Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

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
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-176 next last
The Second Amendment in action.
1 posted on 07/19/2012 3:41:36 PM PDT by Rennes Templar
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

good for her


2 posted on 07/19/2012 3:42:44 PM PDT by yldstrk ( My heroes have always been cowboys)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

GOD BLESS TEXAS!!!!


3 posted on 07/19/2012 3:45:02 PM PDT by Snow Eagle ("... Against all enemies, foreign AND DOMESTIC")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar
"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."

Say what? The other way around should be warranted. Who do they think they are. If they are not happy they can just cut off the electricity.

4 posted on 07/19/2012 3:48:14 PM PDT by JudgemAll (Democrats Fed. job-security Whorocracy & hate:hypocrites must be gay like us or be tested/crucified)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

She’ll probably get an” unlawful use”charge filed don’t ya think?


5 posted on 07/19/2012 3:48:33 PM PDT by Cheapskate (Play loud and carry BIG sticks!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

It works both ways. My nephew has been a (contract) meter reader in some really rough neighborhoods. After getting scared a couple of times, he went to training, got his CCW, and carried concealed while making his rounds. No further problems. Maybe the bulge at his side made a loud statement.


6 posted on 07/19/2012 3:49:28 PM PDT by tgusa (gun control: deep breath, sight alignment, squeeze the trigger .......)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

“We are deeply troubled by anyone who would pull a gun on another person performing their job.”

“Our employee vas only following orders giffen to him by his superiors! Ven we giff such orders, ve expect them to be obeyed! This gun-wielding indifidual vas intervering mit our employees *zacred* duty to obey orders!”


7 posted on 07/19/2012 3:49:28 PM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

“”We are deeply troubled by anyone who would pull a gun on another person performing their job,” reads a statement from the company. “

I have a problem with a companies whose job it is to spy on and control someone’s electricity usage, just like I have the same level of hatred for Nazi death camp guards just doing their jobs. Same level of tyranny as they both lead to control and the ultimate death of those controlled.


8 posted on 07/19/2012 3:49:28 PM PDT by CodeToad (History says our end is near.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

bump


9 posted on 07/19/2012 3:50:10 PM PDT by lowbridge (Joe Biden: "Look, the Taliban per se is not our enemy.")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: JudgemAll
"We are deeply troubled by anyone who would pull a gun on another person performing their job," reads a statement from the company.

Some deep historical irony in that sentence...

10 posted on 07/19/2012 3:50:20 PM PDT by Future Snake Eater (CrossFit.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

Oh, in my community you can choose not to have these idiot meters, it cost about $50 to file for the exemption and something like $25 fee in addition regular charges to not have the meter.
The gun was a better solution. The follow ups on this story will be interesting.


11 posted on 07/19/2012 3:50:20 PM PDT by svcw (If one living cell on another planet is life, why isn't it life in the womb?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Snow Eagle

Good for her! These new meters are just the groundwork for the “smart grid” that will ration how much electricity you will be allowed to have.


12 posted on 07/19/2012 3:50:47 PM PDT by Aleya2Fairlie
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: yldstrk

Here’s what the meter guy told me when I told him I didn’t want the smartmeter.

He said if I were adamant that he not install it, he would leave.

However, the company had the right to switch out the meter to the new one, and they would simply bide their time and one day I would come home and find it was put there when I wasn’t able to object.

I admire the woman, but she went very far by threatening to shoot the man.

Here’s what I told the man. I told him I didn’t want it for the same reason she said, that it intruded into my private choices and gave them info they could use against me if the EPA gets its way in regulating carbon. He seemed surprised I knew anything about that.

And since you say I can’t stop you, just a warning. I am against it, and if it is ever used against me under a federal agency edict, I will do all within my legal and citizen power to oppose it, including a class action lawsuit and/or lobbying my state to nullify it.


13 posted on 07/19/2012 3:56:45 PM PDT by txrangerette ("HOLD TO THE TRUTH...SPEAK WITHOUT FEAR." - Glenn Beck)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: tgusa
It works both ways. My nephew has been a (contract) meter reader in some really rough neighborhoods. After getting scared a couple of times, he went to training, got his CCW, and carried concealed while making his rounds. No further problems. Maybe the bulge at his side made a loud statement.

A lound statement for what - intruding on people's property at the point of a gun to install something they believe will harm them, rather than backing away and letting the company pursue legal means?

He has no warrant, he has no cause other than to leave when ordered. Period. In fact, why wasn't he fired for packing heat to do his job? Is he bonded? Will the company back him up for shooting someone who orders him off their property, when he refuses to leave?

Your ignorance is astounding. And if your "nephew" really exists, he should be fired, before someone blows his ass away for threatening them with lethal force on their own property.

14 posted on 07/19/2012 3:57:41 PM PDT by Talisker (One who commands, must obey.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar
It's very troubling indeed.
It is her property, "Go Away!" should have been sufficient.
That it was necessary to pull a gun to get the point across is disturbing.

Here in NH, the installers have to ask the homeowner for permission. Brand new legislation.

15 posted on 07/19/2012 3:59:54 PM PDT by BitWielder1 (Corporate Profits are better than Government Waste)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

Ping


16 posted on 07/19/2012 4:00:15 PM PDT by dragonblustar (Allah Ain't So Akbar!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

Reminding us that when legal action is not practical, then there is another means. Until about 1820, a person was allowed by law to challenge another person to a duel in order to settle a dispute. A trial or other legal action is basically a duel with words.


17 posted on 07/19/2012 4:01:21 PM PDT by RobbyS (Christus rex.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Talisker

The problem is easily solves, if you do not want what a private industry is selling then don’t buy, you can always buy your own generator, or get solar or wind power, the world survived before AC/DC


18 posted on 07/19/2012 4:03:07 PM PDT by hoskinsr3106
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar

“We are deeply troubled by anyone who would pull a gun on another person performing their job,”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

pissoff bastards! He pushed her out of the way and that is assault. He assaulted a woman and she showed him she was armed.


19 posted on 07/19/2012 4:03:12 PM PDT by mamelukesabre
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Rennes Templar
If he was on her property and she told him to leave, he was trespassing.
20 posted on 07/19/2012 4:03:50 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the sociopath.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061-80 ... 161-176 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson