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Report: BGE Pushes for Smart Meter Opt-Out Fee
bowie.patch.com ^
| August 06, 2013 at 12:11 PM
| Jenni Pompi
Posted on 08/07/2013 10:01:28 AM PDT by RedMDer
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BGE says smart meters save money since they do not need to be read in person. They argue that the proposed fees for customers choosing to opt out are necessary to recoup the cost of sending technicians out to read meters, reports the Sun.
Maryland Smart Meter Awareness told the Sun that these fees are unreasonably high.
1
posted on
08/07/2013 10:01:28 AM PDT
by
RedMDer
To: RedMDer
They have to populate that database in Utah with something, after all.
To: RedMDer
Have they informed Caliph Baraq about the job destroying potential of smart meters?
I know he was worried about ATMs....
3
posted on
08/07/2013 10:03:10 AM PDT
by
nascarnation
(Baraq's economic policy: trickle up poverty)
To: RedMDer
Utilities long ago subcontracted meter reading to firms using minimum wage employees and no benefits.
Takes about five seconds to read a meter. Once per month, equals a minute at minimum wage (about 13 cents here). I’d be willing to pay that.
To: RedMDer
This is Maryland, they slip a few bucks in O’Malleys and Millers pockets and they will get their fee’s all right.
5
posted on
08/07/2013 10:04:00 AM PDT
by
Venturer
( cowardice posturing as tolerance =political correctness)
To: nascarnation
I hate the very idea of them. Its just another way to charge more money without calling it a rate hike.
Don't worry the Public Service Commission will resolve this to protect the consumer /sarc.
6
posted on
08/07/2013 10:06:23 AM PDT
by
RedMDer
(http://www.dontfundobamacare.com/)
To: Buckeye McFrog
They want to penalize the nonconformers.
7
posted on
08/07/2013 10:07:22 AM PDT
by
RedMDer
(http://www.dontfundobamacare.com/)
To: RedMDer
So your meter needs to be read once per month. A good meter reader can read what, 20-30 meters an hour. So lets go the low end 20 X $35.00 = $710.00 dollars per hour in up-charges.
Does that sound about right? Man, I may be in the wrong line of work...
And if we’re talking thirty meters at $87.00, one of the fee levels mentioned, that’s 30 x $87.00 = $2610.00 an hour. That’s a fair amount of pocket change from those who wish to opt out.
I would submit an additional $2.00 per month would more than cover any employment issues. They’re not going to pay this person more than $20.00 an hour to check meters. $2.00 x 20 account per hour, $40.00. That’s enough.
This is punitive. You won’t play ball with us, we’ll screw you to the full extent of the law. WRONG!
8
posted on
08/07/2013 10:08:02 AM PDT
by
DoughtyOne
(This post coming to you today, from behind the Camelskin Curtain.)
To: DoughtyOne
9
posted on
08/07/2013 10:08:37 AM PDT
by
RedMDer
(http://www.dontfundobamacare.com/)
To: RedMDer
10
posted on
08/07/2013 10:09:59 AM PDT
by
DoughtyOne
(This post coming to you today, from behind the Camelskin Curtain.)
You are Free Republic.
Please Contribute Today!
11
posted on
08/07/2013 10:10:36 AM PDT
by
RedMDer
(http://www.dontfundobamacare.com/)
To: Buckeye McFrog
Utilities long ago subcontracted meter reading to firms using minimum wage employees and no benefits. In the Era of Baraq, that's an aspirational career job and MUST be able to feed a "family of four".
12
posted on
08/07/2013 10:12:02 AM PDT
by
nascarnation
(Baraq's economic policy: trickle up poverty)
To: nascarnation
Talked to a guy who worked for one of these outfits. He quit and took a part-time gig at Kmart. I asked him why, he said they sent him out to shut off some guy’s water for bill nonpayment, and he was shot at. Not worth it for minimum wage.
To: nascarnation
14
posted on
08/07/2013 10:42:44 AM PDT
by
RedMDer
(http://www.dontfundobamacare.com/)
To: RedMDer
I had a similar experience with the installation of a "smart switch" on my air conditioner condenser. This would allow my electric utility to turn off my air conditioning during peak usage. I never authorized the installation...the switch was on the condenser when I bought the home and the utility company came ..again without my permission.. and installed a new switch. I was informed by a notice on my front door after the work had been done. It took a lot of phone calls to the utility and the state Public Utilities Commission. to have the switch removed. The utility company tried to sell the switch by offering small rebates during the summer months.
I would be wary of any installation that would give the utility company or some government agency control over my heating or cooling.
15
posted on
08/07/2013 10:56:36 AM PDT
by
The Great RJ
(I would be very wary of letting)
To: RedMDer
They already did that in my town — $75 non-installation fee and then $10 a month. Called the local office and was informed that the $10-a-month charge would “very likely” go up in the near future.
16
posted on
08/07/2013 10:58:19 AM PDT
by
dorothy
( "When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty." - Thomas Jefferson)
To: The Great RJ
I never authorized the installation...the switch was on the condenser when I bought the home and the utility company came ..again without my permission.. and installed a new switch. I was informed by a notice on my front door after the work had been done. That is outrageous!
17
posted on
08/07/2013 11:01:19 AM PDT
by
RedMDer
(http://www.dontfundobamacare.com/)
To: dorothy
I guess that we are not allowed to go off grid to say the heck with them.
18
posted on
08/07/2013 11:02:44 AM PDT
by
RedMDer
(http://www.dontfundobamacare.com/)
To: RedMDer
Smart meters are just another way to track us dummies.
19
posted on
08/07/2013 11:05:07 AM PDT
by
VerySadAmerican
(If you vote for evil because you can't see evil, you ARE evil!)
To: RedMDer
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