Ok, I know families who own large 2 story homes and set their thermostat to 72 degrees all year. When it's hot the air kicks on and when it's cold the heater kicks on. These people can afford their $1000 monthly utility bill and wish to be comfortable at any cost. The smart meter will not effect these weathly folks much as they are consistently in the high tier. However, if you are retired or living on limited income and watch your monthly expenses like me, or wish to conserve the new smart meter penalizes you.
I personally feel that we cannot stop technology and I think the smart meter can be a good way to reduce electrical costs by eliminating low tech jobs. However, I think a government monopoly such as the electric company should pass through the savings to rate payers. There is an option to opt out of the smart meter. There is a $75 charge to replace your existing smart meter if you already have one or you can refuse to have them install the new smart meter for the same $75 fee. In addition, you will now have a new $10 monthly fee tacked to your bill to read the meter. No other utility company charges to read their meters.
I feel that they are using these meters to increase our rates without having to ask some regulator to raise our rates. What is there to stop them from taking the 16 kwh per day and dividing by 24 hours and allow .67 kwh per hour and charge higher tiers on an hourly basis. Then the first second you turn on the air conditioner you will be in the highest tier. The really scarry thing about these smart meters is they can moniter your usage on an hourly basis and see exactly when you use most of your energy. That is when they will charge you the highest rates. If you change your behavior, they will see it and immediately change. Please go to what can I do about Smart Meter.
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