By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Will the second meter provide a greater savings than the reduced rate for "combo" use? That is, the discount now given by socal gas for using one meter for both home and car.
just so I can track how much fuel my car is using plus it is nice that it is pretty small. I just applied for the combined discount which bumps the customer fee from $5 to $10 so we will see if the rate offsets that charge. Once the meter is connected I will ask the gas co about the dedicated NGV rate. I bet they will say nope since they did not install the meter and it is located in my garage.
Thanks,
Loran
The monthly charge increases from about $5.00 to $10.00 and the gas is sold for a lower rate. The total gas bill will be about 12% lower.
There is a form at the Gas Company web site for the new rate. It took the Gas Company over a month to respond to my application.
I did not see any indication of a baseline limit.
No, I did not sign up for the combined rate. I'll just wait and see what the gas co does next. I'm thinking that somewhere down the line they will figure out a way to take advantage of the auto users. The less they know the better. They are already selling out to clean energy.
I understand that the only way to get a 2k rebate/credit for a Phill is to lease one from Honda. The cash purchases are not eligible any longer
CORRECTION: I watched the "clean energy" pump video again the other day. "Nozzle Man" is actually "Nozzle Guy". I would like to apologize to "Nozzle Guy" for mis-identifying him in my last post.
Someone mentioned that the Phil no longer offers rebates.
Is that true?
In my case, I would not be purchasing a Honda.
I live in Southern Calif. San Diego Gas and Electric.
If there is no rebate, the conversion payback is much longer.
Thanks
Has anybody figured out what we are paying per G.G.E. for fuel lately. I know the formula for electricity & natural gas computation are somewhere here on the forum.
Bud.
Have I heard (or read) correctly that the rebates were only for 100 units sold? Holy cow, that is just SAD! :mad:
Fueling up at the station by LAX (Aviation/Century), I noticed the price per unit has risen to a whopping $2.49.
Also, 2 1/2 weeks ago I fueled up for $1.94 in Bellflower, it then increased to $2.04 per GGE and now it's at $2.17...
Just thought I'd vent... Sorry :sick:
Those of us who have had to deal with AQMD, So.Cal Gas, local building permits, etc. regarding our PHILL have learned NOBODY really cares except for FUELMAKER.
Last Summer before the hurricanes the pump price for CNG was around $0.85 a G.G.E. in Fountain Valley, CA. :surprise:
"but after 4 years I could possibly unload the thing or keep using it"
How long will PHILL last?
I have 750-999 hours on mine with 10 months usage.
PHILL will display accumulated hours till 5,999 hours.
The PHILL Operating Instructions state that at the end of PHILL's life cycle it must be disposed off properly. In Calif. you must obtain a special label that says "HAZARDOUS WASTE". I think Honda wants control of PHILL when we are done with him. So they can recycle or dispose of PHILL legally. Plus they would have access to post usage teardowns to see how the PHILL units performed in real life usage. Remember Honda owns part of FUELMAKER. You would think that Honda would love to sell as many PHILL's & Civic Gx's as possible. But it seems like Honda is still stuck in the fleet market mentality with the GX. And Honda's interest in Fuelmaker may be more forward looking into hydrogen than just CNG.
1 GGE = 1.25 therms = $1.52 at my rate
1 KW = $.12 at my rate
I am not going to touch it now since my new phill unit is having a problem giving my GX a complete fill. Right now it is only going ~175 miles before the gas gauge goes to critical (below the E line). Before with the LAX fast fill station I could go at least 200.
In both message number 652 and message number 663, there is mention of a $1000 dollar tax credit for getting a PHILL. According to what I read at http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch12.html, this was a tax deduction that ended on December 31, 2005. I can't find anything about a tax credit for installing PHILL this year. I am aware of the $2000 SCAQMD rebates which are now only available if I lease a PHILL. Is there also a tax credit that I have missed reading about somewhere?
Thanks in advance for any information on this.
Live and learn.
"Deduction limit. The maximum deduction you can claim for clean-fuel vehicle refueling property placed in service at one location is $100,000. To figure your maximum deduction for any tax year, subtract from $100,000 the total you (or any related person or predecessor) claimed for clean-fuel vehicle refueling property placed in service at that location for all earlier years."
The deduction is up to 100% of the price of the refueling property, i.e. $3600+tax in the case of the Phill unit.
I still am uncertain regarding whether this deduction can be claimed for a PHILL that is placed into service this year. Using the web page that I cited earlier, the part that you quoted is about a third of the way down the page under the title, "Deduction for Clean-Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property". However, near the top of the page under the title "What's New", it reads, "Clean-fuel vehicle and refueling property deduction. The clean-fuel vehicle and refueling property deduction will expire for vehicles placed in service after December 31, 2005." It goes on to talk about the new "Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit", but as far as I've found, that only applies to vehicles and not to fueling devices.
Am I reading this wrong, or is there something somewhere that I've missed?
Federal tax credit towards the installation of alternative fueling stations. A tax credit of up to 50% or $1000 to be applied to taxes imposed for the installation year (valid from December 31st, 2004)
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch12.html
http://www.myphill.com/incentives.htm
The state of California has enacted a $4,000 tax credit for new natural gas vehicles (NGVs) purchased after January 1, 2006. Consumers will need to fill out IRS Form 8910 Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit. For more information please refer to IRS Website www.irs.org
I hope this helps.
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch12.html " is a direct quote from the PHILL website.
However, the link that they give is the one I've been using. The link (an IRS webpage) talks about a federal tax deduction (not a tax credit) for refueling property. The formula is not 50% or $1000, and the part that is most disconcerting is near the top of the page under the title "What's New". It reads, "Clean-fuel vehicle and refueling property deduction. The clean-fuel vehicle and refueling property deduction will expire for vehicles placed in service after December 31, 2005." It goes on to talk about the new "Alternative Motor Vehicle Credit", but as far as I've found, that only applies to vehicles and not to fueling devices.
As I read it, this says that the deductions have expired and that I cannot get a deduction for placing a PHILL in service this year.
Am I reading this wrong, or is there something somewhere that I've missed?
You can also contact FuleMaker directly to confirm that this is a credit as well.
1-866-MY PHILL (697-4455)
The unit was delivered to the installer over two months ago.
I finally worked my way up to the top of the "list". The installer said the permits were filed with the city (in Orange Co. CA.) Then weeks later still nothing. After I called the installer he told me that he was just waiting for the Orange County Fire Authority approval. I waited and waited, still nothing so I called the OCFA. Nothing was ever filed with OCFA. Recalled the installer and was told Phill was dealing with the OCFA. I called Phill and found out that OCFA wants to charge 980.00 for approval inspection.
It took MY inquires to find this out, nobody told me anything except to wait. Pissed off to say the least.
My question to all who've had a Phill installed, especially in Orange County, CA. Has anyone had to pay fire department fees before this?
Still waiting, and waiting, while my unit sits on someone's floor.
When I first got my GX the first thing I was going do do was get a Phill installed. After all the research I have done, I have still not decided.
I am not sure if all the expense will pay off for me.
Even if I lease the unit, and the fuel cost comes out to around a dollar, it will cost me 39$ (lease) to save about 80$ in fuel bills.
My main gas line and meter is in the perfect location for an easy installation, right next to my garage wall.
Who knows the hassle of installation in Riverside county CA? They probably want to get a piece of the money too.
The OCFA thing sounds like a Nightmare!
We didn't have to do that last year.
FUELMAKER will do EVERYTHING they can for you.
I'll email you some suggestions.
Please keep us advised.
Once you get PHILL working,
it makes driving the GX $O NICE!
The inspector required documentation of the installer training and plumbing license.
Is Orange in the South Coast Air Quality Management District? They were very helpful when I needed assistance obtaining Gas Company approval.
I called the Alt. Fuels Liason at Honda Corp. in Torrance and was told that they are working on getting the fees waived. But, it seemed like they were just "waiting" for a call back. I was told that I could pay the fee or wait "awhile". No time frame, just wait awhile.
So...if you are thinking about an install that is in OCFA territory, be ready to pay up. When I get the actual amount i'll post it, I've been told anywhere from 700-900 dollars.
Even after I pay, I think the OCFA says it will take over 10 days to approve the plans.
Anybody else consideration an installation in the OCFA's jurisdiction be prepared to pay.
Please let us know what you get for your $615.00.
I wonder if they even send somebody to look at your installation. You'll be PHILL'in soon. GOOD LUCK!
Happy Philling :0)
Murphy
I also live in the area serviced by Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA). I contacted them and was told that the cost of the plan check was $615.00, which is consistent with the amount that airmar paid.
Checking the OCFA web site, I see that the next meeting of their Executive Committee is Thursday, October 26 at 6:00 P.M. in Irvine. They allow a time for public input on items that are not on the agenda, but of course they will take no action on such an item at that meeting. I was thinking of attending the meeting and giving my input requesting that the OCFA consider waiving their fee for their plan check of a Phill installation. Anyone want to join me at the meeting? The more people we have making a fuss about this, the more likely they are to pay attention to it.
For refueling property that was installed on or before December 31, 2005, go to http://www.irs.gov/publications/p535/ch12.html
This is a tax deduction, not a tax credit. My advise to fbaldwin is to consult your tax advisor to see if this applies to your situation, since you only paid for the installation and not the refueling property. Also, someone told me that this deduction was for businesses, not individuals. I don't know if that is true or not. At least this gives you a place to start looking. Good luck.
http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/2005/phillhomerefuelingunitpr.html
the MSRC/AQMD incentive of $2000 for getting a Phill was authorized for 100 units to be sold by Fuelmaker and 300 units to be leased through American Honda. The 100 incentives for units sold by Fuelmaker have been exhausted. Does anyone know how many incentives are left for units that are leased through American Honda? I don't want to miss the $2000 incentive from MSRC/AQMD while we're fiddling around trying to get Orange County Fire Authority to waive their $615 plan check.
I still plan on attending the Executive Committee meeting of the Orange County Fire Authority on Thursday evening this week at 6:00 P.M. in Irvine to give a public comment thanking OCFA for reducing the fee, and suggesting they seek ways to waive the fee entirely. Anyone else want to join me at the meeting?
The installer delivered the plans to OCFA and called me from the office. They wouldn't even accept the plans without the money. I had to give them my credit card over the phone. I remember them saying that it was two charges that totaled up to 615. Sorry but I can't remember the split. I just wanted to "gett'r done".