smart meters, what do you think?

**NE19149** · 06-09-2012, 09:17 AM

Welp, I was in bed this morning (yes I sleep late on the weekends) around 8:30AM, and woke to a strange noise.
It was the "meter man" - because I saw my clock radio blinking 12:00.
I go downstairs, stove and microwave are blinking too.
At first, I thought a car hit a pole somewhere, but started the coffee maker and went out back to see a sparkly new meter in place - and the hard-hatted installer 2 houses away, knocking on the back door there.

I would at least liked to have copied down the old meter's reading for accuracy purposes - because I don't trust any company to keep accurate records.

By the way, is the hard hat in case a bird poops on their heads?

**whatever** · 06-10-2012, 08:55 AM

bad link

**whatever** · 06-10-2012, 09:09 AM

Do some research on health issues. http://www.youtube.com/user/NapervilleSmartMeter http://aaemonline.org/images/Califor...Commission.pdf

**threeskis** · 06-11-2012, 11:00 AM

Live in parkwood and haven't seen a letter regarding when our meters are being changed out ? Anyone else ?

**the mule** · 06-11-2012, 05:11 PM

Replacing the meters is fairly simple and could be performed by any licensed electrician, but that's not what drove their decision to subcontract the work. PECO contracted with a firm that handles the scheduling and the work, they can rely on that company to handle all of the replacements and PECO can go about with their daily business. If PECO decided to hire local electricians to do it they would have to manage several subcontractors and develop their own capacity to manage the process. It was a fairly simple and cost effective solution for them to put it out to bid and have someone else handle it.

**JasonN** · 06-14-2012, 11:02 PM

I can tell everyone on here that these "smart meters" are junk and are causing a lot of house fires. Check the Bristol, Bensalem area and you will see. What PECO is not telling everyone is that "WE" do not have an option to refuse these meters, if you tell the technician you do not want the meters they will just put you in the system as "Customer needs appointment." Sensus, the company that makes the meters, this is their first attempt at making Electric meters, they are primarily known for there water meters.

**Markvator** · 06-17-2012, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by the mule

Replacing the meters is fairly simple and could be performed by any licensed electrician, but that's not what drove their decision to subcontract the work. PECO contracted with a firm that handles the scheduling and the work, they can rely on that company to handle all of the replacements and PECO can go about with their daily business. If PECO decided to hire local electricians to do it they would have to manage several subcontractors and develop their own capacity to manage the process. It was a fairly simple and cost effective solution for them to put it out to bid and have someone else handle it.

OK, let me put it simple enough for anyone to understand...
It BLOWS that people from Texas are getting paid to come to our area to work, when there is a high unemployment here. I don't like that my PECO bill money is not employing people from this area when they need it. Union or not, I think it, ahem... BLOWS. Simple for PECO yes, sucky for the people HERE who want to work.

**luchobucho** · 06-17-2012, 09:33 PM

Originally Posted by Markvator

OK, let me put it simple enough for anyone to understand...
It BLOWS that people from Texas are getting paid to come to our area to work, when there is a high unemployment here. I don't like that my PECO bill money is not employing people from this area when they need it. Union or not, I think it, ahem... BLOWS. Simple for PECO yes, sucky for the people HERE who want to work.

bid on the job next time.

**NE19149** · 06-22-2012, 11:27 AM

Out of curiosity to JasonN's post, I did some searching online and found numerous info on the new Smart Meters.
It seems these meters do indeed have flaws, causing home fires and destruction of electronics in said homes.
Some souces report that these meters have not been thoroughly tested, resulting in the above situations and wildly varying accuracy, leading to strange electric bills.

Adding insult to injury, I've read that some electric companies are off the hook as for paying any damages, only providing a new meter.

**lemko** · 06-22-2012, 01:35 PM

Just saw one of those radio trucks from the water department come through my 'hood around lunchtime today. Guess they were scanning water meters. It was a gray Nissan Pathfinder with "PWD" markings all over it and an antenna array on the roof.

**the mule** · 06-22-2012, 04:41 PM

Originally Posted by Markvator

OK, let me put it simple enough for anyone to understand...
It BLOWS that people from Texas are getting paid to come to our area to work, when there is a high unemployment here. I don't like that my PECO bill money is not employing people from this area when they need it. Union or not, I think it, ahem... BLOWS. Simple for PECO yes, sucky for the people HERE who want to work.

I could be wrong, but I seriously doubt the individuals installing the meters are actually relocated from Texas. Most likely it's a Texas firm with local workers. They might even subcontract out the work to local firms. PGW's weatherization program is run by the UK-based Mark Group, but they don't send out a bunch of Brits to do the retrofits, they hire local mechanical contractors.

**Marquis** · 06-22-2012, 04:44 PM

That explains why they didn't fancy a spot of tea I guess.

**NE19149** · 06-22-2012, 07:33 PM

Originally Posted by Marquis

That explains why they didn't fancy a spot of tea I guess.

I say sir!
No blokes came to MY home!

**loveisnoise** · 06-22-2012, 07:38 PM

This is going to sound like a joke, but I'm serious.

I was watching some videos on youtube about these meters. In a few, people are showing how insanely strong the radio transmissions are just from one. In my studio where I sit, there's 6 meters in the basement about 2-2 1/2ft away from my nuts!!! How much radioactivity comes off these things? Should I be worried? Is there anything I can put between the meters and me such as a metal plate or something in the basement?

**cricket** · 06-22-2012, 08:03 PM

Since I first posted this thread I have been trying to find out if there is way to opt-out of having these meters on our homes. So far there isn't. To me, it isn't the privacy issue that bothers me. I have been seeing things online about the health issues, why I posted in the first place.
I don't know what to believe. Some people I have mentioned it to seem to think I should be wearing a tin foil hat. I listen to a late night radio program sometimes (coast to coast) and they have been talking about these meters for a few years now. I never expected one to be put on my home so soon. Not sure if it's like other topics they talk about on the show (conspiracy theories), but this really does concern me.
There are other states like California, Texas, I think Maine also that give you a chance to opt out for a price. I read in this weeks Northeast Times about a couple of state Reps, trying to get a bill authorized for opt-out in this state. I would opt out for sure, it would be worth it for my own piece of mind.
loveisnoise, some of the things I have seen on line say the radiation can be blocked, but I really don't know anything about that. I wonder too about having the meter so close to my bedroom wall. There is alot of info on line, people in different counties all up in arms about these meters. Just think, if it is true about the radiation, they will eventually want to put them on your gas and water meters too, and they are inside your house.

**darthsinatra** · 06-22-2012, 08:46 PM

What happens if I just refuse the installation? Like, "knock knock we're here to put your new meter in" "no thanks have a good one!" wudder they gonna do, turn my power off? Hi generator full of gas in the backyard. Lawsuit against PECO a-comin! Am I delusional? Wait don't answer that just the first question. =)

**DigitalizeDeath** · 06-23-2012, 12:05 AM

Had I been home from work at the time, I was going to at least try and refuse installation. The Peco letter I got a week or so ago said nothing about an opt-out, nor could I find one online anywhere.

I got smart-metered Wednesday while I was at work. I'm on the 1000 block of Magee. Toyota pickup with a Texas plate was parked on Whittaker near Magee when I got home. I had a digital meter, my downstairs neighbor had an analog meter, which was just recently replaced as the kids next door broke it. My neighbor's bedroom is directly above where these are mounted.

I've seen the videos online, and heard that they shouldn't be installed in banks of more than two, but I'm still skeptical. It's the possible data mining that concerns me.

**cricket** · 06-23-2012, 10:07 AM

darthsinatra, a letter written to the editor in this weeks Northeast Times, a guy wrote that he was told if he didn't allow the meter to be installed, they would cut off his electricity.

The state Rep's this man wrote about are Mike Reese and Robert Godshall. He also mentioned a state Sen. Mike Stack.

**NE19149** · 06-23-2012, 10:30 AM

It seems to me, ANYthing affixed to YOUR home should be approved by YOU.
A line's got to be drawn somewhere.

Years ago, utility meters were fixed to homes without an eye-blink, but issues such as those discussed were not around.
It's a whole new ballgame now.
And any threats made by utility complanies are just a bully tactic and should be addressed by our elected public officials with our point of view in mind.

These companies need to get off their high horse - the mandates forced on residents from all sources are clearly nibbling at freedoms.
Eventually you'll be controlled to the point of metering how many poops you take a day.

**D-man** · 06-23-2012, 11:43 AM

The paranoia in this thread is laughable.

First, as someone else posted, the firm doing the meter installation is based in Aston, Pa. Perhaps some of their fleet is leased from and registered in Texas. They are local workers.

Second, the new "smart meters" are not much different from the AMR meters you already have. (Instead of one-way communications, they now have 2-way communication and also have the ability to measure hourly electric usage instead of daily.) So, if you're worried about radioactivity, you've already been exposed to it for 10+ years with your old meter. The signal is no different than the signal from your cell phone, which you hold to your head and carry in your pocket.

Finally, you can file a complaint and try to opt-out of the smart meter installation, but PECO is mandated by the PUC to provide every customer with one. The PUC will probably side with PECO. If you refuse, PECO will likely take your old meter away (which it owns) and you will have no electricity. Lawsuits against PECO? Again you can try, but I am not aware of any law that says you have right to electricity. Electricity is a commodity, which you have to pay for and abide by the utilities terms of service. You can certainly get off the grid and generate your own electricity in your backyard. Good luck with that.

One last note on the "data mining" concern. PECO is bound by confidentially laws against providing your usage information to third-parties. They don't do it today, and won't start with these new meters. One of the benefits of the new meters is that PECO will be able to provide hourly usage information back to the customer so that you can adjust your energy consumption habits and perhaps save money. As far as data encryption goes - the information sent from the meter is encrypted. Even if it was decrypted, the meter does not send your address information. Every meter has a unique code that is cross referenced at PECO back to your account. If you were to look at the data stream from a smart meter, it would look like an incomprehensible series of numbers.