National Grid is Making Me Too Competitive

Some people make everything into a competition. Confession: I am one of those people. Not always, but often. For example, when National Grid started sending these letters out letting us know how our energy consumption stacked up against our neighbors.

GAME ON.

I've always been energy conscious, but now, seeing an actual score, me versus the neighbors, I'm really motivated. And for the last ~~round~~ ~~grading period~~ month, I WON! That's right, I used 3% less energy than my energy efficient neighbors. I can totally read by the light of this candle and only open the refrigerator twice a day. Must. Keep. Winning. Woo hoo - take that, neighbors!

WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME?

I can't help it. It's not that I'm one those people who keep the thermostat set no higher than 64 degrees, even in February. But, I did get a little peeved when my husband turned on the central air last night. "My score," I thought, with more than a little concern. In the end, I went with it; score be darned, and it was hot.

Someone will need to explain how this helps National Grid. It's obviously designed to motivate people to use less energy, and they're spending all this money keeping track of this information and then mailing out all those letters. Sounds like a lose/lose. As a friend pointed out, couldn't we save more money if National Grid gave us a credit equivalent to the cost of this program? Maybe.

In the end, I guess it's a good thing to be more energy-efficient and I guess not everything has to be a competition.

I have to go now, all this computer use is raising our energy score.

The Kindness of Neighbors in the City of Rome