|
Just a heads up. I was talking to my neighbor last night, who is in a panic.
Sometime in March, without their knowledge, PSE&G swapped the electric meter on the side of the house to a new digital "SmartMeter". For the past 20 years, their bills averaged @$130-$150 a month. (About the same as ours.) Theirs is supposedly the only house on that line, it runs past the back of other properties to get to them.
The first bill after installation of the new meter was over $500. After opening the bill, her husband went out to look at the meter and that's when he noticed that it had been changed. They call, first excuse is that it's a "cold month, so they must be using more electricity to heat the house". They heat with oil.
PSE&G sends someone out to check...he says there's nothing wrong with it. Next bill is over $600. They call again...company refuses to admit that something is wrong. Tells them there "must be something in the house using a lot of power". Nothing in the house has changed. Now they're pissed, the contact the Board of Public Utilities, who tells them they can file a complaint but they can't send someone to check the meter because it's PSE&G property.
Next bill again over $500. Now they start getting nastygrams about being behind on payments and shutoff threats. They call and explain that they have a service ticket open, there's a problem, and mention their chat with the Utilities Board. Another tech is sent out, tinkers with the thing but doesn't seem to know what he's doing. Admits that he's "never even seen one before".
Next bill is down to "only" $260. Still a large past due balance. Yesterday they caught a PSE&G employee-literally-sneaking into their yard to try to shut off their electric. They explained what had been going on, and he left without shutting them off. The company STILL REFUSES to adjust their bill, or even consider adjusting it.
Now they aren't sure what to do or even who to call, but I did find countless articles and comments online that amount to the same story. Already class-action suits over these meters in 2 other states. There's also issues with constant power surges, problems with WiFi, major appliances/computers/ burning out, and in an amusing twist some folks with fancy programmable ceiling fans have their fans change direction/speed every time the meter sends a signal.
In some states, there are "opt out" procedures that involve hefty fees to replace old analog with "new" analog meters, as well as a monthly surcharge for *not* converting to the SmartMeters. But in most states, you can't refuse the upgrade and then you're screwed if there's a problem.
So, beware!
|
Login
FAQ
Search
Chaos333
