Smart meters

We're supposed to be getting those smart meters at some stage :( the house we used to live in (way out in a small town in the middle of nowhere) got one first though (weird...I guess cause the meter guys don't wanna have to drive so far out so they do the more distant places first??). I'm not happy because the meter is also outside our bedroom (not so bad that it's right behind the bed... but close enough, to us and the kids).

[QUOTE=Alex Good;978707]When they come to install it just keep the door closed and say "fuck off".[/QUOTE]

I dunno where you live, but where I live they're not gonna come in the house to install it ;) In fact, odds are they'd get there and do it during the day when no one's home...

[QUOTE=Iron Fireling;979105]I dunno where you live, but where I live they're not gonna come in the house to install it ;) In fact, odds are they'd get there and do it during the day when no one's home...[/QUOTE]

Yep. Most times the only way you know is that the clock on your coffeemaker is blinking. It only takes about a minute, and that's if you do it the right way.

Our power company installed our smart meter about 2 years ago. We had no say in the matter. Since our meter is on the outside of the front of our house, we didn't even have to be at home. There have been stories that they want to charge us for it even though it was forced upon us. Also, one of the news stories reported that the old meters were sold to a third world country for $1 a piece. People are not happy. Our electric bill went up, but more due to de-regulation that went into effect rather than a new meter.

Peak usage times are changing because "everybody" works during the day and does all their housework at night, so that's when the most electricity is used.

I'm calling BS on this 'smash the meter' or 'shoot the utility worker' nonsense. You don't go to the store and tell the clerk what kind of cash register to use, or insist that a gas station use an analog meter on their gas pumps. Grow up. If you're that much of a rugged individualist, you should be off-grid.

[QUOTE=Nicator;979575]I'm calling BS on this 'smash the meter' or 'shoot the utility worker' nonsense. You don't go to the store and tell the clerk what kind of cash register to use, or insist that a gas station use an analog meter on their gas pumps. Grow up. If you're that much of a rugged individualist, you should be off-grid.[/QUOTE]

Those don't affect you. From what I've read, these meters are potentially unsafe.

Our meter is on the outside of the house and accessible without having to pass through a fence or anything. So one day the new meter was there. I haven't noticed anything, but who knows what it's doing to me.

[QUOTE=Nicator;979575]I'm calling BS on this 'smash the meter' or 'shoot the utility worker' nonsense. You don't go to the store and tell the clerk what kind of cash register to use, or insist that a gas station use an analog meter on their gas pumps. Grow up. If you're that much of a rugged individualist, you should be off-grid.[/QUOTE]+1.

"Somebody is delivering electrical power that is useful for nearly any conceivable task, in quantities orders of magnitude larger than I could produce with my own labor, for pennies a day! And they want to charge me accurately for it!?! Woe is meeeeee!"

RitaRose, I am sorry you are going to lose your job. That sucks. But when has any new technology ever not lost [I]somebody [/I]a job?

[QUOTE=sbhikes;979631]Our meter is on the outside of the house and accessible without having to pass through a fence or anything. So one day the new meter was there. I haven't noticed anything, but who knows what it's doing to me.[/QUOTE]Absolutely nothing, probably.

[QUOTE=Uncephalized;979659]
RitaRose, I am sorry you are going to lose your job. That sucks. But when has any new technology ever not lost [I]somebody [/I]a job?[/QUOTE]

Thanks. On the bright side, it's the push I need to start working with animals like I've always wanted, though at much lower pay. Honestly, I think it will be worth it.

[QUOTE=Uncephalized;979659] But when has any new technology ever not lost [I]somebody [/I]a job?
[/QUOTE]

Flint knapping?