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Saturday, March 01, 2014

Legislation Aims To Slow Utility’s Smart Meter Initiative

OCEAN CITY – Smart meters have been a hot topic of late with area residents planning to meet with Delmarva Power representatives next month amid legislation introduced in both the House and the Senate to address them.

At the conclusion of Tuesday afternoon’s Mayor and City Council work session, Ocean City AARP President Chris Norris announced a meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 12, starting promptly at 11 a.m. at the Ocean City Senior Center on 41st Street regarding smart meters. Representatives of Delmarva Power will be present to provide an overview of the smart meter project and address customers’ questions and concerns.

Last spring, Delmarva Power began installing smart meters, or digital meters, at many residential and business accounts in Maryland as part of a proactive initiative to streamline the billing process and provide consumers and the utility with a better understanding of energy usage. Delmarva Power is authorized by the Maryland Public Service Commission (PSC) to install smart meters for all of its Maryland customers.

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7 comments:

John Palmer said...

Don't let them fool you folks. Here's what I think is going on. Everyone knows that the power companies have not been keeping up with routine maintenance and upgrades to meet demand. I can tell this by the increased number of times they ask customers to curtail power usage. At first it was just during the hotter periods. Now it's in the winter also. However, I believe the stockholders of these companies are making out big time and money that should be invested in infrastructure is going towards dividends. It's really a no loose situation for the power companies. Every time they want a rate increase they get it. Any new projects they want to speculate on they just get the Governor to pass it on to the users. Remember the off shore windmills. Guess who's paying for them folks? You are folks with that extra $3.00 charge each month.Like I said it's a no loose money deal for the power companies. As to the smart meters and the gimmicks like "We'll install new thermostats in your homes, apartments, condos etc. at no charge to you"yeah, right. What they don't tell you is that when they need to conserve power in the grid they'll cut off your units for a short period of time hopping you won't notice. As for the Smart Meter, do you really think they are doing you a favor? And just think, now they'll charge you for not allowing them to install them. What a deal.

JoeAlbero said...

John, interesting comment. I can tell you that Delmarva Power came to Salisbury News at least 3 years ago and asked if we'd help them promote their energy saving program. We agreed to publish it in the beginning, almost on a daily basis. Once we saw that they were paying WBOC for the same thing I immediately asked them to do the same with Salisbury News, yet at a much lower rate, of course. Delmarva Power refused to pay us, so we dumped them. At the time I had SEVEN accounts with them using power. I immediately cut off the power to 5 of the 7 locations. It's a shame I can't impact the County the same way. Hmmmmmmm.

Anonymous said...

I am wondering if Norm will be against this after he is "for" it - he must need some "for the folks" cred........

Anonymous said...

Educate yourselves on the Agenda21 Smart Meters. Another way to be controlled by the government. This is where it's heading. Don't be deceived...

Anonymous said...

Lead sheets should still be available at roofing centers and on the outernet! If they "Smart" you, smart them back!

Anonymous said...

You can install all the lead sheets you want the thing the power company is not telling you is the radio waves are not just in the open air! The wave are transmitted across the electrical lines in your home so therefore it will make no difference that you don't have a smart meter if your neighbor has one chances are the radio waves are already entering your home or business.Smart meters are nothing more than a monitor on the amount of power you are using and when you are using it. All of the power companies devices are doing nothing to save you money the only ones they benefit are the power company itself. Educate yourself before letting them install any device on your property they are not looking out for you no matter what they tell you.

Anonymous said...

You all are crazy as bats on speed. The damn things only save the power co money by cutting out the meter readers. The rest of this hysteria is just that. The freaking Gov has been watching us for years, they don't need the freaking power co to do it!