Electric "Smart Meters"

[MS Fowler]

No agenda here, just looking for good, solid information.

Many electric companies are wanting to install "smart meters". The benefits, according to the companies are lower cost to consumers because the smart meters transmit the meter's data, so no one is required to physically read the meter. The smart meters also record electrical usage and time of day information, so consumers can benefit by using electricity at low demand times.

The other side complains that the RF emitted by the smart meters is dangerous, and that "NO" studies have been run to prove the RF emissions are safe. I have no way to evaluate that claim.
The opponents also do not want the smart meters to shut off high demand appliances, like air conditioning, during times when demand is critical. My local electrical company already has such a program, w/o the smart meters. Customers may elect to participate at various levels, with monthly savings as an incentive. For instance if you participate at 100%, your A/C will be shut off 100% of the time of the "event"--maybe 5-6 hours. But these customers get a good discount off their bill. Customers may also participate at 40% level which allows the A/C to run 40% of the time during an "event", but their monthly discount is less. The fear trumpeted by the opponents is that smart meters will give the electric companies ( and maybe the government ) the ability to control peoples' electrical usage, and then adds in concern for the aged and infirm for whom a lack of A/C may be fatal.

I can see valid points on both sides, but for information, all I see is propaganda from either side. Is there any "objective" information out there---assuming "objectivity" is possible?

[Air&Road]

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

No agenda here, just looking for good, solid information.

Many electric companies are wanting to install "smart meters". The benefits, according to the companies are lower cost to consumers because the smart meters transmit the meter's data, so no one is required to physically read the meter. The smart meters also record electrical usage and time of day information, so consumers can benefit by using electricity at low demand times.

The other side complains that the RF emitted by the smart meters is dangerous, and that "NO" studies have been run to prove the RF emissions are safe. I have no way to evaluate that claim.
The opponents also do not want the smart meters to shut off high demand appliances, like air conditioning, during times when demand is critical. My local electrical company already has such a program, w/o the smart meters. Customers may elect to participate at various levels, with monthly savings as an incentive. For instance if you participate at 100%, your A/C will be shut off 100% of the time of the "event"--maybe 5-6 hours. But these customers get a good discount off their bill. Customers may also participate at 40% level which allows the A/C to run 40% of the time during an "event", but their monthly discount is less. The fear trumpeted by the opponents is that smart meters will give the electric companies ( and maybe the government ) the ability to control peoples' electrical usage, and then adds in concern for the aged and infirm for whom a lack of A/C may be fatal.

I can see valid points on both sides, but for information, all I see is propaganda from either side. Is there any "objective" information out there---assuming "objectivity" is possible?

I've heard this argument for awhile and it appears that you are onto them. It definitely sets the stage for more control of the way we live our lives. The next thing you know, they will be talking about disallowing Happy Meals. Wait a minute, they are ALREADY talking about outlawing Happy Meals.

[MTI]

Think of all the meter readers you'll be putting out of a job.

[Air&Road]

Originally Posted by MTI

Think of all the meter readers you'll be putting out of a job.

Good point!

[davidmash]

Originally Posted by MS Fowler

No agenda here, just looking for good, solid information.

Many electric companies are wanting to install "smart meters". The benefits, according to the companies are lower cost to consumers because the smart meters transmit the meter's data, so no one is required to physically read the meter. The smart meters also record electrical usage and time of day information, so consumers can benefit by using electricity at low demand times.

The other side complains that the RF emitted by the smart meters is dangerous, and that "NO" studies have been run to prove the RF emissions are safe. I have no way to evaluate that claim.
The opponents also do not want the smart meters to shut off high demand appliances, like air conditioning, during times when demand is critical. My local electrical company already has such a program, w/o the smart meters. Customers may elect to participate at various levels, with monthly savings as an incentive. For instance if you participate at 100%, your A/C will be shut off 100% of the time of the "event"--maybe 5-6 hours. But these customers get a good discount off their bill. Customers may also participate at 40% level which allows the A/C to run 40% of the time during an "event", but their monthly discount is less. The fear trumpeted by the opponents is that smart meters will give the electric companies ( and maybe the government ) the ability to control peoples' electrical usage, and then adds in concern for the aged and infirm for whom a lack of A/C may be fatal.

I can see valid points on both sides, but for information, all I see is propaganda from either side. Is there any "objective" information out there---assuming "objectivity" is possible?

No idea where these programs are offered. I live in TX and have never heard of it. I have a smart meter on my house as well as my rental. I can guarantee that were such a program offered here no one would sign up. You can not survive here in TX with out AC. The heat and humidity is over whelming.

[Dudesky]

There's some concerns regarding COTUS. The electric company and your friendly local law enforcement branch can access your electric usage and determine maybe you are growing weed or other activities you shouldn't be doing.

Supposedly they can't replace your meter with a smart meter with out your consent. You tell them your meter is working fine and you don't want it replaced. If you let them install one and then have some privacy concerns later, they will tell you that you gave implied consent when you let them install it.

As far a Texas electricity......most if not all have some type energy conservation plans offered.It would be on their site 'green'.

Obama gave Siemens a boatload of cash for smart meters and smart thermostats to be installed everywhere.
See the thermostat from Home Depot you can change with your cell phone?? Obama could too..You been had.

[Air&Road]

Originally Posted by davidmash

No idea where these programs are offered. I live in TX and have never heard of it. I have a smart meter on my house as well as my rental. I can guarantee that were such a program offered here no one would sign up. You can not survive here in TX with out AC. The heat and humidity is over whelming.

I wish I had known that when I was a kid. I wouldn't have survived my school years.

We never had air conditioning in schools all the way through high school. I was never in an air conditioned classroom until I was in college. Beyond a swamp cooler on the roof when we lived in Lubbock for a few years, we never had a/c in the house, but the whole family survived. How did THAT happen?

When I was a kid, it was a big deal to go to an afternoon movie in the heat of the Summer because it was air conditioned. We almost froze to death in there because we were so accustomed to the heat.

Have a great day!

[Aquaticedge]

We have one of those new fangled meters... our bill went down some and I've seen higher rf around a cell tower or high power ham Transmitter then from it. I'll borrow the RF meter again and post my results.

[davidmash]

I have noticed much of a difference. The only issue I had was for my Jan bill. It was $100 higher than I thought it should be. Dec and Feb were normal. I've been keeping an eye on it and the rest of the year was normal.

[spdrun]

Use the smart meter with disconnection. What's to stop you from using a window ac connected to a normal outlet if they shut your ac down? Follow the letter of the rules: f*** the spirit.

[Nate]

My Aunt and Uncle had one installed at their home to save some money. They had lived there for 20 years at the time, and had kept track of energy usage.

Their first month, energy consumption was up 35%, with no explanation. Not in billing, but in the kwh's used. Phone calls to the energy co-op were answered with "the old ones ran a little slow, so it's just catching up"

With enough phone calls, their first year was run on "adjustment", and then after that year was up, their energy usage was up around 5%, unexplained as well. Not worth arguing over again, but still not the point.


A standard copper conductor rod measured by weight is still an absolutely perfect standard to measure by. But, it's "too much work" to do that.


~Nate

[Aquaticedge]

Our meter must have been running fast... Our bill was around 230.00 year round with heat/AC on, our bills have been averaging 150-180 now. it's either I've been using energy less or something was up with the meter... granted the AC is set to a sweltering 84*...... I dont like it but it saves money and it's cooler inside then it is out....still hate it though.

[retmil46]

Duke Power has been installing these smart meters for some time now - AFAIK, they didn't ask any homeowner's permission - in our case, we simply got a notice with the next month's bill saying "your old meter was defective, so it was replaced, and BTW you owe us an extra $30 for doing so" - or in other cases it was called a "utility equipment upgrade program" or some such, and apparently done with the blessing of whatever regulatory agency was involved.

The downside that I've heard of with these, is that if one of them goes spastic and drastically overreports the amount of electricity you used, there's no hard copy record of what the meter actually read, and then it's just your word against the utility company.

OTOH, if the utility company thinks it's underreporting useage - as in the case of our "defective" meter - you can bet they'll be out toot sweet to check it out, and get charged an additional amount on your bill for the "estimated error".

In the case of my "defective" meter - it was on my adjoining property, while I was still down in TX - single wide trailer, unoccupied, with everything turned off except for the heating unit set at 45 degrees and an outside dusk to dawn security light. Meter itself was less than 8 years old.

For the first 1 1/2 years I was in TX, the bill was never more than 25 or 30 dollars max in the dead of winter, 10 to 15 during the summer with only the security light burning power.

Then in spring of last year, one bill contained a notice that it had been "discovered" that my meter was defective and underreporting useage, along with a charge for replacing the meter and an extra charge for the "estimated error" in their favor.

From then on, the monthly power bill for that unoccupied trailer essentially doubled. Yeah, it was defective all right - as in they hadn't been making enough money off the residence for the past two years.

[spdrun]

Install a recording wattmeter, calibrated by a certified professional engineer. If power company over-reports their usage and refuses to change the bill, prosecute them for theft. Or just move 100% off-grid and f*** them.

[SirNik84]

They installed on in my friends house. The meter was on the other side of the wall from the master bedroom. My friend complained of head aches which started with the installation of the meter. Now they sleep in one of the smaller bedrooms on the other side of the house... no more head aches.