Thank you for European smart meters

Every article I read about smart meters admits there is a problem with customers. I support smart meters.

Your article briefly compares smart meter resistance to telephone and internet resistance from earlier times.

I think the issue is fundamentally different.

There are 5 major areas of resistance, none which can be overcome by utility companies. Even utility companies with great customer trust are headed into tricky water.

1) Agreeing to smart meter is agreeing to peak pricing. If everyone expects their bill to go down, then utility company revenue will fall. Who expects company revenue to fall after they install a meter that lets them charge more? People know bills are going up.

2) People know the power company plan is to cut their power at peak times, and they know that power to wealthy people will never be cut, and they know that cuts will fall heaviest on the most vulnerable, yet they know everyone's job is dependent on that power which will put them at greater disadvantage to the wealthy. People do not want a company in charge of their power switch, nor do they want foreign ownership. Smart meter brings both.

3) Rate increases and taxpayer subsidies are paying for smart meters imported from China that replace local workers. This purchase is increasing the value of utility companies by lowering their payroll and installing built-in acceptance of dynamic pricing [higher prices]. So rate payers and taxpayers are giving a massive gift to investors, whose only promise in return is 'better days are ahead.' But for whom?

4) Utilities promise to set up websites with customer information. There is not one customer alive who wants to deal with a utility company at a website that controls their power, sets the rates, and knows your personal consumption pattern, the very pattern that dictates the rate you pay. There are not enough programmers to fix this problem. This is not an airline ticket you can take-or-leave or shop for another day from a different IP address. The website knows who you are, and people don't like that for necessities.

5) Right now, power companies are trying to sell smart-grid benefits. They show lower prices in test cases and talk about 'off-peak' pricing, yet people have to pay for the meter and bills go up. Promises of more jobs fall deaf as meter readers are replaced by an imported product. Full-grid build-out promises glorious future of lower prices and green energy, yet the cost is expected to run billions and the plan is strikingly vague and at odds with lower bills. Grid promoters promise partnership between customer and utility, so where is the partnership when no promise squares with what people see? Not one promise squares with what people see. That is a 4-alarm bell that boils down to ownership, the buyer or the seller?



The objection of electromagnetic radiation by smart meters helps proponents of smart meter, and makes opponents look silly.

There are 5 major areas of objection that are more substantive, and none can be overcome by utility companies.

1) Agreeing to smart meter is agreeing to peak pricing. If everyone expects their bill to go down, then utility company revenue will fall. Who expects utility revenues to fall after installing a meter that lets them charge more? People know bills are going up.

2) People know the power company plan is to cut their power at peak times, and they know that power to wealthy people will never be cut, and they know that cuts will fall heaviest on the most vulnerable, yet they know everyone's job is dependent on that power which will put them at greater disadvantage to the wealthy. People do not want a company in charge of their power switch, nor do they want wealthy people or foreign ownership in charge of that switch. Smart meter brings all three.

3) Rate increases and taxpayer subsidies are paying for smart meters imported from China that replace local workers. This purchase is increasing the value of utility companies by lowering their payroll and installing built-in acceptance of dynamic pricing [higher prices]. So rate payers and taxpayers are giving a massive gift to investors, whose only promise in return is 'better days are ahead.' But for whom?

4) Utilities promise to set up websites with customer information. The vague assumption that utility companies will handle everything via the smart meter without customer participation at the website are misleading. There is not one customer alive who wants to deal with a utility company at a website that controls their power, sets the rates, and knows your personal consumption pattern, the very pattern that dictates the rate you pay. There are not enough programmers to fix this problem. Electricity is not an airline ticket you can take-or-leave or shop-for another day from a different IP address. The website knows who you are, and people don't like that for necessities.

5) Right now, power companies are trying to sell smart-grid benefits. They show lower prices in test cases and talk about 'off-peak' pricing, yet people have to pay for the meter and bills go up. Promises of more jobs fall deaf as meter readers are replaced by an imported product. Full-grid build-out promises glorious future of lower prices and green energy, yet the cost is expected to run billions and the plan is strikingly vague and at odds with lower bills. Utility companies imply they will handle peak-time reductions at your meter for free, yet no specific arrangement is clear.

Grid promoters promise partnership between customer and utility, so where is the partnership when no promise squares with what people see? Not one promise squares with what people see. That is a 4-alarm bell for utility companies trying to sell the smart meter.

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Smart meters are headed into tricky water with consumers nationwide.

Despite my personal like for Smart meters, they are headed into tricky water with consumers nationwide.

I see 5 major areas of consumer objection, and none can be overcome by utility companies without reversing ownership to public trust.
1) Customer savings:
Agreeing to smart meter is agreeing to peak pricing. If everyone expects their bill to go down, then utility company revenue will fall. Who expects utility revenues to fall after installing a meter that lets them charge more? People know bills are going up.

2) Cutting your power to ensure wealthy have uninterrupted service:
People know the plan is to cut their power at peak times, and they know power to wealthy people will never be cut, and they know that cuts will fall heaviest on the most vulnerable, yet they know everyone's job is dependent on that power which will put them at greater disadvantage to the wealthy. People do not want wealthy-people, utility company investors, or foreign owners in charge of their power switch. Smart meter brings all three.

3) Built-in acceptance of dynamic pricing increases Stockholder value at public expense:
Rate increases and taxpayer subsidies are paying for smart meters imported from China that replace local workers. This purchase is increasing the value of utility companies by lowering their payroll and installing built-in acceptance of dynamic pricing [higher prices]. So rate payers and taxpayers are giving a massive gift to investors, whose only promise in return is 'better days are ahead.' But for whom?

4) Utility websites have conflict of interest; carrying both your consumption-pattern and the agreed right to charge based on peak consumption.
The vague assumption is that utility companies will handle everything via the smart meter without customer participation at the utility website. Eventually the utility will need customers to 'sign-up' for agreements that allow utility to 'save you money' via their dynamic pricing system. Peak consumption periods will be opaque as utilities lower their peak curves. You agreed to let smart meter bill you based on peak usage, and your peak usage starts just as you arrive home from work. There is not one customer alive who wants to deal with a utility company at a website that controls their power, sets rates, and knows your personal consumption pattern, the very pattern that dictates the rate you pay. There are not enough game-software programmers to fix this problem. Electricity is not an airline ticket you can shop-for another day from a different IP address. The website knows who you are, and people don't like that for necessities.

5) Utilities are asking for partnership with consumers, yet not one promise squares with what consumers see.
Right now, power companies are on best-behavior selling smart-grid benefits. They show lower prices in test cases and talk about 'off-peak' pricing, yet people pay for the meter and bills go up. Promises of more jobs fall deaf as meter readers are replaced by imported meters. Full-grid build-out promises glorious future of lower prices and green energy, yet the cost is expected to run billions and the plan is strikingly vague and at odds with lower bills. Utility companies imply they will handle peak-time reductions at your meter for free, yet no specific arrangement is clear and people suspect a trap.  Not one promise squares with what people see.

Gene Haynes
http://waterheatertimer.org