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Homeowner Pulls Gun To Stop New Electric Meter From Being Installed

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famousdayandyear:



http://consumerist.com/2012/07/homeowner-pulls-gun-to-stop-new-electric-meter-from-being-installed.html

The Unwelcome Mat
By Chris Morran on July 19, 2012 2:15 PM
Short URL: http://con.st/10100822
nosmartmetersplease   

A woman in Texas says she tried to be polite when she told the man from the power company that she didn't want to have her old electric meter replaced with a new "smart" meter. But when he refused to listen to her, she grabbed her gun.

The woman tells Houston's KHOU that she placed herself between the installer and her old meter but, "He just kept pushing me away."

That's when she showed him her handgun.

"He saw it, and went back the other way," she tells KHOU.

The homeowner says she is not comfortable with the amount of information smart meters transmit back to the power company.

"Our constitution allows us not to have that kind of intrusion on our personal privacy," she explains. "They’ll be able to tell if you are running your computer, air conditioner, whatever it is."

The woman still has her old meter and she and her husband have posted warning signs declaring "No Smart Meters Are to Be Installed On This Property," but CenterPoint, the power company that attempted to install the meter says it will persist in its efforts.

"We are deeply troubled by anyone who would pull a gun on another person performing their job," reads a statement from the company. "CenterPoint will be taking additional steps – including court actions – because what happened is dangerous, illegal and unwarranted."

KHOU reports that CenterPoint Energy already installed around 2 million smart meters in the area, but the local Public Utilities Commission is now weighing the possibility of allowing homeowners to have the new meters removed.

Rapunzel:
Good for her!

U-238:
I have a smart meter. It is so difficult to read. Everyone in the city is required to have a smart meter.

Oceander:
Of course, the simple alternative is this:  if you want electric power, then you get it through the provider-approved meters; otherwise, find your own way to get electric power.  Someone so opposed to the meters the provider wants to use can bone up on solar and wind and see what they can do with that (actually, done correctly, they could probably be a net source of power back into the grid rather than a net draw off the grid; there'd still be the matter of that pesky meter, however).

Rapunzel:

--- Quote from: Oceander on July 19, 2012, 08:00:45 pm ---Of course, the simple alternative is this:  if you want electric power, then you get it through the provider-approved meters; otherwise, find your own way to get electric power.  Someone so opposed to the meters the provider wants to use can bone up on solar and wind and see what they can do with that (actually, done correctly, they could probably be a net source of power back into the grid rather than a net draw off the grid; there'd still be the matter of that pesky meter, however).

--- End quote ---


My friends with a house here -- 3000 square feet -- has it solar powered (house and pool) their net electric bill runs about $11 a month at most -- usually around $8 a month.  That said no way do I want the power company telling me what temperature I can keep my house cooled or heated to...

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