# Oil is selling in Negative Numbers **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2020, 7:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144 "2020-04-20T19:43:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Honda-Blackbird](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/honda-blackbird/32/3159_2.png) [@Honda-Blackbird](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Honda-Blackbird)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 4:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/22 "2020-04-22T16:20:50Z")
Its times like these when I wish I wasn’t a real estate tycoon…and cash poor. I know a few things I would be investing my cashish in right now…doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2020, 5:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/23 "2020-04-22T17:35:06Z")
Only 60 grand for a pickup? You can pay upwards of $100,000 for one. Cheapskate. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 5:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/24 "2020-05-24T05:41:57Z")
‘a British utility this weekend will actually pay some of its residential consumers to use electricity - to plug in the appliances, and run them full blast.’ > **[Reduced Demand for Electricity Leads to Power Giveaways](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/22/business/negative-electricity-rates.html)** > > The pandemic is turning energy markets upside-down. Some consumers will get paid for using electricity. If you’re driving an EV! ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 1:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/25 "2020-05-24T13:08:05Z")
We have two tier pricing that charges less after 9pm for electricity. That’s kinda like being paid to use electricity. We also have boxes that manage electricity use on high demand days. They utility pays us to curtail use. The utility reduces the duty cycle of our heat pumps and air conditioners on very hot days, and pays us for the spread in kWh used during those high demand times. ---
**Author:** ![PhantomPatriot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/phantompatriot/32/20713_2.png) [@PhantomPatriot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PhantomPatriot)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 2:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/26 "2020-05-24T14:07:11Z")
I find it a bit strange that you can’t use the power you want, even if you are willing to pay. Messing with the duty cycles of customers equipment seems a little heavy handed. Perhaps I misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 4:25pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/27 "2020-05-24T16:25:04Z")
> [@jtsanders](#): > > We also have boxes that manage electricity use on high demand days. Our utility did that, but it was voluntary. I opted out but they installed it anyway. I noticed because my air conditioner was blowing hot air. I went to check, saw the box, called them up, they removed it. They had mis-wired it: it turned off the compressor but not the fan, and bypassed the plenum switch that turns the fan on only when the temperature in the plenum has dropped low enough. I can’t take the heat when it gets \>90° inside, can’t always go elsewhere, can’t take enough cold showers. I’ll gladly pay more. I switched to CFLs then LEDs before there were rebates, turn the HVAC off when I go out, have fans that blow all night in the summer, all day in the winter when it’s warm enough, almost certainly conserve more than the average user. 1 size doesn’t suit all. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 7:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/28 "2020-05-24T19:16:54Z")
We can use all we want. The utility gave us incentive for using less. The program is voluntary. They trim a few cycles per minute. We can’t recognize it, except that the cooling isn’t quite as efficient. We keep our AC at 78 anyway, so you might say we can’t tell. ---
**Author:** ![PhantomPatriot](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/phantompatriot/32/20713_2.png) [@PhantomPatriot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PhantomPatriot)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/29 "2020-05-24T19:20:38Z")
I wonder if they will reimburse you for any potentially shortened lifespan of any equipment due to it operating outside of its design spec. 60hz is 60hz. I doubt a voltage regulators will thrive in that environment. The mismatch will heat them up and cause them to fail sooner. A hidden cost? Perhaps. ---
**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2020, 7:28pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/30 "2020-05-24T19:28:18Z")
We average $90 electric in winter, and max $150 in summer. With natural gas for stove and dryer and water heater bills rarely go over $235 a month. What are you guys paying? 1100 sq ft home, double brick built in 1918, no insulation except r18 in attic. And we keep temps 70 or so in the winter and summer. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2020, 1:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/31 "2020-05-25T01:31:31Z")
I noticed in the paper today that Alaska is sending out their oil checks three months early. About $1000 per resident I believe. In contrast Minnesota has managed to turn a $1.5 billion dollar surplus into a $2.4 billion deficit in a matter of a few months. I wonder if Alaska would be considering a partnership. It could be called Minnelaska and we could share a lot of stuff, but mostly their money. Oh I forgot that would be unconstitutional. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 12:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/32 "2020-05-29T12:08:53Z")
[https://assets.amuniversal.com/28d095707c33013802d6005056a9545d](https://assets.amuniversal.com/28d095707c33013802d6005056a9545d) ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 1:01pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/33 "2020-05-29T13:01:11Z")
An oddball link with no description? Not clicking on that! ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/34 "2020-05-29T18:51:29Z")
If it’s Random, it’s prolly NYT or something behind a pay wall. Geez though gas has gone up to $1.89 now in Minnesota. ---
**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 8:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/35 "2020-05-29T20:16:39Z")
It’s a cartoon, and funny at that. Well, might hit too close to home for you @texases. Bonus! No extra cost to view! ---
**Author:** ![Whitey](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/whitey/32/24680_2.png) [@Whitey](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Whitey)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/36 "2020-05-29T21:20:26Z")
> [@bing](#): > > If it’s Random, it’s prolly NYT… _ **Psssssst!!** _ I have secret to share with you: The links to NYT articles always have “nytimes” in the web address. Don’t tell anyone!!! ---
**Author:** ![texases](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/texases/32/862_2.png) [@texases](https://community.cartalk.com/u/texases)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/37 "2020-05-29T21:33:25Z")
I took a look, funny. We’re back in positive numbers, around $35/bbl today. Two-thirds of US drilling rigs (not production wells) are shut down, more to come I bet. ---
**Author:** ![B.L.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/848f3c/32.png) [@B.L.E](https://community.cartalk.com/u/B.L.E)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2020, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/38 "2020-05-29T22:15:28Z")
![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/3/8/38405a9abc325bfe64f8b979fde66122fc18a163.jpeg) Here ya go! The cartoon itself, no need to click a link. ---
**Author:** ![RandomTroll](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/randomtroll/32/12184_2.png) [@RandomTroll](https://community.cartalk.com/u/RandomTroll)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2020, 1:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/39 "2020-05-30T13:56:47Z")
> [@texases](#): > > An oddball link with no description? Universal makes automated viewing more difficult with random-string URIs. > [@texases](#): > > I took a look, funny. We’re back in positive numbers, around $35/bbl today. Harry Bliss draws a daily cartoon. The tradition of daily cartoons was to submit 2 weeks’ worth at a time. Despite being unnecessary now it continues, thus, the daily cartoon is often behind the news. ---
**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2020, 2:52am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/40 "2020-05-31T02:52:41Z")
That’s an outrageous price for lemonade. We used to charge a nickel. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2020, 3:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144/41 "2020-05-31T03:39:12Z")
I remember getting a coke cola and a moon pie for a dime also used to go to a cafe and get a cup of coffee (with refills) a slice of apple pie and leave a quarter to cover the pie coffee and tip. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144.md?page=1) [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/oil-is-selling-in-negative-numbers/163144.md?page=3)