topic O/T Anyone have Smart Meters? in Beauty

O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

seehorse — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 14:38:36 GMT

We're gonna have to get this and wondering if anyone has it and seen their electric / gas bill go up as a result?

Thanks!!!

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

seehorse — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 16:02:19 GMT

bump

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

JoElla — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:19:01 GMT

I do, and to be honest, my bill hasn't changed much.

My actually electric bill went up because, we changed rates and chose a different contract.

But overall, with bill averaging, the overall change might have been a few dollars.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

Nightowlz — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:33:15 GMT

We have electric & water smart meters but the gas company has not switched over to them. Did not notice a difference in our electric but our water was quite a bit higher. The bigger problem we should all be more concerned about with smart meters are health problems & hacking the smart grid??? http://emfsafetynetwork.org/smart-meters/

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

Tigriss — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:39:11 GMT

It will be quite a while before our rural electric company does anything like this or even our Georgia Power. We are lucky that they can read the meter without getting out of the truck.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

Dell1 — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:55:58 GMT

My electric and gas meters are Smart Meters. I noticed no change in the billing amount.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

shoekitty — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 17:59:38 GMT

I refused. I don't like the emissions. Nothing big, but I chose not too. I pay a couple dollars extra, but that is it. Mine is so old, eventually it will be replaced, but so far, so good.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

MizKringle — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:00:04 GMT

Smart meters are controversial because they seem to be associated with health problems. From the little I know, more research has been done about this in Europe than in the U.S. If you googled smart meters and health problems, you'd probably find a lot of info. I've read some stuff about this topic and am not yet sure what to make of it. I have a close friend who believes that her health and her son's health has been seriously affected by the smart meter installed on their home. She had it removed and although she still has health problems, they are not as bad now. It's a complicated mess that I don't want to discuss here. My point is that you may want to do some research about health issues to see if this is something you really want to do. I think there may also be an issue with these things catching fire.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

Peachypink — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:03:03 GMT

Our electric company installed them a few years ago in July. At the beginning of September, ours exploded and caught fire. Luckily, the explosion caused the fire to burn away from our house, onto the bushes. It did singe the house siding, causing the electric company to replace our siding. The fire went out quickly. The electric company removed all smart meters from our development the next week.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

silkyk — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 18:22:48 GMT

We opted OUT! We'll stick with the old ""stupid meter"" that has served us well for over 25 years. Health and privacy issues made us say NO!

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

Nightowlz — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 20:01:13 GMT

On 3/24/2015 mskringle said:
Smart meters are controversial because they seem to be associated with health problems. From the little I know, more research has been done about this in Europe than in the U.S. If you googled smart meters and health problems, you'd probably find a lot of info. I've read some stuff about this topic and am not yet sure what to make of it. I have a close friend who beliefs that her health and her son's health has been seriously affected by the smart meter installed on their home. She had it removed and although she still has health problems, they are not as bad now. It's a complicated mess that I don't want to discuss here. My point is that you may want to do some research about health issues to see if this is something you really want to do. I think there may also be an issue with these things catching fire.

We did not have the option to opt out. They just came out & changed the meters. There are also health issues with the DECT 6 Technology telephones. Nobody I know seems to know anything about this. I need a new phone & will have to pay a lot more money to get a safe phone with ECO Mode made by Siemens. The DECT phones emit radiation 24/7 so it's like having a mini cellphone tower in your house. The cordless phone I use now emits radiation while in use but not in standby mode(while not in use) so I always use the speakerphone.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

shoekitty — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 20:13:50 GMT

On 3/24/2015 Nightowlz said:
On 3/24/2015 mskringle said:
Smart meters are controversial because they seem to be associated with health problems. From the little I know, more research has been done about this in Europe than in the U.S. If you googled smart meters and health problems, you'd probably find a lot of info. I've read some stuff about this topic and am not yet sure what to make of it. I have a close friend who beliefs that her health and her son's health has been seriously affected by the smart meter installed on their home. She had it removed and although she still has health problems, they are not as bad now. It's a complicated mess that I don't want to discuss here. My point is that you may want to do some research about health issues to see if this is something you really want to do. I think there may also be an issue with these things catching fire.

We did not have the option to opt out. They just came out & changed the meters. There are also health issues with the DECT 6 Technology telephones. Nobody I know seems to know anything about this. I need a new phone & will have to pay a lot more money to get a safe phone with ECO Mode made by Siemens. The DECT phones emit radiation 24/7 so it's like having a mini cellphone tower in your house. The cordless phone I use now emits radiation while in use but not in standby mode(while not in use) so I always use the speakerphone.

My 94 year old MOm complained she felt she was being zapped when she slept. The huge meter is on side of house in back of her bed. She called PGE and told them she wanted the old meter back. They complied.

They were going to install mine a few years ago, they came to door because they needed to shut power off for few minutes. I said no. For 2 years they kept coming back and asking. Finally I signed something. I pay 7 dollars a month for them to come read my meter. I know others who have switched back.

Thank you so much for info on phones. My phones are 12 years old. Are they suspect?

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

kahootz — Tue, 24 Mar 2015 20:34:43 GMT

On 3/24/2015 shoekitty said:
I refused. I don't like the emissions. Nothing big, but I chose not too. I pay a couple dollars extra, but that is it. Mine is so old, eventually it will be replaced, but so far, so good.

I opted out too and so did my neighbor. I think it's ridiculous that we have to pay extra. Of course the reason these stupid "smart" meters are taking place is because of the millions of dollars our government gave in grants so the electric companies could install these things that nobody wants.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

arrabella — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 00:29:25 GMT

Actually the electric company doesn't have to pay an employee an hourly wage and benefits to read the meters. Not only that but no sick pay, or va-ca pay. With the smart meters the companies save a bundle of money!!!

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

Tigriss — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 00:38:14 GMT

I didn't know about the phones, but I did away with my home phone for all intensive purposes. I have a line, but only use it for internet since that is my only internet option out here in the woods. I still have corded phones in the rooms but one cordless that is unplugged. I got tired of the energy pull from the outlets, so if the need arises, I just use the corded ones.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

ValuSkr — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 01:05:18 GMT

I've had a smart meter for electric (and maybe gas too) for a year or two. It's been fine, certainly hasn't caused usage to increase (why would it?). It's supposed to allow you to view actual kWh usage on an hourly basis; I can do that but they seem to have some bugs to work out. As far as the other issues raised here - health and risk of fire - I don't know about that.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

seehorse — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 12:16:04 GMT

Thanks for all the input (this is DD's house).

Initial $75 and $11/month to opt out.

Then there's the health issues to consider.

She also gets people at the door (at least 5 times) saying "we need to see your electric/gas bill". HUH?!? They're not from the power company. Scary and creepy. They do have some sort of badge, but...

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

LonestarBabs — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:05:06 GMT

I've had a smart meter for electricity for about 2 years now. Didn't have a choice. No problems with it at all. Early reports of fires and health hazards were sensationalized around here, but those concerns did cause a delay in the rollout and I believe the meters were then purchased from another source and all has been well.

I was more concerned with the city placing a wi-fi relay transmitter outside my house (to boost signals for their emergency responder communications network) than I was with the smart meter installation.

I just hate it when govt entities and companies infringe/intrude with this kind of stuff.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

spud188 — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:07:51 GMT

We read our own meter and send in the numbers with the bill.

Re: O/T Anyone have Smart Meters?

Reever — Wed, 25 Mar 2015 13:09:07 GMT

My gas bill has been pushing $200 this winter. Really getting out of control.