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 $9.80 per month for meter readings and related services.
(Excerpt) Read more at fox2detroit.com ...
It's a contract, lady. They get to choose the equipment and provide the power, and you pay. Don't want the equipment? YOU'RE IN MATERIAL BREACH OF CONTRACT, and you get no power.
Okay, smart-meter-hating FReepers: come out of the closet and ask your questions. I design these things for a living. I know all about them, down the the transistor.
This nonsense has to stop. Either use modern equipment, or get off the grid.
IT NEVER TURNS YOUR WHOLE HOUSE OFF.
If you're this ignorant, please don't comment on this.
Ok, makes a bit more sense now.. I should have read it better, thank you ;^)
Yeah, the reason companies have spent million$ to develop this technology is just to cut off power to paranoid people like you.
GET REAL.
I design these things. They're more accurate over time than mechanical meters, and they can report outages in near real-time. They don't take pictures of you in the shower. What nonsense.
I agree that the utility is able to dictate terms, and the ratepayer must accept the terms or lose service.
Where we part company is over whether or not this is a good thing.
There's actually LESS chance they'll start a fire, because they don't have a a big coil of wire connected across the phases.
Yet another ignorant voice sounds off. ALL the main electric, gas, and water metering manufacturers design their equipment with the ability ENCRYPT reading data. We do it. Our competitors do it. Anybody who is anybody in the industry does it.
It's up to the utility to turn it on, but the readings can be encrypted.
SNUG DOWN YOUR TINFOIL!
Absolute nonsense.
If you don't like it, have your power, water, and gas disconnected.
Yeah, the electromechanical meters can raise your utility bill, because it loses accuracy as it ages. Unlike an electronic meter.
People like you are the problem. I hope they raise your "opt-out" fee.
It is too bad the utilities have a government sanctioned monopoly.
Your 3 reasons are invalid. You sign a contract to agree to time of use cutoff of electric water heater, pool pump, etc. If you don’t like free money, DON’T SIGN UP FOR IT!
People like you are the problem.
No it is people like you that have respect for privacy are the problem. I bet you posted on Facebook what you had for breakfast this morning.
Yeah, we get it.
Comply or be cut off.
Smart Water Meters Already Exist! And guess what? I design them! And I put code in the firmware specifically to detect when YOU are taking a dump! Mwaaaahahahahahaha!
People, we barely have enough time to get the things to work before it's time to ship. There are no surveillance features. But, don't believe me, I only design the things.
Then move to the country and go off grid. No boot, and maybe a red neck.
Encryption can be hacked.
Do you suppose you can stop it by railing against smart meters on Free Republic? I can tell you the answer: NO.
I’m really glad that sanctimonious know it alls like you proceed to tell me how to live my life.
As an American, I can and should be free to make my own determination on how to live my life and what choices I make. Not you.
If you’d bother to ask, I would have told you that my utility also installed a new legacy meter, which although not connected to the smart meter system is accurate.
But, you seem to know more than me.
Comply or be cut off.
Yeah, we get it.
Kind of odd to see arguments in favor of petty tyranny here at FR, but what the heck. It takes all kinds.
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