[hadaclueonce]

so far in Texas the only thing smart about the meters is how Oncor got the PUCT to agree that customers should pay for them.

Oh, and they did get some Obama shovel ready money also.

Oh, they got to let go the meter readers.

That was smart.

[bgill]

A number of speakers cited health problems, which they said started as soon a smart meter was installed.

Huh?

[mountainlion]

I asked the guy that changed out my meter if it was a smart meter and he lied and said no. Actually the old meter was on something that sounded like he said Turtle system. The meter reported the reading to a substation so the meter only had to be checked once or twice a year to check the calibration. The new meters have radio signal that has to have a data system of small devices that report to a central device to send the usage data to billing and who know what else. It looks like the new system is less secure and easily damaged.

[beethovenfan]

I had my smart meter removed and replaced with an old analog type. I now have to pay an extra $10 per month for not having the smart meter. Sucks.

[maine-iac7]

In my state, they were supposed to notify before installing - and I had signed and delivered my statement (their form) to remind them of that.

Yet, one day, my dog set up a holler that someone was in the yard.

I took a look and found a meter man with a new Smart meter under his arm, headed for my back yard.

When questioned, he said: “I’m here to put your Smart meter on.”

I said: “No, you’re not.”

He eyes popped a b it and he said: “Yes, I.m going to install this meter.”

I said: “No you are NOT - and this is NOT a conversation. You take your Smart meter and yourself off my property now.”

He went.

then I called the elect. co and told them they’d better mark my account for NO SMART METER - and see that no one tries again - or I’ll see them in court...

That was almost 2 years ago. I pay a $12 “Punishment Fine” every month - and so mark it on my payment checks.

They don’t like that. They say “It’s a fee, not a fine.”

I say: “No. A fee is something you pay for something you GET. A FINE is assessed against you for NOT doing something.”

My meter is on the opposite side of the wall from the head of my bed. No way they’re putting their box that RADIATES a good 6’ out, that close to my head...

[The Great RJ]

I had a “saver switch” on my air conditioning compressor that allowed the power company to disconnect my compressor for 20 minute intervals during peak usage. The switch was on the air conditioner when I bought the house. In exchange for interrupting my compressor I was to get a few bucks credit on my bill. Initially I saw a small credit during very hot summers, but stopped getting these credits for years and forgot about the switch. I came home from work one day two years and had a note on my door that the “saver switch” had been replaced. I called the power company and raised hell that they had installed this switch on my equipment without my express consent and I even filed a complaint with the state public utility commission. After a lot of phone calls I finally got the switch removed. In comparing my electric bills I found that my air conditioner was actually running less without this “saver switch”. I could never get an answer from the power company about how much additional control this switch gave them over using my air conditioner. For example could they arbitrarily shut off my cooling just because they said I didn't need cooling that day.

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

Much ado about nothing.

[mad_as_he$$]

Story Highlights
A review of fire investigation files reveals smart meter fires may be more widespread than reported.
Fire chiefs say nine fires have started in smart meters in Reno and Sparks. One killed a woman.
NV Energy deny that the smart meters cause the fire, even if that’s where the blaze originated.
The Public Utilities Commission has been asked to investigate whether smart meters pose a fire danger.

Pat Ponder and her dogs were sitting on the porch of her Sparks home on a mild November afternoon two years ago when she heard a sudden loud popping noise.

“I looked over and the meter was on fire,” Ponder, 70, said. “It scared me to death. It scared my dogs.”

http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2014/09/21/reno-smart-meter-fires-widespread-first-feared/15897355/