smart meters, what do you think?

**cricket** · 05-18-2012, 09:56 PM

Came home today to find that PECO had replaced the old meters in my neighborhood. I got a letter about a week ago saying that they would start replacing them in about 45 days. I've been seeing the trucks in different areas as I drive to and from work. They have Texas license plates. I've been reading on line about health risks and privacy issues. Any thoughts?

**raider.adam** · 05-18-2012, 11:13 PM

Originally Posted by cricket

Came home today to find that PECO had replaced the old meters in my neighborhood. I got a letter about a week ago saying that they would start replacing them in about 45 days. I've been seeing the trucks in different areas as I drive to and from work. They have Texas license plates. I've been reading on line about health risks and privacy issues. Any thoughts?

I don't see what privacy issues there are.

**gren** · 05-18-2012, 11:29 PM

Originally Posted by cricket

Came home today to find that PECO had replaced the old meters in my neighborhood. I got a letter about a week ago saying that they would start replacing them in about 45 days. I've been seeing the trucks in different areas as I drive to and from work. They have Texas license plates. I've been reading on line about health risks and privacy issues. Any thoughts?

http://www.ccst.us/publications/2011/2011smartA.pdf

Originally Posted by raider.adam

I don't see what privacy issues there are.

I think there are two legitimate issues. The first is competence--if PECO is sending unencrypted load data that identifies your address out then as a homeowner I would be worried that an eavesdropper could track when I'm home. This is a problem that can be solved just like most people feel secure using any wireless technology. The second is there's now a large amount of data about power usage that the police can access at the public utility. I'd love to see privacy laws that either force deletion of this data after it's used for billing purposes. I think those are two valid privacy concerns that can easily be addressed in ways other than scrapping the smart meter technology.

**cricket** · 05-19-2012, 02:51 PM

Thanks gren for that link. I'm still somewhat worried about the health issues too. I guess I'll see next month if the bill is any lower. My electric bill is very low anyway, I'm not big on air conditioning, usually only use it at night to sleep.

**loveisnoise** · 05-19-2012, 03:47 PM

The only thing authorities would ever be looking for is excessive use for drug production-and that information can be obtained without a search warrant just by flying over a property or looking for the usual illegal hookups. This is a damn paranoia... people should worry about other privacy issues. The only thing that is worrisome is how these systems affect health.

**Markvator** · 05-19-2012, 09:54 PM

Originally Posted by cricket

Came home today to find that PECO had replaced the old meters in my neighborhood. I got a letter about a week ago saying that they would start replacing them in about 45 days. I've been seeing the trucks in different areas as I drive to and from work. They have Texas license plates. I've been reading on line about health risks and privacy issues. Any thoughts?

Sure hate to hear PECO is using workers from Texas when our city has a high unemployment rate.

**Tartan69** · 05-20-2012, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by Markvator

Sure hate to hear PECO is using workers from Texas when our city has a high unemployment rate.

Sure it sucks but is there a company in Philadelphia qualified to perform replacements of these meters?

**Markvator** · 05-20-2012, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by Tartan69

Sure it sucks but is there a company in Philadelphia qualified to perform replacements of these meters?

Pretty sure there's a few certified electricians in this town... ya think?

**Tartan69** · 05-20-2012, 07:39 PM

Originally Posted by Markvator

Pretty sure there's a few certified electricians in this town... ya think?

But does that mean they are qualified to install and set up the new meters? I honestly don't know and am curious to what the requirement is for performing such a job.

**NE19149** · 05-20-2012, 11:58 PM

Outsourcing again?
What's the matter?
Isn't there ANYone local that can do a relatively simple job like meter installation?

Like mentioned, people HERE are starving for jobs.

**save19115** · 05-21-2012, 12:13 AM

Since I wrote "are smart meters smart?" on 5/6, I haven't found anything new that answers my questions.

Nice that raider.adam dismisses all privacy concerns, he MUST be correct. And loveisnoise also has scoped out all the possibilities of misuse, so I'll sleep well.

The health issues get a passing notice.

But the most comment is on one area that would have pissed me off had I realized it on the 6th is that it is TEXAS that holds the monopoly for the installers. Really??? Really??? Can anyone really think that this is a talent held only by Texans? And while continual exporting of what should be Philly-based jobs does make me scream, I'm still hung up on whether someone else will use and misuse my data and whether my body (and my family's) will be bombarded by additional and unnecessary radiation and whether it will turn out to be a major problem when it is too late for I told you so.

**raider.adam** · 05-21-2012, 09:21 AM

Originally Posted by save19115

Nice that raider.adam dismisses all privacy concerns, he MUST be correct.

Where did I dismiss it? I said I didn't see what they are. Other people came on and elaborated.

**Ho Chi Minh** · 05-21-2012, 09:27 AM

Originally Posted by Markvator

Pretty sure there's a few certified electricians in this town... ya think?

Why would PECO pay Local 98's rates??

**Markvator** · 05-21-2012, 03:27 PM

Originally Posted by Ho Chi Minh

Why would PECO pay Local 98's rates??

Although I'd rather see Local 98 workers hired, are they the only certified electricians in Philly?
Does PECO not have certified electricians on their payroll. And would it be a problem if they were Union?
Why should they NOT pay local 98 rates RATHER THAN hire people from outside this area?
You ever been out of work? If so, wouldn't it bother you to see someone from another part of the country
working here instead of you? Especially if you were a PECO customer. I'd much rather see the money I pay PECO employ somebody local.

**raider.adam** · 05-21-2012, 03:37 PM

Originally Posted by Markvator

Although I'd rather see Local 98 workers hired, are they the only certified electricians in Philly?
Does PECO not have certified electricians on their payroll. And would it be a problem if they were Union?
Why should they NOT pay local 98 rates RATHER THAN hire people from outside this area?
You ever been out of work? If so, wouldn't it bother you to see someone from another part of the country
working here instead of you? Especially if you were a PECO customer. I'd much rather see the money I pay PECO employ somebody local.

Just to play devil's advocate, does anyone actually officially know who is doing the work?

**Ho Chi Minh** · 05-22-2012, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by Markvator

Why should they NOT pay local 98 rates RATHER THAN hire people from outside this area?
You ever been out of work? If so, wouldn't it bother you to see someone from another part of the country
working here instead of you?

Pricing yourself out the market and into unemployment is your own dumb fault. Ever wonder where all those empty factories came from?

I would not be surprised if the PUC requires PECO to search for the lowest qualified bid, regardless of where the company is based. And, as a PECO customer, I like that.

**Captain Awesome** · 05-22-2012, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by raider.adam

Just to play devil's advocate, does anyone actually officially know who is doing the work?

A Public Utilities Commission filing about the project said PECO put the installation work out to competitive bidding through an RFP. Those type of solicitations can offer a few bonus points to companies who have local operations, but they tend to vastly favor cost.

**ji17** · 05-22-2012, 04:50 PM

For anyone that is interested the name of the outfit that is performing these upgrades is, Grid One Solutions, a non union outfit based out of Aston, PA. The company was acquired by PECO Energy and then purchased in 2003 by Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

**raider.adam** · 05-22-2012, 04:58 PM

Originally Posted by ji17

For anyone that is interested the name of the outfit that is performing these upgrades is, Grid One Solutions, a non union outfit based out of Aston, PA. The company was acquired by PECO Energy and then purchased in 2003 by Asplundh Tree Expert Co.

Thanks for adding info.

**Markvator** · 05-22-2012, 05:21 PM

Originally Posted by Ho Chi Minh

Pricing yourself out the market and into unemployment is your own dumb fault. Ever wonder where all those empty factories came from?

I would not be surprised if the PUC requires PECO to search for the lowest qualified bid, regardless of where the company is based. And, as a PECO customer, I like that.

My own dumb fault?? Nice. Those empty factories came from companies that were given a tax break to move production to a third world country where they pay workers pennies a day. And I hope you like it if someone comes from out of town to take your job for less money