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Woman says DTE shut off power because she won't get smart meter
Fox2Detroit ^ | 10/30/2017 | Ingrid Kelley

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 ...


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To: Haiku Guy

Comply or be cut off.

***************

In reality isn’t that pretty much the way all things in life work?


81 posted on 10/31/2017 8:41:39 AM PDT by deport
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To: backwoods-engineer

There are no surveillance features.

Not yet maybe, but the conduit is there ready for Big Tech to do their magic.


82 posted on 10/31/2017 8:42:05 AM PDT by cp124 (Elections are for the serfs to think their opinion matters. It doesn't.)
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To: deport
In reality isn’t that pretty much the way all things in life work?

I was not aware that we were discussing my love life...

83 posted on 10/31/2017 8:44:16 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (Before you fly off the handle, note that I said petty tyranny.)
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To: Haiku Guy

I was not aware that we were discussing my love life...

******************

LOL.........

Good one......


84 posted on 10/31/2017 8:45:56 AM PDT by deport
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To: deport

Gotta motor. I’ll check back in at 1300.


85 posted on 10/31/2017 8:46:55 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (Before you fly off the handle, note that I said petty tyranny.)
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To: Haiku Guy

Take care...... have a good one.


86 posted on 10/31/2017 8:47:45 AM PDT by deport
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To: cp124
1. No, did not post to Facebook this morning, breakfast or otherwise. I read the Bible and FR.

2. People like me are not going away. I am an electronics and RF engineer who, like millions more of us, are working to reduce costs for the utilities and permit them to serve you better, even if you don't believe that. You are not even aware of all the things that are happening to make the grid more reliable, and that goes for water and gas, too.

3. Data privacy is paramount with meter manufacturers. Our meters encrypt readings, and so do our competitors. Our reading and billing software meets the highest standards for software security, including virtually unbreakable encryption.

Violating meter data privacy requires willful human agency, and THAT'S NOT MY RESPONSIBILITY TO POLICE.

87 posted on 10/31/2017 8:57:00 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Trump won; we got Gorsuch and a bit of MAGA. Likely have a civil war before we get more.)
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To: Haiku Guy

On the contrary: LIVE UP TO THE CONTRACT YOU SIGNED, or don’t expect to get the benefits of it. This is a matter of CONTRACT, not entitlement. I did not expect to see a pro-welfare, pro-gimme-my-entitlement sentiment on FR, either, but you made the argument.


88 posted on 10/31/2017 8:59:15 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Trump won; we got Gorsuch and a bit of MAGA. Likely have a civil war before we get more.)
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To: cp124
Encryption can be hacked.

COME ON! LET'S GO! PROVE IT!

I'd LOVE to see you crack 256-bit two-key FIPS AES encryption! NOBODY has been able to do that. The government uses that for international transport of TOP-SECRET documents.

89 posted on 10/31/2017 9:01:04 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Trump won; we got Gorsuch and a bit of MAGA. Likely have a civil war before we get more.)
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To: cyclotic

If you don’t like it, don’t sign the contract.


90 posted on 10/31/2017 9:01:31 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Trump won; we got Gorsuch and a bit of MAGA. Likely have a civil war before we get more.)
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To: deport
In reality isn’t that pretty much the way all things in life work?

Yep, except for the people who think they should be provided power, water, and gas for free. In other words, the entitlement crowd and the anti-smart-meter crowd here on FR.

91 posted on 10/31/2017 9:02:43 AM PDT by backwoods-engineer (Trump won; we got Gorsuch and a bit of MAGA. Likely have a civil war before we get more.)
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To: backwoods-engineer

I didn’t sign the contract and chose to opt-out. It’s people like you who complain that I chose to do what I freely choose rather than going along like a sheep.


92 posted on 10/31/2017 9:04:56 AM PDT by cyclotic (Trump tweets are the only news source you can trust.)
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To: Haiku Guy
You don't have to deal with the utility. You can spend the money (a LOT of money) to go total solar or have your own generator. Every life choice is a compromise between what you want and what it costs.

OR, you can go off the grid entirely. If you're are really worried about it go off the grid like the (real) Amish.

93 posted on 10/31/2017 9:13:56 AM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum
Exactly how do they examine each watt used to determine what appliance or device used how much of the whole?

Image and video hosting by TinyPic

94 posted on 10/31/2017 9:20:27 AM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
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To: backwoods-engineer

Everything I stated is built into many appliances currently for sale... if you think I need a tinfoil hat why do the power companies want the capability. This far exceeds the necessity to remote meter read.


95 posted on 10/31/2017 9:20:47 AM PDT by Neidermeyer (Show me a peaceful Muslim and I will show you a heretic to the Koran.)
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To: backwoods-engineer

If that is the ignition source. There is well documented events where the circuitry inside the meter caught on fire and started a structure fire. Several utilities halted their distribution programs until modifications were made to the meters. That said they did not go back and change suspect meters out in a mass mode.


96 posted on 10/31/2017 9:22:01 AM PDT by mad_as_he$$
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To: bgill
This is the world we live in.

I don't know where Superman is now.

97 posted on 10/31/2017 9:47:52 AM PDT by MarMema (I now choose to live my life as a heterosexual married woman)
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To: simpson96

The meters are the property of the electric company. If you don’t like the meters they want to use get off the grid.


98 posted on 10/31/2017 9:54:28 AM PDT by discostu (Things are in their place, The heavens are secure, The whole thing explodes in my face)
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To: from occupied ga

Comply or be cut off.

Being cut off is always an option.

It is not really a viable option, of course. The utility has the whip hand, and they intend to apply the whip until they get what they want.


99 posted on 10/31/2017 10:23:13 AM PDT by Haiku Guy
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To: backwoods-engineer
I did not expect to see a pro-welfare, pro-gimme-my-entitlement sentiment on FR

This woman is asking for nothing but to be left alone. How you get pro-gimme out of that is a mystery.

100 posted on 10/31/2017 10:27:04 AM PDT by Haiku Guy
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