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Sunday, November 10, 2013

Smart Meters

Joe:Thought you would be interested to know that I had a knock on my door this morning and there was a technician from Delmarva Power at my door. He said he was here to "update" my electric meter. I asked if that was a "smart" meter and he said yes. I told him I had opted out of this and did not want it. He left. My point is: I opted out and they are still showing up to install these meters. So what would have happened if I was not at home, would they have installed it any way? Apparently opting out means nothing. Thanks. Thought people might want to know this information.

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

i tried to opt out however if you opt out you will be paying anywhere from $45 to 60 a month for them to come out and read your meter.

Anonymous said...

I opted out as well. I was required to opt out in writing which I did. At that point I made a copy of the letter, placed it in a zip lock bag and taped it directly under my meter on the meter socket which I own. It is clearly visible to any contractor who should show up to make the switch.

Anonymous said...

I opted out but when the contractor showed up he said it was manditory and I told him he wasnt installing it and he left.

Anonymous said...

1:35 what is your reason for opting out of the smart meter?

Anonymous said...

Just another means to force us into the New World Order.

Anonymous said...

Dear 129PM….How do you know that my bill will be $45.00 to $60.00 more a month to come out and read my meter? Do you know something that I don't know?

Anonymous said...

i just hung up the phone with delmarva power. the rep (who had a really bad attitude) informed me that if a smart meter is installed even after we have opted out that they will not automatically remove it. they will conduct an "investigation" to see if they should remove it before doing anything. if they determine that they should have replaced the meter with the newer model they will leave the smart meter where it is. he actually used the example "suppose someone punched out the glass in your meter" .....of course it will be replaced. well i wonder who will be punching the meters out lol i guess we need surveillance cameras on our electric meter now. be on the lookout for meter readers with bloody knuckles :)

Anonymous said...

anon. 1:29 You are correct about that. D.P.qnd L. will charge a fee every month. They will charge you an extra if a tec. comes out to change the meter if you change ur mind.

Anonymous said...

Same thing at my home. If they try to charge me for the meter to be read I will raise hell. What happens to the meter readers? More jobs lost!

Anonymous said...

Folks, there is already a meter reading charge built into your monthly billing now.

Anonymous said...

I do not see how it is possible for them to charge you extra if you Opt
out! They have not notified customers in writing they would do so!

I do understand that in time this will be mandatory --this info from a DPL retiree.
The reason---elimination of meter readers but---- have been told it is going to be at a very high cost to install them soo----slow return on the money invested it seems.

Anonymous said...

3:16 - does that mean the charge goes away after they install the new meters?

Anonymous said...

They came to my home today asked if I wanted the smart meter or opt out. I chose to opt out .

Anonymous said...

I hadn't opt out, but luckily the guy rang the bell. He said I could opt out on the spot and did so. The service co. called and confirmed that I didn't want the thing, but advised me to still opt out w/ Delmarva.
I was curious too and asked the outcome, if I wasn't home. He said he would have put it in. I asked about raising hell and he said they'd come back out to put the analog jobby back on.

Anonymous said...

They will charge you whether you like it or not. Its a stupid meter. Some of you are so hardheaded.

Anonymous said...

I spoke with one of the meter readers today and told him it's just another Obama control and guess he will be losing his job too...like all the other people these days. I was advised that my bill would not be any different to not have the smart meter installed as it's just a "convenience" for them to not have to pay someone to come out and read the meter. So much for job security.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said...
1:35 what is your reason for opting out of the smart meter?


Because then they control your heat/air and can do basically a "brown out"...a co-worker of mine had this the other year, and it burned out her new heat pump because it constantly cycled off and on because of the "smart meter". She demanded they remove it. Now, they may not!

Anonymous said...

Just spoke to the powers that be at Choptank. they said that the state of Maryland has not decided as to whether or not anyone is required to have a "dumb meter". they are still taking comments at the state level and NO decisions have been made yet. D P & L is NOT telling the truth.

later this week I will be able to give you more info on all this.

Anonymous said...

I have read (even though I am told not to believe everything I read on the internet) that many people have had their appliances "burn up" because of the smart meters! I elected to NOT have a smart meter installed as they have been known to start fires while people are away from their homes. The Liberals love them! Just like they love Obamacare. Does that tell you anything?

Anonymous said...

Appliance burn out and fairly constant waves pulsating through the air... Health issues, etc.

Read: http://marylandsmartmeterawareness.org/smart-meter-truths/

California's been fighting for a while now.

Apparently obama's adminisistration sunk over 6 billion into this: from NPR interview...

" BORENSTEIN: The Obama administration, during the stimulus package in 2009, put about $6 billion into smart grid investment and most of that went into these new smart meters for customers. What the meters do is record your usage, usually on a 15-minute or 30-minute basis, and then transfer that information electronically back to the utility."

Wonder how the NSA is going to use this data?

Anonymous said...

About being billed for opting out is supposed to be taken up in January when assembly comes back from winter recess.Contact your elected officials and voice your opinion,the electric lobby will.

Anonymous said...

I followed the instructions of DPL and went to web site and opted out. I asked for an acknowledgment of my note to them and as of this moment have not gotten a response. The Maryland Utilities Commission says at this time you CAN opt out. They will decide in the future what they are going to do about the charge if you don't or they could make it mandatory. I can read my own meter if need be but I do not want them controling my meter!

Anonymous said...

At first I told the guy I didn't want it.Then I asked him if that was one of those meters that turn stuff off and on. He said no, it just sends a signal so a meter reader wouldn't have to come out and read the meter.

So I told him to go ahead and install it. If it proves otherwise I will deal with it at that time, like someone mysteriously breaking the glass.

I feel like I helped put a guy out of work, but his company did, not I.

Anonymous said...

install a lock on your electric box and put a no trespassing and do not install sign on your door for them to read if you are not home.

Anonymous said...

DP&L changed my meter, I saw the flashing green light.

Anonymous said...

Appliance failure happens mostly with low voltage assurances. In a high voltage situation home breakers and surge suppressors protect your equipment. Any appliance with a compressor will be subjected to failure with frequent cycling and voltage reductions. Smart meters do have the ability to control your appliances

Anonymous said...

The smart meter is not the same as the empower MD smart program. The smart meter just sends how much electric you use every month to the power company so that you are billed for what you use, not what they estimate. It allows you to have a better idea on your monthly use of electric. The empower MD smart meter is what cycles your HVAC unit. This new meter does not cycle anything. It just keeps meter readers from coming out to the house saving the company money.

Anonymous said...

I will read my own meter.

Anonymous said...

That is not what I was told 453PM when I spoke with a customer service agent from Delmarva Power. Not sure where you are getting your information from. If it was just to only not send a meter reader around, I don't think we would have had the option to OPT OUT!

Anonymous said...

If you see the same white truck I saw in my neighborhood it was sporting a painted over logo with a magnetic DPL sign slapped over it and an out of state tag. I was told that the guy doing this is paid by the meter. So do you think he cares if you opted out?