Is there something fishy with PG&E?

Note: I was not sure where to post this, so if need be it can certainly be deleted/moved.

Today in Sebastopol, CA, PG&E suddenly pulled out of a public forum where they were supposed to discuss the accuracy of their new "smart meters." Could there be something sinister behind this move?

www.mercurynews.com...

If the new meters really are as good as PG&E claim, then why not confront those concerned and ease their worries?

they're behind the new proposition 16 where they get to monopolize california or something like that.

2nd

reply to post by aletheia


Oh wait a minute, you have to tell people who PG&E is. Pacific Gas and Electric. The energy company in California.

I built a few apartment complexes and commercial sites in Fresno.

I could not stand dealing with them.

Here is a little story that should raise your ire about their meters.

I got a call from the Apartment management company on one of my projects. The manager stated that they had a problem with their bill on one of the units. When no on living in the unit, being a brand new complex and unit, they got a bill for $1000 and then when the new tenant lived there the bill was $500.

I called the owner of the electric sub contractor and we went to the unit. We fired up every electric component and checked the amp draw. It was like 22 amps. We than turned everything off and checked and no amp draw. Checked out other units in the same building, nothing was crossed and the unit did not have an exterior outlet.

Checked the PG&E meter. It was a brand new one so I took a picture of the unit and checked the Kw h readings. Verified the quantities on the bills the tenant and the managers to check out the usage.

We separated and Tim went back to his office. I went back to mine. I worked out the total possible Kw h usage and came up with a number less than the lower charge of $500.

That was with everything running 24 hours a day for 31 days. I called up Tim and he gave his numbers, they only were off just slightly from mine.

I wrote up a letter stating to PG&E that there was ABSOLUTELY no way that meter could be accurate. Gave all the information. A week later I got a call from the manager and she stated that they were going to shut off the power if the bills were not paid. I gave them a call and contacted their billing center. At the time it was in the same building where my PG&E rep (my areas new services rep for construction) was working. The billing supervisor stated there was nothing they could do about the bill and then I called my rep. He contacted the billing department and the billing department called me back saying there was still nothing they could do.

The next day I went back to the apartment complex and took another gander at the meter. Lo and behold it was a different one. I told both the manager and the tenant about my conversations with PG&E. I gave them both my business card and told them that if they wanted to sue PG&E I had all the evidence needed. Never heard back from them.

I detest PG&E. Oh, and your smart meters, that is so they can regulate your electric usage. Also, gotta love California's plan to implement the thermostat control. No longer will you be able to control the very temperature in your houses. It is already in some cities.

You go California. Test all the NWO crap first so it can be implemented everywhere else after they work out the kinks in your state.

That would be a killer in Arizona with how hot it is here. It the hottest months my air is at 74. If any higher my heart acts up. The rest of the year we are at 78.

There are a lot of elderly here in this population too that need the air. It better not happen here!

Originally posted by amatrine
There are a lot of elderly here in this population too that need the air. It better not happen here!

That's the thing. They're trying to push these new meters globally... as far as I understand it.

I believe the technology can be used by other power companies, but I'll need to verify that before I state is absolute fact. So far I've heard nothing but bad news about the meters.

Someone should do some research on the subject... perhaps I'll take the initiative and see what I can dig up.

I found a link to a website with some information on Smart Meters, and how they are indeed going to be installed across the nation (and possibly beyond). In America President Obama himself has called for the installation of 40 million of these new "smart meters" all across America.

So far the new meters are under suspicion because people (victims?) who've had these installed at their homes, or businesses, have been experiencing higher than usual energy bills.

There is something fishy going on here... and more people need to be aware. More research into the subject is required; should anyone feel the desire to lend me a hand.

Here is the website:
earth2tech.com...

[edit on 29-4-2010 by aletheia]

same here- smart meter on, energy bills up, could be the cost of power too i guess. But either way p.g.e. blows as a corporation. prop 16? crazy

www.ballotpedia.org...


just pushing out the locals

PG&E is a joke. One time they came by and turned off the gas for some reason. I guess they were doing something down the road. Anyway, they said they'd come back that evening to turn it back on and make sure there were no leaks. They never came back. I called the company, and they said they could come out like five days later, but they could come at any time of day. They ended up coming back five days later at around midnight. So no hot water or heat or dryer or stove for five days. They put those electronic meters here. I don't trust them.

[edit on 29-4-2010 by Nemesis0123]

So nothing but bad experiences with the company and the smart meters... that doesn't sound good, as the smart meters are also being installed in Oregon now.

www.oregonlive.com...

This is just not looking good for America. I'm really not sure why we need the meters, especially since their quality is highly questionable.

Edit: If you read this article it mentions PG&E will be able to control your appliances remotely! I am absolutely opposed to someone else controlling my equipment in my own home. If I want to use something, it's mine, and I have every right to. The electric company can shove their remote control meters you know where for all I care.

[edit on 30-4-2010 by aletheia]

I have a smart meter and pay the same as when i had a regular one, about $500/month..................

don't ever own a pool and hot tub is my advice !!


[edit on 4-5-2010 by IandEye]

Well it started like a good idea, basically everyone would pay closer to a flat rate. I lived with that system when i was in the south every electric bill was 50 bucks and it went up to 55 in the summer. However in california it turned into people's electric bill being twice or threee times as much as what they are used to. Not too long ago there was a little revolt in bakersfield over this.
Just to give you an example imagine if you own a small honda or a smart car now i drive an 8 cylinder hemi. Now when we get gas imagine if our gas prices were avereged out, great for me i would be paying way less because of your lack of fuel consumption, see why this system does not work?
It can be done i have seen it done but i do not think it will be done correctly in california.
This is a VERY fitting story realated to the topic at hand, a must read for everyone that lives in california, and keep in mind they are trying to get got that rate hike they wanted to pay for all these hard workers.laist.com...

Originally posted by zaiger

This is a VERY fitting story realated to the topic at hand, a must read for everyone that lives in california, and keep in mind they are trying to get got that rate hike they wanted to pay for all these hard workers.laist.com...

great story. the article's comments don't seem too sympathetic.

My Fiancees parents already pay several hundred a month for heating an AC, warming the pool, running all their electronics, etc. Dad is retired but works part time, mom is a house wife...When the smart meters go in they expect their bill to double as PG&E will charge much much more for using electricity during "peak hours"
PG&E TV commercials tell us to "flex your power" by turning off lights, not doing laundry till late in the evening or early morning, etc.

It pisses me off because PG&E is a monopoly and we have no choice but to pay them...charging for peak hours should be considered a criminal act, especially charging the elderly and disabled for using peak hours...

What also pisses me off is the rolling blackouts we had about a decade ago [remember Enron?] It's not our gosh darn fault that PG&E didn't build enough energy plants nor run them effectively!! WE PAY THE PRICE FOR THEIR FAILURES!!!