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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: Rennes Templar

A year or so ago, there was a case in our area (state of PA) after the power co got fresh with a homeowner over their right to enter his property and cut his trees to “maintain” their lines. The homeowner told them to gtfo and when they didn’t — and kept on landscaping his property for their purposes — he pulled out a gun and aimed it at the company spokesperson-trespasser.
He won in court. But then, this is clinger country. :)


21 posted on 07/19/2012 4:04:45 PM PDT by Lady Lucky (If you believe what you're saying, quit making taxable income.)
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To: Rennes Templar

Trespassers will be shot on sight.


22 posted on 07/19/2012 4:05:06 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the sociopath.)
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To: Rennes Templar
Good for her. Good for US. Good for America. This woman is a TRUE PATRIOT!
23 posted on 07/19/2012 4:07:07 PM PDT by precisionshootist
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To: Rennes Templar
I have been fighting the power company for 2 weeks now. I chased the Honeywell contractor off and then the power company began their telephone campaign of threats, condescension and sarcasm. I don't care, I don't want the meter on my house, I will not beta test their technology. Also, it is my understanding the 2011 NEC was changed to accommodate these smart meters but my County hasn't even adopted the 2011 NEC code yet, they're still working with the 2008 code. AFAIK, that makes the meter a code violation in my County.
24 posted on 07/19/2012 4:07:45 PM PDT by liberalh8ter (If Barack has a memory like a steel trap, why can't he remember what the Constitution says?)
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To: Rennes Templar
The smart grid would allegedly "make better use of intermittent power sources such as windmills and solar arrays."

In other words, smart meters are a way of forcing you to conform to their "renewable energy" insanity.

25 posted on 07/19/2012 4:08:32 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum (Government is the religion of the sociopath.)
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To: Talisker

He’s a METER READER, Confucious, he’s not installing anything. Try reading before spouting off.


26 posted on 07/19/2012 4:08:38 PM PDT by tgusa (gun control: deep breath, sight alignment, squeeze the trigger .......)
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To: Rennes Templar
"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."

This is the correct position to take as regards "smart" meters.

27 posted on 07/19/2012 4:08:56 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The Slave Party Switcheroo: Economic crisis! Zero's eligibility Trumped!! Hillary 2012!!!)
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To: hoskinsr3106
the world survived before AC/DC

Yeah, but "Back In Black" is still a great album.

28 posted on 07/19/2012 4:09:47 PM PDT by dfwgator (FUJR (not you, Jim))
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To: Rennes Templar

I cannot understand why there is this fear of the smart meter. How can the meter know what device in the home is creating the electrical load? Yes, I know that through the power factor, it can deduce that an induction motor was running. But can it tell the difference between my air conditioner compressor or my 10 hp electric pressure washer or my 7 hp air compressor? As to a computer running. How would it tell the difference between one switch mode power supply and another?

I can see it reporting your usage, but now what is running in your home.


29 posted on 07/19/2012 4:11:06 PM PDT by Elderberry
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To: Talisker

He READS the meter. He doesn’t install it. If you don’t want a meter reader on your property, then generate your own electricity.


30 posted on 07/19/2012 4:11:19 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
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To: Rennes Templar
I love hearing people telling me how long it will take to pay for itself.


31 posted on 07/19/2012 4:11:38 PM PDT by I see my hands (It's time to.. KICK OUT THE JAMS, MOTHER FREEPERS!)
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To: Rennes Templar

The electric company would have to go on her property to change the meter. In Texas, when you go on someone else’s property you are in/on their “castle”. In essence, the trespassers belong to the homeowner.


32 posted on 07/19/2012 4:12:34 PM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (I wanna start a Seniors' Motor Scooter Gang. Wanna join?)
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To: Talisker
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?

Read his post again. You're overreacting. His nephew's carrying a gun has nothing at all to do with installing smart meters. It's because he's working in "rough" parts of the city and he felt unsafe.

Have you ever had to work in rough neighborhoods in the inner-city? Trust me, those people don't give a damn about smart meters or stupid meters. They don't even pay the bill usually.

33 posted on 07/19/2012 4:13:52 PM PDT by BfloGuy (The final outcome of the credit expansion is general impoverishment.)
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To: Rennes Templar

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


34 posted on 07/19/2012 4:15:24 PM PDT by theDentist (FYBO/FUBO; qwerty ergo typo : i type, therefore i misspelll)
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To: Carry_Okie

Actually, thats a ridiculous position to take with regards to smart meters. Guess what... you have internet service? They IP knows EXACTLY what it is you’re doing on that computer. The constitution protects you from intrusion from the government, not a private company.


35 posted on 07/19/2012 4:16:05 PM PDT by bigdaddy45
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To: hoskinsr3106

“you can always buy your own generator”

Against the law here unless it is an emergency and power is out for hurricane or other natural disasters.


36 posted on 07/19/2012 4:16:22 PM PDT by spel_grammer_an_punct_polise (I wanna start a Seniors' Motor Scooter Gang. Wanna join?)
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In my state, if one has electric service to a residence, the provider has an easement and they can access and alter their equipment at their will. Hard to believe it’s different anywhere else.


37 posted on 07/19/2012 4:17:39 PM PDT by loungitude (The truth hurts.)
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

“If he was on her property and she told him to leave, he was trespassing.”

The power company has legal authority to read/maintain/swap the meter. They may even have an easement on her property. It’s just a fact of life.

Smart meters WILL be used to extract more money from people, you can count on that, but pulling a gun on the power company is not the solution to that, and she may end up in jail.


38 posted on 07/19/2012 4:19:07 PM PDT by RFEngineer
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To: E. Pluribus Unum

Trespassers will be shot on sight.


survivors will be shot again.

Please carry ID for notification of next of Kin.

(after all.. someone has to claim the body)


39 posted on 07/19/2012 4:21:03 PM PDT by cableguymn (For the first time in my life. I fear my country's government.)
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To: bigdaddy45
Guess what... you have internet service? They IP knows EXACTLY what it is you’re doing on that computer.

Not necessarily.

The constitution protects you from intrusion from the government, not a private company.

Businesses operating a monopoly under the aegis of a PUBLIC utility commission are not "private." In some respects, they resemble more a private contractor for government than they do a private company.

40 posted on 07/19/2012 4:22:27 PM PDT by Carry_Okie (The Slave Party Switcheroo: Economic crisis! Zero's eligibility Trumped!! Hillary 2012!!!)
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