Smart Meters
06-Nov-2008, 05:22 PM
#1
-- site donator --
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: the hammer
Posts: 7,040
Smart Meters
Today some guy came to my house and installed a "smart meter". Anyone else got one of these yet? Have you tracked your useage online?
I'm interested to see when I use the most electricity and to see if I can improve upon usage during "on-peak" and "mid-peak" hours. I've already made a conscious effort to reduce usage all together and enjoy the lower utility bills.
I'm not sure what to think of this though. On one hand its sort of a way for the gov't to force people to conserve energy, through charging more for usage during these "on-peak" and "mid-peak" hours, which by the way are through the day, when people would use the most. The "off-peak" hours (10pm-7am) they charge very little for kWh's used. Go figure, i mean, why wouldn't it be the other way around? Seems like a cash grab to me.
I can't take too much of an opinion on it yet though, b/c I don't know what the utility bills are going to be like under this new system.
Some guy came around last week saying if you get your energy through one of those "price protection plans" and use LESS than 600 kWh per month that they can not force you to be billed under the new system and that you're billing would stay the same as long as you stay in a price protection plan. I currently use much less than the required amount to stay off the "smart meter", but am unsure wtf to do.
After getting hosed into a price protection plan, I realized it isn't really a benefit for the consumer, being locked in at a current rate isn't always a good thing, seeing how the market fluctuates so much. I mean, right now I'm paying more than the current market value for my utilities and gas, but its stable at this rate. I got suckered into one of these plans by someone who spoke VERY poor ingerish right around the time of hurricane katrina, where the markets were on a steady incline. Seemed like a good idea at the time, being new to home-ownership.
comments and opinions?
I'm interested to see when I use the most electricity and to see if I can improve upon usage during "on-peak" and "mid-peak" hours. I've already made a conscious effort to reduce usage all together and enjoy the lower utility bills.
I'm not sure what to think of this though. On one hand its sort of a way for the gov't to force people to conserve energy, through charging more for usage during these "on-peak" and "mid-peak" hours, which by the way are through the day, when people would use the most. The "off-peak" hours (10pm-7am) they charge very little for kWh's used. Go figure, i mean, why wouldn't it be the other way around? Seems like a cash grab to me.
I can't take too much of an opinion on it yet though, b/c I don't know what the utility bills are going to be like under this new system.
Some guy came around last week saying if you get your energy through one of those "price protection plans" and use LESS than 600 kWh per month that they can not force you to be billed under the new system and that you're billing would stay the same as long as you stay in a price protection plan. I currently use much less than the required amount to stay off the "smart meter", but am unsure wtf to do.
After getting hosed into a price protection plan, I realized it isn't really a benefit for the consumer, being locked in at a current rate isn't always a good thing, seeing how the market fluctuates so much. I mean, right now I'm paying more than the current market value for my utilities and gas, but its stable at this rate. I got suckered into one of these plans by someone who spoke VERY poor ingerish right around the time of hurricane katrina, where the markets were on a steady incline. Seemed like a good idea at the time, being new to home-ownership.
comments and opinions?
06-Nov-2008, 05:45 PM
#3
-- site donator --
Thread Starter
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: the hammer
Posts: 7,040
What about people who work from home? Or households with only 1 person working while the other stays at home with the kid(s)? Or retired/injured people.....AKA the people who are most likely to get hurt by this the most.
They just supposed to bent over and take it dry I guess?
06-Nov-2008, 09:45 PM
#7
Admin
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Observation Deck
Posts: 17,528
It was installed yesterday. I'm usually doing laundry at 3:00 a.m., this could work to my advantage. 
It's a good idea if it heightens awareness for the general populous to conserve energy a little more. Overall, however, I guess the results are yet to be determined.
It's a good idea if it heightens awareness for the general populous to conserve energy a little more. Overall, however, I guess the results are yet to be determined.
07-Nov-2008, 12:24 AM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Fortress of Superheroes
Posts: 7,275
Sharona, you're a genius
just relax and dream about blumpkins
07-Nov-2008, 10:57 AM
#11
-- site donator --
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
They installed mine a few weeks ago. I was told by a HydroOne rep that until everyone in Ontario gets one, that the system will not be fully operational and that they work as a normal meter would for now.
My hydro bill really isn't that high. I usually do laundry at night anyway. My biggest hydro use is the central air. I hate it being warm in the house and I run the a/c alot in the summer months.
What kills me about the hydro bill is the other charges besides the amount of electricity used. The Delivery, Regulatory and the Debt Retirement charges are usually more then the cost of the electricity. Our last bill was around $50 for the electricity and around $60 for the other charges. BS!
I also read my own meter and call them with the reading. When they "estimate" it, its always too high.
My hydro bill really isn't that high. I usually do laundry at night anyway. My biggest hydro use is the central air. I hate it being warm in the house and I run the a/c alot in the summer months.
What kills me about the hydro bill is the other charges besides the amount of electricity used. The Delivery, Regulatory and the Debt Retirement charges are usually more then the cost of the electricity. Our last bill was around $50 for the electricity and around $60 for the other charges. BS!
I also read my own meter and call them with the reading. When they "estimate" it, its always too high.
07-Nov-2008, 11:57 AM
#12
Luka
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 14,319
$110!
That wasn't for one month was it?
My last bill was $38
As for the estimating, I always tell them that I DO NOT want to sign up for any type of equal payment plan or any of that. I used to live in a 500sq ft. condo and when they estimated my gas meter reading my bill that came in the mail was like $300 LOL.
That wasn't for one month was it?
My last bill was $38
As for the estimating, I always tell them that I DO NOT want to sign up for any type of equal payment plan or any of that. I used to live in a 500sq ft. condo and when they estimated my gas meter reading my bill that came in the mail was like $300 LOL.
07-Nov-2008, 12:06 PM
#13
-- site donator --
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
$110!
That wasn't for one month was it?
My last bill was $38
As for the estimating, I always tell them that I DO NOT want to sign up for any type of equal payment plan or any of that. I used to live in a 500sq ft. condo and when they estimated my gas meter reading my bill that came in the mail was like $300 LOL.
That wasn't for one month was it?
My last bill was $38
As for the estimating, I always tell them that I DO NOT want to sign up for any type of equal payment plan or any of that. I used to live in a 500sq ft. condo and when they estimated my gas meter reading my bill that came in the mail was like $300 LOL.
07-Nov-2008, 12:30 PM
#17
-- site donator --
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Hamilton
Posts: 6,647
07-Nov-2008, 12:58 PM
#18
Admin
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Observation Deck
Posts: 17,528
