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Homeowner Pulls Gun To Stop New Electric Meter From Being Installed
The Consumerist ^ | July 19, 2012 | Chris Morran

Posted on 07/19/2012 3:41:33 PM PDT by Rennes Templar

A woman in Texas says she tried to be polite when she told the man from the power company that she didn't want to have her old electric meter replaced with a new "smart" meter. But when he refused to listen to her, she grabbed her gun.

The woman tells Houston's KHOU that she placed herself between the installer and her old meter but, "He just kept pushing me away."

That's when she showed him her handgun.

"He saw it, and went back the other way," she tells KHOU.

The homeowner says she is not comfortable with the amount of information smart meters transmit back to the power company.

"Our constitution allows us not to have that kind of intrusion on our personal privacy," she explains. "They’ll be able to tell if you are running your computer, air conditioner, whatever it is."

The woman still has her old meter and she and her husband have posted warning signs declaring "No Smart Meters Are to Be Installed On This Property," but CenterPoint, the power company that attempted to install the meter says it will persist in its efforts.

"We are deeply troubled by anyone who would pull a gun on another person performing their job," reads a statement from the company. "CenterPoint will be taking additional steps – including court actions – because what happened is dangerous, illegal and unwarranted."

KHOU reports that CenterPoint Energy already installed around 2 million smart meters in the area, but the local Public Utilities Commission is now weighing the possibility of allowing homeowners to have the new meters removed.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; News/Current Events; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: banglist; energy; smartmeter
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To: Segovia

Well, it may be different in different parts of the country but in many places the meter is the power company’s.


161 posted on 07/19/2012 10:46:06 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
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To: Aleya2Fairlie

Exactly! They are going to ration it out.


162 posted on 07/19/2012 11:35:36 PM PDT by fortheDeclaration (Pr 14:34 Righteousness exalteth a nation:but sin is a reproach to any people)
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To: RobinOfKingston

“Do I understand you correctly, that it is “against the law [t]here” to disconnect from the power supply grid? If so, government is forcing you to purchase a product.”

Yes and it’s the same with water and natural gas. The city-controlled-monopoly is in place and has beeen for 50 years of which I am aware.

One can drill a water well, for example, but it can be used only for irrigation and that is for farmers, ranchers, etc, not for home users.

You can always disconnect but then you’ll do without electricity, water and natural gas. Those are the options.


163 posted on 07/20/2012 12:10:06 AM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (I wanna start a Seniors' Motor Scooter Gang. Wanna join?)
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To: dfwgator
This is cool...
164 posted on 07/20/2012 12:25:32 AM PDT by BreezyDog (PLAN A: A Peaceful Restoration of the Republic.....PLAN B: A Restoration of the Republic)
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To: Still Thinking
I too am approaching 50, and I too see dueling as not the smartest concept I ever heard of. What I don't get, however, is what delusion led the government to think it was any of their affair to ban or even regulate.

Oh, I think it had something to do with impromptu duels being used as alibis for murder, when only on party consented to the duel. Not every duel was fought between the wealthy with seconds and witnesses. You have to keep in mind that for every Hamilton and Bur there were 100 bubbas.

165 posted on 07/20/2012 1:46:43 AM PDT by Melas (u)
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To: Rennes Templar

I know her. She’s dedicated, as well as her husband. They head the 912 Group in northwest Houston. She and I had a wonderful meeting one night and spent several hours discussing the “fall of America.” Actually, the discussion didn’t break up till around 3:30AM. We compared notes.

GOD LOVE YOU, THELMA!! Wish “J” still lived down the street! ;)


166 posted on 07/20/2012 2:30:42 AM PDT by Humidston (For the first time in my adult life I FEAR my government.)
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To: theDentist

They’ll show up again, this time with a boss, a Union-Fascist steward, and the Police. A gunfight will then ensue.

As it should.....EVERY TIME “They” threaten us.


167 posted on 07/20/2012 3:13:02 AM PDT by S.O.S121.500 (That Kenyan, muzzy bastard is not my president. ENFORCE the Bill of Rights.)
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To: theDentist

They’ll show up again, this time with a boss, a Union-Fascist steward, and the Police. A gunfight will then ensue.

As it should.....EVERY TIME “They” threaten us.


168 posted on 07/20/2012 3:29:43 AM PDT by S.O.S121.500 (That Kenyan, muzzy bastard is not my president. ENFORCE the Bill of Rights.)
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To: mamelukesabre
Exactly so. If the installer guy pushed her first, then he initiated the conflict and she was fully within her rights to defend herself. Especially in Texas.

Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!

169 posted on 07/20/2012 5:10:28 AM PDT by Joe Brower (Sheep have three speeds: "graze", "stampede" and "cower".)
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To: 1FreeAmerican
Did we also agree in writing to allow ourselves to be manhandled by power company employees? The point that you and several others are (deliberately) missing is that the woman did not revela her weapon until she had been "pushed out of the way," in other words ASSAULTED. The installer was within his rights until he touched the woman. At that point, he lost all legal authority and became an assailant. The proper course of action would have been to leave and report the incident ot his superiors.

I was a surveyor for a while. I had plenty of people get in my face over some silly fenceline dispute or old propety corner. I even had one guy knock over the Theodolite. In all cases, the proper action was to remain polite, leave, and report the incident. I have no doubt that some of those angry old geezers would have blown me away if I had shoved them, but it never entered my mind to do so. Assaulting homeowners on their own property should get you jail time...or dead at the hands of the homeowner. End of rant.

170 posted on 07/20/2012 7:37:43 AM PDT by jboot
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To: yldstrk
??????????????????

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

171 posted on 07/20/2012 9:41:26 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: Still Thinking
...reread the article you'll see it's not health concerns that motivated her but the (very real) fear of improper leakage of personal electricity usage information...

Oh, you mean the highly critical infomation that, gasp, her refrigerator cycles all night long? Or that her power factor must be adjusted to make up for using motors?

Those meters can report only instantaneous load and phase angles, nothing more. That is done in order to provide for peak demand and for power factor adjustments.

Let me see... Don't want a meter to report my power usage for billing purposes. Check. I do want a cell phone that can exposes the entire content of my conversations AND my global position. Check. I do want an Internet connection that is fully monitored. Check.

You really don't have much a grasp on this stuff, do you? Those meters don't report anything of significance, but all of the other appliances are monitored word-for-word. Get a grip on reality!

172 posted on 07/20/2012 9:48:45 AM PDT by GingisK
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To: RobinOfKingston; GGpaX4DumpedTea

Glad you guys ‘get it’. Thanks for the support vs. an apparent ‘flame and run away’ poster.


173 posted on 07/20/2012 11:23:21 AM PDT by tgusa (gun control: deep breath, sight alignment, squeeze the trigger .......)
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To: GGpaX4DumpedTea
Im not much of an electrician so pardon my ignorance if this is a stupid question. From what i gather the smart meters can pattern usage, control your ac, etc by load signatures of various appliances. is there any way to mask the signatures?


FWIW, my meter is inside a fenced yard. I posted a "bad dog" notice on each of the locked gates. Power co calls to schedule a reading q3 months.
174 posted on 07/20/2012 3:18:41 PM PDT by The_Sword_of_Groo (My world view is accurately expressed in the lyrics of " The Fightin' Side of Me")
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To: svcw

why should YOU have to pay more to give them LESS work?

smart meteres have to be understood interprited.

interesting is it smart enough to cut your power remotely?


175 posted on 07/20/2012 4:27:14 PM PDT by longtermmemmory (VOTE! http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov)
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To: longtermmemmory
interesting is it smart enough to cut your power remotely?

Bingo!

176 posted on 07/20/2012 4:29:45 PM PDT by svcw (If one living cell on another planet is life, why isn't it life in the womb?)
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