 SparkChaserPremium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA
kudos:3
 ·Verizon FiOS
| Smart meter coming This will be interesting. Just got a letter from PECO the local electric utility that we'll be getting new meters in the next 2 months.
My bill can't go any higher. could it?  |
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Reviews:
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·ViaTalk
| reply to SparkChaser
Re: Smart meter coming I have heard stories about people bill going up when changing over to smart meters.
They did mine maybe spring/summer 2011 bill did remain about the same for me.
Well I guess I should say my usage remained about the same.  |
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 John97Over The Hills And Far AwayPremium
join:2000-11-14
Spring Hill, FL | reply to SparkChaser
Are they still catching on fire? That was big news before I moved down here from the land of PECO this past fall.
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So put me on a highway, and show me a sign.
And take it to the limit one more time... |
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 tschmidtPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-12
Milford, NH
kudos:8
 ·G4 Communications
·Fairpoint Commun..
 ·Hollis Hosting
| reply to dcurrey
said by dcurrey:I have heard stories about people bill going up when changing over to smart meters.
I think the worst billing horror stories were net metering customers. Apparently some of the smart meters did not pay attention to energy flow direction so charged both for energy consumed and energy delivered to the grid.
There is a petition floating around NH to ban smart meters due to radiation fears. As John97  posted there were problems with fire, and there are legitimate privacy and eavesdropping concerns but fears about the radio are way over the top. Smart meters may also bring time-of-day pricing to residential customers, not sure how I feel about that. Peaking electricity is much more expensive then base load and commercial customers already have to deal with that type of pricing.
/tom |
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| reply to SparkChaser
I'm on my second smart meter already in FP&L territory. They put in some cheap looking one last year, then came out last month and put in a nicer looking one.
I wonder how long they'll go before they decide to change it again. haha
I like the new one, it shows the current power draw and voltage, as well as being two-way, thus compatible with solar systems pushing power back into the grid.
This one has a radio too, I don't think the older one did.
I just hope the jaws in my 1950's meter pan are still ok after the double meter swap. |
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 seaquakePremium,MVM
join:2001-03-23
Millersville, MD
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to SparkChaser
We actually saved a chunk of money during the switch-over. One bill they estimated after the switch and it was substantially lower than it should have been. Figured they would catch it the next month but they didn't. My guess is the lost the last reading of the analog meter and couldn't reconcile the energy used. |
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| reply to SparkChaser
I wish they would get around to doing that here. As far as I can tell, they don't even do remote read here, as every other month we get an 'estimated' bill instead of an actual one. If it just involved someone driving through to read all the meters, I'm pretty sure they'd get someone to drive through the 300+ unit apartment complex I live in. |
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1 edit | reply to SparkChaser
If you follow the link you will see some of the issues we are having with our metering in Canada. the comments are also a good read.
»www.castanet.net/edition/news-st···tm#88122
»www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/88···protests |
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SparkChaserPremium
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA
kudos:3 Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to John97
said by John97:Are they still catching on fire? That was big news before I moved down here from the land of PECO this past fall.
I hope not. They had a big replacement project and weren't doing new installs until that was done. (or so they say  )
We been on remote read for years, same with water.
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"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." - Aldous Huxley
"When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him." Jonathan Swift |
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 TA63ST215WPremium,MVM
join:2000-11-23
there
kudos:2
·TekSavvy DSL
·Cogeco Cable
| reply to wheeled
This link has nothing to do with smart meters.
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The talented hawk speaks French. |
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| reply to SparkChaser
No increase in bill due to smart meter here.
It's very nice actually. I can monitor my usage on the state website.
Dave
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I may have been born yesterday. But it wasn't at night. |
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 cdruGo ColtsPremium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
kudos:7 | reply to tschmidt
said by tschmidt:There is a petition floating around NH to ban smart meters due to radiation fears. As John97 posted there were problems with fire, and there are legitimate privacy and eavesdropping concerns but fears about the radio are way over the top. Do you have a phone number to voice a concern? I just need to go grab my cell phone or cordless phone. Or maybe a webpage where I can use my laptop via wifi... |
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peterboroAvatars are for posersPremium
join:2006-11-03
Peterborough, ON | reply to SparkChaser
We discuss this quite often in CanChat and the consensus is that unless you are hyper vigilant about your time of use you will pay the same or more. It's a money grad pure and simple wrapped up as an eco friendly initiative. »Does anyone here have a Hydro Smart Meter ? |
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AsherN
join:2010-08-23
Thornhill, ON | reply to tschmidt
said by tschmidt:said by dcurrey:I have heard stories about people bill going up when changing over to smart meters.
I think the worst billing horror stories were net metering customers. Apparently some of the smart meters did not pay attention to energy flow direction so charged both for energy consumed and energy delivered to the grid. There is a petition floating around NH to ban smart meters due to radiation fears. As John97 posted there were problems with fire, and there are legitimate privacy and eavesdropping concerns but fears about the radio are way over the top. Smart meters may also bring time-of-day pricing to residential customers, not sure how I feel about that. Peaking electricity is much more expensive then base load and commercial customers already have to deal with that type of pricing. /tom They emit no more that portable phones, WiFi routers, cell phones, etc.
I always chuckle at the privacy and eavesdropping. They have TOD patterns. That tells nothing other than overall usage in the home. A peak at noon can mean either I'm doing a load of dishes, or I just fed a quarter in the bedpost.
TOD billing makes you change your habits a bit. It's not a big deal. It means that I have to press the delay buton on my dishwasher after dinner. My bill has gone down after the installation of the meters. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Time Warner Cable
·Embarq Now Centu..
1 edit | Oh yes - my whole electric plan is built on that principle about TOU Demand. What really kills is what they call the Peak Demand - the number of watts used in the highest 15 minutes of the on-peak rate period. I've taken care that I have a timer on my electric tank water heater to prevent it from coming on during peak times. I'm also careful about how the heat pump operates. It's also why I do laundry on the weekend - when I can run the water heater and the electric clothes dryer anytime for as much time as I need.
OTOH - I'm AVERAGING $60 / month of savings over the usual flat rate for my electric usage. So - it's not all bad... |
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 Dude111An Awesome DudePremium
join:2003-08-04
USA
kudos:11 | reply to SparkChaser
I would strongly advise trying to fight having one of these things being installed!
Alot of possible health risks and privacy issues!
»www.smartmeterdangers.org
»www.emfblues.com/Smart-Meters-Dangers.html
Good luck my friend -- Please read these 2 links before discarding them ok?? Im trying to help you!! |
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 Coma Thanks StevePremium
join:2001-12-30
NirvanaLand |
Sounds like governmental double speak.
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March is National Noodle Month |
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 JtmoPremium
join:2001-05-20
Novato, CA | reply to SparkChaser
Re: Smart meter coming We all sit here at computers, use cell phones, live near power wires in our walls, use wireless TV's, routers, Xbox etc. and people still worry about the wireless 'radiation' from a meter installed OUTSIDE?
Really? Where is my foil hat......
I think most of the early bugs were worked out in California with some bad meters, my neighbor had a leaking gas smart meter replaced. You can even PG&E Opt-out for a $10 a month charge to have a guy come out and read the meter. The manpower savings, lack of dog bites, lack of having someone enter your back year etc. must be huge.
I like the meter charts, I can tell my gas goes way up when the clothes get dried (gas). Electric spikes at that time also due to the dryer and washer motors. |
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Dude111An Awesome DudePremium
join:2003-08-04
USA
kudos:11 | quote:
You can even PG&E Opt-out for a $10 a month charge to have a guy come out and read the meter.
I believe this is WELL WORTH IT!!! -- Forget the RF risks,IF YOU HAVE ANY ''SMART'' APPLIANCES THEY CAN BE CONTROLLED BY THEM!! (And monitored for usage stats,etc)
Its just another way to get tighter control on people!! |
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