Posted on 07/11/2013 6:06:50 AM PDT by afraidfortherepublic
Is it possible to shield the meter so they can’t operate it remotely?
seems you could just wrap the meter in tin foil and ground it. Gets rid of the radio wave issues if that’s what’s bothering you.
Of course the invasion of privacy issue is something else. Best to install solar panels and get off the grid entirely
I will be moving further out to the country to do just that.
Although if they use RF connectivity and it doesn't work, a utility will probably send a person out to the meter to fix the problem. Depending on the laws of the community you are in, there could be a fine associated with "tampering" with a smart meter.
He should apply for a grant and put up a bird blender! And festoon his house with solar panels.
True that. If you can’t find a way to block or jam a wifi signal, you just aren’t trying.
I think the smart meter makes a lot of sense. My dogs don't much like the meter reader and I had to remodel part of my new deck after he whined about the position of the handrail.
I’ve recently received word that my 72 yo cousin (whom the entire family thinks is eccentric) has done just that (wrapped her meter in tin foil, as well as her phone). She thinks people (?) are spying on her.
Actually, her younger brother IS spying on her, but that is because he is her legal guardian. Most of the family has written her off as ‘nuts’, but I remember that her late father (who was considered ‘wise’ by the same family) used to listen to Art Bell all night.
The apple does not fall far...
The smart meter can also be used to control any of your modern smart appliances, heat and air. It can also be used to brown/black out individual users.
So they pay you, so that they can remotely turn off your hot water heater, OK.
I'm a little surprised that they find that cost effective, as that is such a low use time of day to begin with. Do they pay anything for going old school and just having a timer at your residence that you can override when needed, and turn off completely when you are gone for a few days?
First - these don’t sound like smart meters, just AMR’s (Automatic Meter Readers). Smart meters are bidirectional - that is, not only do they record and transmit electric usage but the can also send signals to the household to remotely control appliances. It’s this remote control capability that people should be concerned with.
Second, I’ve noticed over the years that the meter is quick to react to increased electric usage - the little wheels spin up very quickly - but they are slow to spin back down. That means they record usage that doesn’t really occur. They cheat you out of a few pennies every time you turn off an appliance!
What I would like to see is some enterprising person develop an isolating transformer or capacitor that would mask usage by filtering the spikes and smoothing out the signal that the meters “see”.
“It’s none of the city’s business when I’m using water”
Guess what sweetie?
They will know if you’re using water by reading the meter.
Another bunch of tinfoil hat crap IMO.
Most of those who gin up all of the myths and fearmonger these meters are the now displaced meter readers.
“I’m on a private well, so no meters. However, I love the smart meters on my gas and electric service. It saves me from clunky workers tramping through my garden, crushing my flowers under their boots. It also relieves me from liability, should they tumble down the rocky slope behind my house.”
They still have to access the meters, and as far as the gas meter it has to be inspected for leaks on a routine basis per state and federal guidlines even with the ERT installed.
And I always try and watch where I step to keep from damaging plants while going up to the meters.
No.
He’s talking about the water heater, not the entire service.
” I love the smart meters on my gas and electric service.”
Just how much are you going to love them when you start getting the cost of your energy being priced out by the time of day that you use it. Want to do your laundry during the day will cost you more than it will if you stay up and do it after midnight. Then there’s the new appliances you will buy to replace your old ones that will even take that option away from you because the utility will just “turn them off” so you can’t use them except when “they say you can.” Want to use your A/C during the day when it’s really hot? Not if they say you can’t. My advice to you is that if you have fairly old appliances, replace them now before the “new models” come out. At the end of the day, there will be so much RF energy around your house it will be like one big microwave as big brother utilities check your every move with respect to your use of water, electricity and gas. And if you put in solar panels to provide for your own needs, look for them to tax you for “being off their grid.” Want to put down a well? Well most places won’t let you do it because after all the water under your property doesn’t belong to you anymore. Welcome to 1984, it just came later than Orwell predicted. Coming soon, they will want to have a means to know when you have sex!
That's strange. Why would they want to reduce load during NON-peak hours? I am being paid $40 per season so my A/C can be cut to 50% duty cycle between 2-6 PM on weekdays during very high peak loads on the grid in the summer. They did it by installing a pager controlled switch between my thermostat and compressor contactor--easily bypassable by the way.
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