‘Smart’ city shuts off great-grandma’s water

The Wisconsin Reporter ^ | 7-9-13 | Ryan Ekvall

[PATRIOT1876]

*Most of those fools don’t even know the difference between a horse & a pony!!!*

Many of them spend hours each day staring at a hole in the ground and a can of Shinola with a puzzled look on their faces....

[goodwithagun]

I didn’t either until my mom started working for their city’s utility billing office. She could also shut off water, electricity, cable, and Internet with the stroke of a computer key. Frightening.

[Gandalf_The_Gray]

In cold country like Wisconsin you CAN’T put the water meter outside. It would freeze.

True, the meter goes inside (for you city folks) and a small plastic box is mounted on an outside wall. The box is connected to the meter by a small cord and contains the "readout" device. The boxes are easy to spot once you know what they look like. They are usually mounted about five feet off the ground, are about the size of a cigarette pack, and have a faceplate that's gray and blue.

If you don't like the "RF" idea, just wrap it in aluminum foil. They will probably send you an "estimated" bill that will make your jaw drop!

My electric and gas meters are both outside and smart. I'm on a deep well so there is no meter. I just got a postcard solicitation for insurance on my "entrance line" connecting my house to the city water main. It looked like a scam since we don't have city water anywhere near our neighborhood.

Regards,
GtG