when I put on an analog meter, will the utility company automatically send out a meter reader?
When I put on an analog meter and get rid of smart meter, will the utility company start sending out a meter reader?
How can we help you today?
Go ahead and ask us anything.
Replies 5
By someone who is up-to-date in what is being done on this topic: He warned me that if I installed an analog meter, I would be arrested and charged with meter tampering.
So, you have two options: One is to contact the electric company and tell them (due to illness) you want to install an analog meter at your own expense and then ask them what you need to do to get permission to do that. They are likely to DENY that permission.
The other option is to accept their opt-out meter. In our area (Tucson) the opt-out meter they offer is a pretty good option. It is not testing as having much dirty electricity and it has no Radio Frequency (RF) element to it. They WILL have to physically read it every month. In your location, start by asking Customer Service (or ask to be connected to the metering department) what the exact make and model of the opt-out meter is and then research that meter. You don't want any part of it to have an RF capability.
In the case of my water meter, I just rejected the RF part of the meter and allowed them to install the part that just measures the flow. They WILL have to physically read it every month.
In the case of my gas meter, they claim that the RF part does not broadcast all the time. It is woken up only when it needs to be read and then it goes back to sleep again. That's not good enough for me though so I am requesting an analog meter again. I had to make that request in writing. It has not yet been resolved.
|
Here is a great article you may not have seen yet by William Bathgate, 40 year electrical and mechanical engineer for Telecom. He is taking now smart meter info
to Michigan Board. The analog meters he knows about have a transmitter in them and he said, as you have, they you have to get an RF transmitter "checker" to see if the utility company is transmitting. The receiver, he says, stays on all the time.
I can't remember what I wrote so long ago, but I think I poorly worded the question. Here is my question: Can I just put an analog meter on my house and then call the company to tell them? I am assuming I have to call. I wonder what would happen if I didn't? I wonder if an alternative would be to buy my own digital meter--one without a transmitter?
I think the solution to this whole mess is to find alternative energy sources, like batteries. I course they might kill the inventor. I met someone here who uses a battery that he invented to power his whole house. The utility company has not bothered him.
By the way, you may have seen on the news that we have a huge power outage because of a storm. It blew down old oaks trees -188,000 without power. It has been over a week and still not every one has power. The smart meters did not restore people's power--we saw evidence of that if anyone was thinking they could
Thank you.
Carole Fincher, Memphis
Thank you.
Carole Fincher
Memphis
Shaun A Kranish Principal
The only place I've heard of someone getting arrested ever, anywhere in the country, is Naperville Illinois. And that was for recording the police, not for tampering or touching the meter. We have sold hundreds and hundreds or even thousands of meters. People have very good luck at installing them and getting away from their smart or otherwise digital meters. I would not worry about getting arrested - it just doesn't happen.
Dear customer,
Each electric company has a different policy. Please contact your electric company and double check with them. Some companies might request you to send the readings to them, some would assign a meter reader who would manually come and read the meter. Thank you!