CPS Smart Meters (how much, home, neighborhoods)

[Hedgehog_Mom]

If you think about it, the meter reader could probably read the meters at a hundred houses in an hour, when every meter in the neighborhood had to be read. There was only travel time to and from the neighborhood once, for all of the meters in that neighborhood, because they all get read on the same day. If three people in the neighborhood opt out of the smart meters, then the meter reader now has to come out to just read those three. That means that CPS is having to pay the meter reader for the travel time to the neighborhood just to service those three customers.

It's fair for CPS to charge the customers who haven't had the smart meter installed, because now the meter reader is an extra expense that is only needed for a few customers.

[ged_782]

Originally Posted by Azure110

Smart meters are still relatively new to CPS customers and I personally feel they come with risks (inaccurate billing, safety, privacy, etc) still. I will leave it at that.

I didn't want to turn this thread into a debate over smart meters vs. analog meters. My main issue were the charges incurred for choosing to stick with analog meters which is my own personal choice. Charges that did not exist before.

I do agree with you that not having a meter guy walking through your yard is a benefit of the smart meters. Mine isn't in the yard though.

I guess I should quit my day job and charge people $20 per house to read meters all day. Seems like that would pay better than what I make now.

Originally Posted by Hedgehog_Mom

If you think about it, the meter reader could probably read the meters at a hundred houses in an hour, when every meter in the neighborhood had to be read. There was only travel time to and from the neighborhood once, for all of the meters in that neighborhood, because they all get read on the same day. If three people in the neighborhood opt out of the smart meters, then the meter reader now has to come out to just read those three. That means that CPS is having to pay the meter reader for the travel time to the neighborhood just to service those three customers.

It's fair for CPS to charge the customers who haven't had the smart meter installed, because now the meter reader is an extra expense that is only needed for a few customers.

My meter, along with most of the homes in my neighborhood, is on the back of the house. That means I had to leave the fenced back yard accessible for the meter reader every month (they still physically verify meter readings for a few months after installation). With the Smart Meter, that doesn't have to be done anymore. Furthermore, as I posted earlier, I had been plagued with estimated readings, and in some cases, in-person readings that I verified were erroneous, for some time prior to the Smart Meter upgrade. I attribute that partially to meter reader staff reductions (through attrition), due to the Smart Meter upgrade program, and the use of contract meter readers to fill the void in the interim.

Just looking at the homes around mine, along with others in my neighborhood where I can see the meter, I haven't noticed any that still have the old analog meter.

[Hedgehog_Mom]

Originally Posted by ged_782

My meter, along with most of the homes in my neighborhood, is on the back of the house. That means I had to leave the fenced back yard accessible for the meter reader every month (they still physically verify meter readings for a few months after installation). With the Smart Meter, that doesn't have to be done anymore. Furthermore, as I posted earlier, I had been plagued with estimated readings, and in some cases, in-person readings that I verified were erroneous, for some time prior to the Smart Meter upgrade. I attribute that partially to meter reader staff reductions (through attrition), due to the Smart Meter upgrade program, and the use of contract meter readers to fill the void in the interim.

Just looking at the homes around mine, along with others in my neighborhood where I can see the meter, I haven't noticed any that still have the old analog meter.

I can't wait until they switch in my neighborhood, so that I can put a locked gate in the section of my yard where the meter is.

If I'm right, CPS switched to contract meter readers about 5 years ago...I remember they were hiring meter readers at $10/hour and the company hiring was not CPS, so that's probably why there were more errors than there used to be.

[elnina]

Originally Posted by Azure110

My main issue were the charges incurred for choosing to stick with analog meters which is my own personal choice. Charges that did not exist before.
I do agree with you that not having a meter guy walking through your yard is a benefit of the smart meters. Mine isn't in the yard though.
I guess I should quit my day job and charge people $20 per house to read meters all day. Seems like that would pay better than what I make now.

There is no need for people who walked from house to house and manually read those meters, and probably entered their reading into a spreadsheet or something like that.
Smart meters are now read remotely over a wireless network.
I am sure that the utility companies eliminated or redirected those jobs to cut on operating costs (their costs, of course).
People who decided to keep their old meters must NOW pay extra for the personal readings, because that's extra cost for the utility companies (and extra jobs for those who have to do it manually).

Spoiler

[flashfearless]

When I lived near Philly, these were installed for water readings. I think that I would rather have these being installed by SAWS. No more estimated water bills would be nice.

[The Man in SATX]

I have had my "smart meter" for about 4 years now. In that time I don't think I have had one single problem with it. My bills haven't gone haywire and when they are trying to control your temp you can always override it. Now the word "new" is relative to what you consider "new" but a 2012 vehicle at this point wouldn't be "new". I don't think the smart meters out are "new" either. They may have a "new" updated version but they are not new to San Antonio.


And yes.. either upgrade or pay to have your meter read every month. Its the way of the world these days.. you get forced into things that you resist.. nothing new in society

[pobre]

We have had ours for about 3 years...zero issues.

Love the portal where I can view energy usage. We also have the thermostats, and can adjust remotely of needed.

[Rustybolt]

Originally Posted by The Man in SATX

I have had my "smart meter" for about 4 years now. In that time I don't think I have had one single problem with it. My bills haven't gone haywire and when they are trying to control your temp you can always override it. Now the word "new" is relative to what you consider "new" but a 2012 vehicle at this point wouldn't be "new". I don't think the smart meters out are "new" either. They may have a "new" updated version but they are not new to San Antonio.


And yes.. either upgrade or pay to have your meter read every month. Its the way of the world these days.. you get forced into things that you resist.. nothing new in society

CPS Energy smart meters didn't start going in until 2014. I think you are confusing these with the home energy manager which did start much earlier.

[pobre]

Originally Posted by Rustybolt

CPS Energy smart meters didn't start going in until 2014.

On a city wide scale. On an individual scale, if you wanted the newer thermostats you also agreed to have your meter swapped out, which is what we did.

[Bo]

CPS isn't openly admitting it, but smart meters could eventually be used for demand pricing. The wholesale price of electricity fluctuates throughout the day and the rate we all pay for the amount we use each month is an estimated average of that rate. With demand pricing, you'd pay more for what you use during peak periods and less during lean periods.

So at 5:00 pm on those hottest summer afternoons, if you run the home AC at full blast, you'll regret it when you get your bill! By the time that pricing gets put in place, thermostats should be smart enough that we can program them to avoid running the system during those price spikes.

Demand pricing could cut utility bills