NEW Smart Meter installed

[Old Toker]

Was home this morning and an electrical company employee showed up and installed a NEW Smart Meter. I already had a Smart Meter....but now I have a new one.....for some reason. None of my neighbors had theirs switched out.

This is my first indoor grow and I only have one 1000w ballast. About 5 weeks into my grow. Other than my wife NO one knows about my grow. I don't sell. I live in rural Florida.

Should I be concerned?

 

[pop_rocks]

i would not be
ive had one for a while now and ive never had any problems
as long as you pay your bill on time they have no interest in what you are doing

when mine were first installed, i came up with a couple reasons why i would use the amount of electricity and why they always came on at the same time
/ was going to say i had a reptile pet enclosure
but its never come up

hope this puts your mind at ease

 

[Old Toker]

Thanks Pop Rocks!
Hopefully it's just a normal maintenance issue. Scared the hell out of me....I ran for my grow area (next to where the meter is located) and started pulling plugs. Plugged the fan/filter back in and talked to him during the installation so that it wasn't quiet enough to hear the fan. Fortunately I'm still in veg and the light was going to be switched off in 15 minutes anyway (18/6)....so the girls will get 15 more minutes of beauty rest today.
Thanks again for the reassurance!

 

[Pinball Wizard]

They put a smart meter on my house. Usage readings dropped 10%.

 

[7thson]

They just did the same thing to me,it's the second one(two three years old).I started to think like you,but it's nothing to worry about.If we weren't growing,we wouldn't think twice about it.

 

[pop_rocks]

glad to help, brother!

i also think by going out and talking to the guy you made a good move
people who have things to hide act all sketchy and... well like they are trying to hide something
like 7thson said, dont act like you are doing anything wrong
/and in my opinion you arent, esp if this is just for your own personal use

good luck man and hope you have a great grow!

 

[dansbuds]

the smart meters are put in so they don't have to walk up to the house or go inside to read the meters anymore , they can read them right from the truck .

 

[Old Toker]

Thanks again Brother!

glad to help, brother!

 

[Old Toker]

I wasn't overly concerned with the Smart Meter I already had....I figured like you said....it's mostly so they can do drive-by meter readings. As long as you stay small, pay your bill on time, and don't anything stupid to draw attention to yourself.....no problem.

The old one looked new to me.....but what the hell do I know? How old could the installed base of Smart Meters be?

Whatever......as long as they don't kick in my front door....or increase my costs....I'll be happy.....mostly.

Thanks everyone!

the smart meters are put in so they don't have to walk up to the house or go inside to read the meters anymore , they can read them right from the truck .

 

[Old Toker]

They put a smart meter on my house. Usage readings dropped 10%.

I'd love to see this happen. Unfortunately my long and contentious past with various utility companies suggest that it is far more likely I'm going to be paying more.

Thanks man!

 

[growshopfrank]

According to a friend who works for a local utility a random meter swap is a hint that the utility has reason to believe that the meter may be defective.
This usually means that the usage patterns or electrical consumption varies from what the utility considers normal for that size of residence or neighborhood.

 

[.357 mag]

the smart meters are put in so they don't have to walk up to the house or go inside to read the meters anymore , they can read them right from the truck .

i asked them that and said was not the case they would still need access to read it
ive had one for 6 months my bill has been 430 dollars every time
my electric has doubled if not tripled since they put it in
told me they will only do physical readings twice a year and i'll get credited the difference
wich is bs imo
never mind the fact they broke into my property to install it
ripped the lock of the gate

 

[Pinball Wizard]

most states have utility commissions that overlook utility practices...report it...sometimes they call back

I contacted one in WV in 1990 ... and AT&T was torn a new asshole.

 

[dansbuds]

i asked them that and said was not the case they would still need access to read it
ive had one for 6 months my bill has been 430 dollars every time
my electric has doubled if not tripled since they put it in
told me they will only do physical readings twice a year and i'll get credited the difference
wich is bs imo
never mind the fact they broke into my property to install it
ripped the lock of the gate

that guy is full of shit 357 ! its that or your area doesn't have the reading capabilities in the trucks yet . but my bill is always different & haven't had a reader in my house in years !!! this house its on the outside & they wouldn't get passed the dog if they tried & my last house the meter was in the basement & no way anybodys getting in without being let in . & i lived there 2 years with no one showing up to read the meter .

 

[.357 mag]

^^^^^
i know there full of shit
they wont even let me give them a reading
told me it will be taken care of in the future
they do it on purpose here so when ya cant pay they want deposits and payment plans
worse than fucking court
theres no one to call believe me i tried everything to get the truth outta the fucks
the day they do show up theyre gonna meet bandit and taz to teach them a lesson and i get a little fun lol
300lbs of fuck you

 

[Old Toker]

According to a friend who works for a local utility a random meter swap is a hint that the utility has reason to believe that the meter may be defective.
This usually means that the usage patterns or electrical consumption varies from what the utility considers normal for that size of residence or neighborhood.

My electric bill went up $50 from last month. Hopefully that's not enough to raise a concern with the local electric coop.

I called the electric company yesterday and told them my elderly mother was home alone and became frightened when a man drove into our driveway in one of their trucks. Without asking my name or address, she apologized and said they were in the midst of a large meter replacement program....and seeing as they don't need access to the inside of their customers homes......they just make the swap without calling or sending a letter. True....or BS?

Whether the electric company actually noticed a change in my usage......or whether it was just my "turn" for a meter update.....it doesn't really make a difference. Ive decided to grow and I realize that it comes with some risk. Crappy electric companies cooperating with cops that should have more important tasks than messing with an Old Toker living in the woods.....is evidently one of those risk. However the odds are in my favor.

Thanks for the insight growshopfrank!

 

[Jhhnn]

Was home this morning and an electrical company employee showed up and installed a NEW Smart Meter. I already had a Smart Meter....but now I have a new one.....for some reason. None of my neighbors had theirs switched out.

This is my first indoor grow and I only have one 1000w ballast. About 5 weeks into my grow. Other than my wife NO one knows about my grow. I don't sell. I live in rural Florida.

Should I be concerned?

Your meter probably just went wonky. It happens. I wouldn't sweat it.

 

[Old Toker]

Thanks Jhhnn! No sense worrying about stuff you can't control. Appreciate the reassurance.