Beware of Smart Meters (laptop, reader, compare, electric)

[Macrina]

Originally Posted by Macrina

I'm following this conversation with interest because I've been told the SmartMeter Invasion is approaching this rural mountain area where I live ~ northern California ~ .
If it is optional, I think I will not get one; hmmm, I need to go find that brochure which I'd received some time ago and reread it.

OK, here's an update on this issue, as far as it effects me. I've been contacted twice by a sub-contractor for PG&E who is trying to install a SmartMeter for my apartment, which is in a complex of 60 other apartments.

I've said 'Not Now' twice, and the sub-contractor says that in the future PG&E will be contacting me directly. It must be that it's not mandatory, as the meter is outside and accessible.

So I thought I would hunt around on the internet for more information and it turns out that my little town has actually written an ordinance against the installation of these SmartMeters!

Something's not right here and I'll have a lot of phone calls to make tomorrow ~ as it's after 9 pm right now.

I also found lots of web sites about the dangers of EMFs of the Smart Meters, but honestly they seemed kind of radical, weird and off-the-wall. So I'm not sure what to think and want to know what's true and what isn't.

Does anyone have any new information about the accuracy and/or possible effects of having these meters?

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by Macrina

Does anyone have any new information about the accuracy and/or possible effects of having these meters?

It's not the accuracy that is in question, charging you more during peak usage is what drives the cost up.

[Macrina]

Originally Posted by thecoalman

It's not the accuracy that is in question, charging you more during peak usage is what drives the cost up.

It was my understanding that initially a certain % of the SmartMeters were found to be defective and inaccurate; hopefully that situation has changed. So far, I can't document that for certain.

But how would having the new meters actually charge one more during peak usage? Isn't it just to measure the usage and inform the customer as well as the utility? I guess I'm not getting what you're saying.

Meanwhile, I've spoken with a city council woman and the interim mayor and have found what I need to know about my particular situation:
Yes, there was a moratorium ordinance passed to stop the installation and Yes, PG&E is ignoring it, as it is not legally binding.

[plwhit]

^^^ Shows you how much our utility companies have our best interests at heart. They'll even disregard a cities wishes to squeeze those extra pennies from people.

And TY southgerogia for confirming what I said earlier, some posters thought their utility charges would vary and save them money once these meters were installed....

the utility doesn't adjust what you're being charged the same as the varying rate they're paying; they have an average rate to bill customers

[southgeorgia]

Originally Posted by plwhit

And TY southgerogia for confirming what I said earlier, some posters thought their utility charges would vary and save them money once these meters were installed....

just to clarify what i meant;

the power company isn't adjusting rates based on their real-time costs, but some do have peak/off-peak rates that vary by time-of-day, which of course requires a "smart meter".




also, the city i live in just finished installed their new wireless water meters; i just got last months bill, and my water bill doubled, as did my surrounding neighbors. i'm still trying to figure that one out, as the rates did not change, but somehow everyone on my street must have been issued a faulty mechanical meter that was measuring half of what we actually used.

[thecoalman]

Originally Posted by Macrina

But how would having the new meters actually charge one more during peak usage? Isn't it just to measure the usage and inform the customer as well as the utility? I guess I'm not getting what you're saying.

If all it could do was calculate the amount electricity it would be no different than regular meter. It can can also account for when you are using it and send this data back to the utility. They can charge you different rates at different times of the day.

My Uncle has had one of these for quite a while now and for him and his wife it's beneficial because they schedule activities that will consume a lot of electric when the rate is lowest. For example they have their electric hot water heater on a timer, it will only heat water when the rates are low at night. They take their showers, run the dishwasher and wash clothes during this time. They still have plenty of hot water during the day for washing hands or other things. It works for them because they are both retired and have a very flexible schedule.

[Asheville Native]

Originally Posted by Bo

Smart meters do make some sense. The wholesale cost of electricity varies over the course of a day, sometimes wildly. If you run your AC full blast at the most expensive times, you should pay more. (Currently, the variability in those costs is distributed to ALL customers.) But you should also have the option to have your AC automatically turn off at those times.

But only *_if_* the consumer knows when the rates are higher and can adjust their usage to conserve power thus saving money. Not practical if they are changing minute to minute.

[Philip T]

Originally Posted by Asheville Native

But only *_if_* the consumer knows when the rates are higher and can adjust their usage to conserve power thus saving money. Not practical if they are changing minute to minute.

It is called Time Of Use (TOU) Metering, and most folks that have it do so as part of a contract agreement.

Maybe think of it like Cell Phones. Some plans have "cost per minute" during the day (or Peak Use time) and then go "free" at night, when there is not much demand.

Northern Nevada has one of the more extreme TOU plans I have seen.

Residential Time of Use for Northern Service Territory

41 cents per kWh during Summer Daytime Peak, (1 pm to 6 pm, daily) and as low as 7 cents during Winter off peak, with discounts for folks with hybrid vehicles they may be charging during off-peak.

[Willsson]

I have had a Smart Meter for a little over a year and a one year agreement. That agreement charges 9.77 cents per kWh up to 1000 kWh, 10.734 cents over 1000 kWh. And my agreement shows this to be a fixed rate product. It also provides a 2 cents discount for recurring payment by credit card enrollment. This rates cannot be modified other than by direction of the state Utility Commission.

There was no spike or odd charges at the time the meter was installed and usage has been consistent. I am able to track daily usage by download of Smart Meter data and can even calculate my monthly payment... on a daily basis.

An added benefit, on the day Texas electricity experienced rolling black outs due to limited power production due to freezing weather, I called the elec company, chose RESIDENTIAL only to get a recorded explanation. Two minutes later my electricity was back on and did NOT roll off the rest of the day. This was achieved by use of the Smart Meter.

[gbj]

All customers will be charged $443. in monthly fees for the cost of the smart meter, though you will not own it and will be responsible if it catches your house on fire or electrical fires as reported by local click to houston news a couple weeks ago, these meters have been causing FIRES on homes. They transmit continuously and so will emit nonthermal radiation into your home every second of the day and night nonstop, there are THOUSANDS of scientific studies proving disease including leukemia in children and cancer with such chronic exposure to microwave frequencies. They collect your data constantly and are an invasion of plrivacy and vulnerable having your personal info. hacked. Please sign at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/nosmartmeters/ and call Chairman Smitherman of the PUC (info. on site) and demand a ban on smart meters!!!