Posted on 10/31/2017 4:28:22 AM PDT by simpson96
FERNDALE, Mich. (WJBK) - A Ferndale woman says DTE Energy shut off her electricity, even though her bills were paid in full.
The problem she says, is that she didn't want the utility to install a smart meter at her home.
"Basically you are being blackmailed," said Kay Watson. "(They are saying) you either take it or we cut power."
Kay Watson is outraged, she says she paid her bill, but DTE disconnected her service on Sunday over her refusal to get a smart meter.
"The guy was here at the door telling me they're going to put in a smart meter and I said no," she said. "He said you're refusing? And I said yeah, so he said we're cutting your power."(snip)
DTE says it contacts customers on several occasions before it takes action. But Watson considers the action a violation
"I consider it a threat to all of our freedoms," she said.
The utility company says it has has installed more than three million smart meters since 2008 and plans to install the remaining electric smart meters this year.
DTE says Watson called Monday asking for a smart meter in order to get her power turned back on.
But Watson says she never requested that and only wants the "opt out." A program which allows a few customers who have concerns to have a smart meter installed with a digital signal turned off.
DTE says at 4 p.m. Monday afternoon a crew went out to Watson's home and provided her with the opt-out option, and her power has since been restored.
DTE says customers who choose to opt out will be charged a one time fee and $9.80 per month for meter readings and related services.
(Excerpt) Read more at fox2detroit.com ...
“DTE is not the bad guy of the world. Why do people fear smart meters?”
Because it’s the evil brain that ties everything electronic together in your house. Your computer, smartphone, smart tv, refrigerator, can opener, your electric toothbrush, all those LED light bulbs with the funny plastic bases, the smoke/CO detectors, and the scariest of all...the electric carving knife.
When Skynet is activated...you won’t be poo-pooing people’s fear of smart meters then.
>The power company or the Dem or Big Brother hacks can run and rule over your life .
Simple, get a generator and live behind a wall. Even better, drill for and refine your own oil! The possibilities are endless.
I think you better fear technology because it is a threat to privacy and our freedom. Technology is just another way for the liberals to run your life. Soon, to save us from Climate Change, you will have to wash your dishes and clothes in the middle of the night. This can be easily monitored through the smart meter. Maybe they can connect your meter to Facebook so everyone can tell the world when they are doing a wash. Next, they will have smart water meters that will be able to tell when you are taking a dump.
Sense - Track energy use in real time at the sub-second level.
This is independent of any utility and in the future I'd bet that the analysis can be done downstream and not have to be installed into a homes' electrical panel. Privacy is over, get over it.
Why do people fear smart meters?
For the same reason the People fear the government knowing about their activities. It is an invasion of privacy.
If the government is able to tell you when to do your dishes or laundry, the danger isn’t your smart meter.
You may decline the service. Utilities are privately owned businesses. You do not have to purchase their product.
If she wants to worry about something let her worry about the fact that your smart phone can tell Verizon or T-mo or AT&T where you are every day. Or better still let her worry about the "mind control rays" that the cable company uses from their set top boxes, after all that's the next step on the ladder from eccentric to neurotic to psychotic
I am not changing arguments. My argument, all along, is that the utility dictates, much like Darth Vader, and the ratepayer has to take it, no matter what the utility decides to do.
To my mind, it would be better if the utility were to negotiate with the ratepayer. If the utility is going to realize savings, they ratepayer should get a piece of that. If the utility is strongly motivated, why shouldn't the ratepayer be compensated for accepting the new arrangement?
Note that I can make such an argument without being gratuitously insulting. I don't have to call anybody a crackpot or fringe nutty. I don't have to posit that anybody is neurotic or psychotic, or that think they are being zapped by mind control rays.
If you are going to post that I am engaging in specious arguments, you probably shouldn't lead with "Whoever disagrees with me must be insane".
She may not like smart meters but that’s what the company requires to use their service. If she refuses, then they have the right to flip the switch on her. She has other options such as using a generator or solar panels or a wind turbine. Each of those has pros and cons just like the electric company has pros and cons.
And there you have it.
Boot/Neck. Some assembly required.
Do you want someone knowing when you’re up doing household chores or when you’re asleep or knows when you’re on vacation and can break into your house because they know exactly how much electricity you’re using or not using every second of the day?
Please show me where I said that.
Power companies are like any other corporate entity. They're in the business of making a profit, and if newer technology helps them do that then they'll use it.
and the ratepayer has to take it, no matter what the utility decides to do.
This is also a false statement. Every utility has to answer to a public service commission which typically are the entities that set the rates - not the company as such, although they will present their case for rate hikes based on expenses etc.
Here, let me bold it for you.
Well I see you're changing the subject away from non-existent agreements to a new straw man. It is neither a good nor a bad thing. It is simply the nature of reality. Do you think that the customer should be able to set the terms of an agreement with the utility? I'm sure the BLM crew would set the terms so that they got power for free because they's owed. If she doesn't like that deal she can pay the opt out charge. Frankly I don't care what sort of meter I have. There are thousands of things in life more worthy of attention than that. Some old crackpot worrying about a smart meter is sort of on the fringe of nutty.
If she wants to worry about something let her worry about the fact that your smart phone can tell Verizon or T-mo or AT&T where you are every day. Or better still let her worry about the "mind control rays" that the cable company uses from their set top boxes, after all that's the next step on the ladder from eccentric to neurotic to psychotic
...and the ratepayer has to take it, no matter what the utility decides to do, after it has been rubber-stamped by the worthless Public Service Commission.
Uhhh...
We live in an increasingly technological age and those who won't adapt to the basics of it will pay the price either in dollars or inconvenience. If you feel that shoe fits you may wear it.
I get it:
The utility demands.
We knuckle under to the utility’s demands.
Duly noted.
And when they do alter the deal further, what then?
They are installing the infrastructure necessary to instantaneously control usage.
Do you suppose the control enthusiasts in our society will never flip that switch?
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