Almost guilted and threatened into allowing a smart-meter to be installed

Ahhh, the Land of the Free!

Silly US-americans.

reply to post by ManFromEurope


LOL

Europe has PLENTY of them too you know.....and you don't get to choose if they go in or not either...

LOL

cant you just shoot the guy for breaking and entering your property ?

My advice, if they do forcibly or without consent enter your property and fit said smart meter is simply rip the thing out and bypass the meter altogether or you could pick an old one up from your local scrap yard and refit.

Down here in Melbourne we also had no choice, I've had a smart meter about 2 years now and my electricity and gas are both at least 50% higher than prior to the installation.
When the bloke installed it he I said I wasn't interested and he said I had no choice and installed it anyway.
I didn't know about the health risks until reading this today the meter is right outside my daughters room and since she moved in with me in september last year her health has declined.
I am absolutely pissed off right now. Off to email the local power company Jemena as much good that will do.

I was quite surprised to read this thread.

The (private) electricity company I work for is smack in the middle of rolling out Smart Meters. My work involves (partially) programming the Smart Meters and other communication devices within the network.

While I cannot really comment on Fictitious's situation as I don't have any information about the meter, company, etc.

I can, however, make these comments with regards to my experience with Smart Meters and the electricity environment (in South Africa).

Smart meters have no way of telling what appliances you use. They can tell you the time of day consumption patterns, but for the average consumer, this is no secret. It looks like this (electricity) - ignore the values; just the shape is important:



A spike in the mornings as the household wakes up, and down again as everyone leaves. Then a bigger spike as everyone gets home and start cooking, watching TV, etc. And this consumption is also repeated on an annual scale with the peaks obviously in the winter. The data we collect from the meters are used for billing purposes and in some cases (typically businesses) used to advise clients on how they can save electricity, i.e. money. The data is otherwise useless to anyone. I cannot imagine the government, "Big Brother" or "the Illuminate" getting any valuable information from Smart Meters. At least not the kind they can use for "population control" - mental or physical.

Smart meters are just as safe/unsafe as any other device in your house that emits radio waves. Your Home Entertainment system or Wifi connection is probably a lot more "dangerous", and your mobile phone even more "dangerous" seeing that you stick it right against your face every time you make a call.
If these devices where dangerous I should be extremely sick as my office has half a dozen smart meters running right in on top of my desk at any given time, and our entire building about twice that many. I am however quite healthy (touch wood). I haven't had a cold in over three years (touch wood) - keeping in mind that I'm also a smoker.

From a business point of view, Smart Meters are a great idea. Less man power needed. (And yes, that means that meter readers are put out of a job. At our company they will be reassigned to do other work such as Smart Meter maintenance etc. No one is getting fired.) Data capturing is done almost completely automatically meaning no/less mistakes on bills, meaning less time on the phone trying to correct your bill that contains erroneous readings. Credit control is much easier. No need for a technician to drive out to a client's house to cut the power because of none-payment. Everything is done with the touch of a button.

If you are familiar with prepaid electricity it also means that you don't have to punch in a twenty digit code every time you want to load credit on your meter. You simply pay the money and your token is automatically delivered to the meter.

The only possible disadvantage of a smart meter I can imagine for the client is that it would enable service providers (utilities) to implement time of use tariffs. Meaning you will be paying more for your electricity during the peak times.

It's clear from this thread that folks have a huge misconception and misunderstanding about smart meters. They are not evil. I suspect this is how people reacted when TVs, computers and cellphones first entered our lives as well. It's simply a new technology taking us into the future. It's not the "Mark of the Beast".

As to the person in the OPs situation that made threats... Unacceptable. If one of our technicians tried that, they would be fired. I suggest you contact their supervisor and talk to them about the guy's attitude and threats.

And personally - I'd allow them to install a Smart Meter. It's really not "the end of the world" so to speak. It is however still your right to have an opinion about said meters, and I respect that.

reply to post by totallackey


If you look to the left hand side it gives a list, click on there and the reports are there

Why cannot people own their own meter and just buy the gas/electric?

Call me confused.

How does a gas company get to monopolize on this product and pwn everyone like this?

I'm gonna say it's more than a conspiracy, it's an example of very uncool people with uncool agendas.

wtg FICTITIOUS and IRISHCHICK smart meters need to be junked -
and here's a good one - MY Wife calls the power co. and asks them how do they know how much power we are using - since there has been no meter reader around for some time (years). answer (not making this up) The meter data is sent down the power lines and somehow jumps over to a sensor that is in the middle of a stop light intersection and a power truck drives underneath and collects the data.

but at least we have not had any knocks on the door to switch out the old meter.

Devvy Kid has a lot of material on smart meters and is leading a Texas revolt against them.
Devvy

Originally posted by fictitious

Originally posted by terriblyvexed
Wow,I wish I had something intelligent to say, but at least you handled it well.

I'd have got in a fist fight, I'm not real suave a with words in situations were I feel threatened, and that was as threatening as an encounter with a meter man as you can get.

When the guy said the bit about jumping our fence my husband replied to him saying "I bet that is dangerous because it warrants the property owner to pull a gun out". The guy calmly replied "Yeah, I've had a gun pulled on me once or twice".

It was like he didn't care what happened to him as long as he did his job. If I were him, I'd definitely get a new job because there are plenty around here. I wonder if they get some sort of commission for every smart meter they successfully install or something.

Yeah but it will be different when a home owner pulls a gun and shoots!

reply to post by fictitious


If I'm not mistaken those restraining orders are not centered on an individual but the company/agency. So any employee of said company would have to communicate with you and arrange a meeting for them to have the right to step on your land. But I do understand what you're saying. He's just trying to do his job.

I hear there are farm houses, caves and such where there is no technology, but that is only a rumor I read on the innerwebs...

Originally posted by Sankari

Originally posted by fictitious
I tell him that I've read plenty about them emitting wayyyy too much radiation

You've read wrong. They don't. You'll get more radiation from your car stereo.

I had a smart meter installed for my solar panel system. It's absolutely fantastic; much better than the old meter. Finally I can see exactly how much power I'm using on an hour-by-hour basis. Makes it easier to keep track of my spending and reduce my cost of living.

They installed it free of charge, too. Can't complain about that.

Originally posted by fictitious
I really hate how all governments seem to be involved in so many sects of our daily life. We all know that privatized companies usually do a better and more efficient job at pretty much anything.

If privatised companies do a better and more efficient job, why are you complaining about the cost of your services? After all, they're provided by a private company. So what's the problem?

The cost of services always go up whenever they're privatised. Government can always provide them more cheaply. Didn't you know this?

edit on 14/6/13 by Sankari because: typo...

It seems YOU read wrong because I've read several studies that prove they DO emit harmful radiation, much more than my car stero, thank you. I'm glad you enjoy your free meter, but I don't want one. I never complained about the cost of any bill of mine. I simply voiced how much it might be. I'll pay more to use privatized companies services. They provide better service and don't annoy me as much.

Why would the economy break down just because our numbers aren't increasing at exponential rates? The economy would do better with a little less people. Look I can give opinions too without facts

As far as the sterilization, maybe I'm already crossed off the list. Why didn't that cross your mind? Maybe I was crossed off years ago but others are still on this "list".

Anyway, I'm happy you are a true patriot. What is your profession?

reply to post by XLR8R


I guess I didn't think of it that way, but thanks for clarifying. Either way, I'd rather not waste my time and draw attention to myself, but it is certainly a good idea.

reply to post by Gemwolf


Thank you for your side of the story. It is nice to see, however, I also know that not all employees are privy to all information. Just think how many people at Verizon or Google thought it wasn't possible to data-mine so much. They didn't see it in the code because, well, they weren't the coders. They knew about other sides of their business. Also, whatever technology is in the works of being installed, a newer technology 5X better is already being made. Whether or not these smart meters have the current capability to data mine, they certainly will in the next year. Just look at XBoxs, new smart phones that pause when you look away from it. It is tracking your moves, for "your" convenience. All that data gets stored, so why wouldn't a company buy that data for some use? Why not? What use? I don't know, but all information can be used for evil just as much as for the good.

I certainly see the up-side for the company, but no necessarily the consumer. Our cost isn't reduced by these meters even though, here at least, the company has less overhead after installing them. They gain profit and it never trickles down. Believe me, I'm no socialist, but if all this stuff is regulated by the government, then by their way of thinking, the consumer should catch a break.

Originally posted by kudegras
Down here in Melbourne we also had no choice, I've had a smart meter about 2 years now and my electricity and gas are both at least 50% higher than prior to the installation.
When the bloke installed it he I said I wasn't interested and he said I had no choice and installed it anyway.
I didn't know about the health risks until reading this today the meter is right outside my daughters room and since she moved in with me in september last year her health has declined.
I am absolutely pissed off right now. Off to email the local power company Jemena as much good that will do.

I've heard from several people their bills go up a great deal after these meters are installed. Some may argue that people just weren't being charged for the correct amount, and that it is still fair, but it is like raising someone's rent unexpectedly. It puts people in a bind financially to the point that they may have to find a home elsewhere that isn't as suitable.

As for your daughter, I'm sorry to hear that. Hopefully it isn't related to the meter, but it definitely could be. I would have her sleep on another side of the house and spend more time outdoors for a month or two to see if anything changes.

I really don't know were all this fuss surrounding smart meter's came from nor do i care to find out.

I live in a block of flats (us:apartments) which is only 3 years old. It just so happens that i'm next to the boiler room which houses over 30 smart meters. Combine that with over 40 locally accessible wireless signals 10's of phones and TV's and according to some of the alleged data i should be roasting like a turkey at thanksgiving. However touch wood like Gemwolf i'm perfectly healthy, haven't had the slightest sign of illness in over 3 years, not even a migraine.

Also, have you any idea how much of a logistical challenge it is to accurately map and control the grid in the US and UK? It's extremely difficult and bewilders me that in 2013 it's still done manually by man. Having these meters fitted is the 1st step to an automated, more efficient national grid and i welcome them. We can't be stuck in the stone ages for the sake of a conspiracy.

At the end of the day the world is wireless and moving forward technologically. If anyone don't like that, feel free to move to a lead coated cave somewhere in the mountains. .

Cheers

reply to post by MongusePro


I did just want to throw it out there that most people cannot "feel" themselves getting cancer or loosing fertility. Obviously no one thinks smart meters are associated with the cold and flu.

If I were you, I'd still be weary. That's got to be some where similar to standing near a running microwave that isn't closed for years and years. Thanks for your viewpoint, and I think its cute y'all say "touch wood" instead of "knock on wood". Funny how sayings and language changes across a few thousand miles.

reply to post by fictitious


maybe thats its, he didnt want to drive all the way up there to check your meter every month because he's to lazy. So he got pissed off because now he has to return every month until you get that meter changed LOL

reply to post by Tlexlapoca

That could be true, but without my having a smart meter, he still has a job because it is there and does have to be manually checked. Most of those guys are just kids, and they are the first ones let go when their job gets replaced by a computer because of their lack of experience.