1 of this thread:

viewtopic/t5646/Special-Electric-Rates- ... +discount

I think you are looking for a free ride on your neighbors, and fellow Californians. Whats next, having your insurance company pay for the electric to run the cpap. Will the insurance company pay for the distilled water for the humidifier. Mild dishsoap to wash the mask?

I disagree with his sentiments, but I respect his views. I think it all comes down to if one has a conservative or liberal bent.

[Goofproof]

Re:
Post by Goofproof » Wed Aug 14, 2019 12:46 pm

Kemosabe wrote: ↑Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:54 pm
Funny you should ask that today as yesterday I visited the doctor to get him to sign mine. We initially had a difference of opinion on the question of "Is it life-support?".

I told him about my friend Donald Duncan Jr., who about a year ago coming home from a yo-yo meet fell asleep at the wheel. He and his wife died in the accident.

We used to tease Don about his snoring. He was famous for it. If you were in the room next to his, you were certain to hear it. I sure miss both the Duncans. I wish could still be annoyed at Don's loud snoring.

I told my doctor that I considered it life-support, not only for myself but for my wife and anyone riding with me or driving around me. He was convinced enough to keep thinking about it. So he called some of his doctor buddies and they told him that they'd signed the form for CPAP users. So he decided to sign mine.

When I got the form from PG&E, the PG&E person I talked with told me to put down "IPPB machine" instead of CPAP because PG&E is clueless about CPAPs and the IPPB machine is similar and they do know about it.

I wish you the best of luck.
Congrats, You and your Doctor have committed Fraud on the Power company and everyone that pays their electric bills. Jim

I told him about my friend Donald Duncan Jr., who about a year ago coming home from a yo-yo meet fell asleep at the wheel. He and his wife died in the accident.

"We used to tease Don about his snoring. He was famous for it. If you were in the room next to his, you were certain to hear it. I sure miss both the Duncans.

I wonder if it was the Duncans that owned Duncans Yo-Yo company, I suspect it was just a made up story lie. Lying and Fraud, go together well! Jim

[Goofproof]

If you can't get out of your bed, or chair to get in your wheelchair or to the bathroom, I can see that need. XPAPs are needed too but you can easily deal with the power needed to run XPAPs. Electric Medical Beds, Medical Lift Chairs, and in use 24 hour O2 Compressors, are sometimes Life or Death necessary, But not all of them are, people just want to snuggle up to the Pig. Let the other people pay for everything you want even if they are worse off than you. Welcome to the 21 century. Jim

Now the Restore list not a bad thing, but it makes little difference if you are on one, power will be fixed just as fast as if you aren't on one, but you can think it will help, it's good PR. Here we also have a automated call update on repair, it keep you hopes up.

I agree with your post Jim.

I do think you should get an allowance from the power company though. We are on CPAP through no fault of our own. Society has an obligation to take care of its most vulnerable disabled, young, and elderly people. That is the same reason these vulnerable people get Social Security, Medicare, SSI, SNAP, Medicaid, Lifeline, TANF, LIHEAP, etc. This is the same reason people with no kids or who have never had kids, like me, still pay school taxes...for the good of society. In fact, health care should be universal, as it is a human right. Even if you choose not to work, you should still get free healthcare (and housing and guaranteed income). Unfortunately, that means people who do work must subsidize the others, but that is life. On that note, why should renters have to subsidize homeowner through the mortgage interest tax deduction? My point is we all have to pay for things for others that we do not use or want. Life is not fair.

Someone posted on that old 2005 thread here that LSAT linked to on page 1 of this thread:

viewtopic/t5646/Special-Electric-Rates- ... +discount

I think you are looking for a free ride on your neighbors, and fellow Californians. Whats next, having your insurance company pay for the electric to run the cpap. Will the insurance company pay for the distilled water for the humidifier. Mild dishsoap to wash the mask?

I disagree with his sentiments, but I respect his views. I think it all comes down to if one has a conservative or liberal bent.

Shouldn't that be Conservative Bent Over or Liberal?

I was born unable to see in the dark, I need to run electric lights to see inside my house, should you have to kick in to pay my electric so I can see, or would you rather I buy a Flashlight? Jim

[crab-legs]

Shouldn't that be Conservative Bent Over or Liberal?

I was born unable to see in the dark, I need to run electric lights to see inside my house, should you have to kick in to pay my electric so I can see, or would you rather I buy a Flashlight? Jim

LOL. Good one there! Thank you for not taking offense at my overly-political rant. I need to stop this, as this is a CPAP board, not a politics board.

I have no problem with you getting a subsidized power bill. Society must take care of those who are most vulnerable.

[Goofproof]

Shouldn't that be Conservative Bent Over or Liberal?

I was born unable to see in the dark, I need to run electric lights to see inside my house, should you have to kick in to pay my electric so I can see, or would you rather I buy a Flashlight? Jim

LOL. Good one there! Thank you for not taking offense at my overly-political rant. I need to stop this, as this is a CPAP board, not a politics board.

I have no problem with you getting a subsidized power bill. Society must take care of those who are most vulnerable.

I don't ask or get a subsidized power bill, and I use a old power hungry O2 Compressor $25 to $30 a month on power bill, it a real horse, and I have lots of Flashlights and batteries.

Power companies have no idea of the power used by XPAPS or other devices, if they did they should require the you to send them a box with postage to return the XPAP Electric cost back to you, in Pennies, after your bill is paid in full! Jim

Poor Postman, maybe he can get disability for his bad back!

[CapnLoki]

As for a battery backup, the problem is the CPAP battery by BPS lasts only for 1-2 days if you use the maximum allowed of two, which are 100W each.
...
Also, I think it is so funny in that form I posted, NVEnergy considers an electric bed or chair a device that qualifies for the program, but not adult CPAP. If you don't have power for an electric bed or chair, you will still live and be able to function. Although I agree it should be listed, as you would be trapped at home otherwise, but you could still call for help.

The BPS Freedom batteries are fine for some applications, but for long term home use you can get a battery for $65 that will run for a full week. If you need humidity that would triple the price, but still less than the price of a lithium pack intended for airline travel. Read the thread listed in my signature. And what is the "maximum allowed of two"?

As for electric chairs, my father lived much of his last year in an electric recliner with an "ejection seat." He would never have been able to get out of it in a power failure, which is why they generally come with battery backup.

[palerider]

I appreciate your sentiments Jim. The problem with me is that is is life saving. If I can't use CPAP, I can't fall asleep. And without sleep, a person will eventually die.

You are trivializing "life saving", it's disingenuous, and bordering on deplorable.

When someone's oxygen concentrator shuts off, and they can't breathe *during the day*, that's critical.

When their ventilator shuts off, and they die, that's critical.

You are merely inconvenienced, get over yourself.

[palerider]

I do think you should get an allowance from the power company though. We are on CPAP through no fault of our own. Society has an obligation to take care of its most vulnerable disabled, young, and elderly people.

Cpaps use a negligable amount of power.

Get real.

[crab-legs]

As for a battery backup, the problem is the CPAP battery by BPS lasts only for 1-2 days if you use the maximum allowed of two, which are 100W each.
...
Also, I think it is so funny in that form I posted, NVEnergy considers an electric bed or chair a device that qualifies for the program, but not adult CPAP. If you don't have power for an electric bed or chair, you will still live and be able to function. Although I agree it should be listed, as you would be trapped at home otherwise, but you could still call for help.

The BPS Freedom batteries are fine for some applications, but for long term home use you can get a battery for $65 that will run for a full week. If you need humidity that would triple the price, but still less than the price of a lithium pack intended for airline travel. Read the thread listed in my signature. And what is the "maximum allowed of two"?

As for electric chairs, my father lived much of his last year in an electric recliner with an "ejection seat." He would never have been able to get out of it in a power failure, which is why they generally come with battery backup.

Thanks for your reply CapnLoki. I will look into your thread about batteries. So far, my Freeedom li-ion batteries are going strong. They are one-year old now and I have used them for 120 nights or so. They show no sign of failure or wear.

Regarding the maximum of two, I called BPS last week. There was a gentleman there who is an expert of batteries and who goes to all the CPAP tradeshows representing BPS. We had a long conversation. I asked could I use more than two batteries to power my CPAP, and he said no. The maximum allowed is two, even if I had more pigtail splitter cords. I didn't ask why. I might make a new thread about what I learned from him, since he was amazing, although I was suspicious of some of the info he told me.

BTW, here is a little known fact: BPS used to make a 440W CPAP battery to power your CPAP. But they stopped due to the TSA regulations that said batteries on planes could be no more than 100W each.

Little know fact two: you cannot carry two 100W BPS Freeedom batteries on a plane if they are connected with a pigtail splitter cord or duct taped together.

[crab-legs]

I appreciate your sentiments Jim. The problem with me is that is is life saving. If I can't use CPAP, I can't fall asleep. And without sleep, a person will eventually die.

You are trivializing "life saving", it's disingenuous, and bordering on deplorable.

When someone's oxygen concentrator shuts off, and they can't breathe *during the day*, that's critical.

When their ventilator shuts off, and they die, that's critical.

You are merely inconvenienced, get over yourself.

Yeah, being groggy all day and "sleeping" and being unable to work is surely an "inconvenience". My AHI before CPAP was over 200. CPAP may not technically be life-saving for me, but being without one I pretty much do not have a life.

And I didn't feel the need to insult you in my post. The fact that you have an "enemies" list in your signature speaks volumes.

[palerider]

And I didn't feel the need to insult you in my post. The fact that you have an "enemies" list in your signature speaks volumes.

You misunderstand the list.

Those are not "enemies", those are people who routinely post misleading, wrong and sometimes downright dangerous crap that can mislead and even harm people that don't know any better.

Such as yourself. Read their posts at your own peril.

[CapnLoki]

Thanks for your reply CapnLoki. I will look into your thread about batteries. So far, my Freeedom li-ion batteries are going strong. They are one-year old now and I have used them for 120 nights or so. They show no sign of failure or wear.

Have you actually cycled them 120 times, or are the connected to both the pump and the charger? (Probably not much of a difference since the small charger probably can't begin to power the pump if humidity is on.) And why are you doing this? The batteries are probably rated for 500 cycles so they will be showing serious wear after about a year and a half. At $500 for the pair this isn't a very good use for them. You'd do a lot better with a $60 UPS for short outages, and a large AGM battery for the major outages.

Regarding the maximum of two, I called BPS last week. There was a gentleman there who is an expert of batteries and who goes to all the CPAP tradeshows representing BPS. We had a long conversation. I asked could I use more than two batteries to power my CPAP, and he said no. The maximum allowed is two, even if I had more pigtail splitter cords. I didn't ask why. I might make a new thread about what I learned from him, since he was amazing, although I was suspicious of some of the info he told me.

You're wise to be suspicious!
You can use as many batteries as you want, but only two simultaneously. But I don't see the point, other than to keep your "expert" in beer!

BTW, here is a little known fact: BPS used to make a 440W CPAP battery to power your CPAP. But they stopped due to the TSA regulations that said batteries on planes could be no more than 100W each.

There are a number of companies that make 400 and 500 watt-hour packs. They're just not usable on airlines. My guess is that BPS wanted to focus on cpap batteries. They work fine for airline travel. However, their product is a bad choice for power failure backup

Little know fact two: you cannot carry two 100W BPS Freeedom batteries on a plane if they are connected with a pigtail splitter cord or duct taped together.

There are lots of things you can't do on a plane. Since one of their batteries will power your pump for two nights, why do you need to connect two of them? I don't think you'd want to use humidity on a plane.

[bwexler]

I must agree with those who suggest that society doesn't owe anyone anything beyond life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
But I would be foolish not to partake in a money saving offer from my otherwise greedy power company.
If you saw a $100 bill on the sidewalk, would you pick it up, or would you say that's not mine and leave it there.
I sometimes wonder weather I should be entitled to collect on Social security and Medicare. But then I remember i have been paying for both for decades. I still pay for both with one hand while I still work and collect both with the other hand. I also pay for Medicare monthly out of my social security.