they took away my time of day electric plan!
#1
08-27-15, 06:17 AM
they took away my time of day electric plan!
I have another thread on here about all my savings but it wont let me add to it. My company stopped the time of day program and I’m not happy but what I can I do. They replaced it with a plan that makes no sense based on the new pricing and that its only available in summer. So I requested a normal meter be placed back at my house so I can enter readings on the internet because the dual meter didn’t allow this. Every other month they GROSSLY overestimate my bill to help their cash flow. There should be a law against it but there’s not. So here is my final reading on the dual meter. You can see the huge difference in on/off peak times. And I’m locked into a 2 year contract for a nice low 7.7 rate but that company decided to not continue selling in PA because they are losing money so after that is over, I’m screwed. Sigh.
so why would they take away my time of day
?
so why would they take away my time of day
?
#3
08-27-15, 06:33 AM
The meter readers have always used my long steep driveway as an excuse not to read my meter 
When they don't read it, they estimate and in my case the estimate was always too high. 3-4 times a year when they actually read the meter I would have to argue with them because they would bill me a minimum charge for not having used any power
Several years ago the power company brought in fiber optic lines which allowed me to get high speed internet. Along with that came a digital meter that they read from their office 
I don't have an answer to the original question but can't praise the offsite read meters enough!
When they don't read it, they estimate and in my case the estimate was always too high. 3-4 times a year when they actually read the meter I would have to argue with them because they would bill me a minimum charge for not having used any power
Several years ago the power company brought in fiber optic lines which allowed me to get high speed internet. Along with that came a digital meter that they read from their office 
I don't have an answer to the original question but can't praise the offsite read meters enough!
#4
08-27-15, 07:01 AM
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I wish I had your electric bill.
I also believe estimating should not be allowed and would love to see more comments on this.
As far as time of day, it seems everyone above is happy with that and happy with the remote meters.
California has replaced all meters with smart meters. It hasn't taken effect yet, but when they start charging for time of use, it will be a nightmare. On peak charges will be ridiculous considering high usage at any time is already about 41¢ and that will go up when the meters are used to their full potential. Not sure of the legality of opting for a different meter, but talking to guys that swapped out many thousands, some customers were not happy. Not happy as in bearing arms
I also believe estimating should not be allowed and would love to see more comments on this.
As far as time of day, it seems everyone above is happy with that and happy with the remote meters.
California has replaced all meters with smart meters. It hasn't taken effect yet, but when they start charging for time of use, it will be a nightmare. On peak charges will be ridiculous considering high usage at any time is already about 41¢ and that will go up when the meters are used to their full potential. Not sure of the legality of opting for a different meter, but talking to guys that swapped out many thousands, some customers were not happy. Not happy as in bearing arms
#5
08-28-15, 06:15 AM
now today I get an answer that their smart meters cannot have online readings entered through my account. um how smart a meter is that. plus I don't think I have a smart meter now anyway. it says on their own site its 2016 for them to be rolled out. plus instead of a dual reading of A and B I now just have a single reading. so why in the world would I not be able to enter it online. and their customer service closes at 6 and I cannot regularly be home by then to call it in. so I told them install a meter that I can do online so I can stop being over charged with their estimates!
gas company has drive by readings so for the electric company not to is crazy. I have a friend with a different company and she has what is called a recording meter, not a smart meter. this came from a tech out at her house and its the term they used. they said it uses the electric lines and reports in 24 hour 'dumps' then starts recording again. so all her readings are actual. but they said smart meters wont go thru the electric lines. they will be RF (meaning all our brains will be fried of course)
I also believe estimating sholdnt be allowed unless ice storms and stuff but its on their website what your estimating readings are to be done! so not like they are really hiding it.
regarding time of day I was fortunate that I saved money on it but someone home all day or in a hot climate will be screwed if the rates are really 41!!! ouch. my 7.7 is so nice and cheap.
also on their website the company says smart meters help you plan your power use and stuff like that..um NO!!!!!! if you will not do the time of day rate anymore and just have a single rate. smart meters do NOT help you study and plan your usage . they make NO sense for the consumer especially since they say the remote reading wont even be available when they ARE installed for a while.
tis all one sided, if you are late with your bill they can kill you remotely and they can better plan for them I guess but until remote reading is enabled, there is NO benefit at all here in PA for smart meters for consumers.
gas company has drive by readings so for the electric company not to is crazy. I have a friend with a different company and she has what is called a recording meter, not a smart meter. this came from a tech out at her house and its the term they used. they said it uses the electric lines and reports in 24 hour 'dumps' then starts recording again. so all her readings are actual. but they said smart meters wont go thru the electric lines. they will be RF (meaning all our brains will be fried of course)
I also believe estimating sholdnt be allowed unless ice storms and stuff but its on their website what your estimating readings are to be done! so not like they are really hiding it.
regarding time of day I was fortunate that I saved money on it but someone home all day or in a hot climate will be screwed if the rates are really 41!!! ouch. my 7.7 is so nice and cheap.
also on their website the company says smart meters help you plan your power use and stuff like that..um NO!!!!!! if you will not do the time of day rate anymore and just have a single rate. smart meters do NOT help you study and plan your usage . they make NO sense for the consumer especially since they say the remote reading wont even be available when they ARE installed for a while.
tis all one sided, if you are late with your bill they can kill you remotely and they can better plan for them I guess but until remote reading is enabled, there is NO benefit at all here in PA for smart meters for consumers.
#6
08-29-15, 12:57 AM
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Slightly off topic but related.
My gas utility installed RF meter registers several years ago along with transceivers mounted on the street lamps every several hundred yards to allow remote reading of the meters. They then laid off the majority of their meter-reading force. Other than having to replace the battery in the meter every few years (they actually swap out the entire register assembly) there have been NO problems with this system.
As I understand this same utility which provides electrical service in other areas has had remote-readable electric meters since before the gas meters and people who have them for electrical service can see their own accounts and consumption via the utility's website.
MY electric utility, a Public Utility District, has been billing their customers every other month since forever. They have recently decided to do monthly billings, stating that it will help both the utility AND the customer. I say, HOGWASH! Although I use a free bill-paying service through my credit union people that pay by check or money order through the mail will now have to send twice as many checks and use twice as much postage. Further, they include an envelope in the billing for the payment, regardless of how you pay. Now they will have an increased cost of twice as many return envelopes as well as double the cost of mailing the bills. In addition, they will likely need to hire more people to deal with the increase of payments.
The PUD states that it will make for smaller payments (albeit twice as many) so that budgeting will be easier for the customer. However, the PUD has had an "average payment plan" for at least the last thirty years where anyone who has a year of history at their residence can opt for this plan where the full years worth of electricity consumed is calculated into 12 equal monthly payments so the bills are the same throughout the year. On the last payment of the year the current total consumption is calculated and any over or under payment is made on that last bill and then a new monthly average is calculated for the following year.
Now here is the kicker; They are NOT going to increase (or decrease) the meter reading staff but simply estimate every other bill. As Lucky points out this estimated bill will likely ALWAYS be an OVER estimate and for anyone that is near the minimum average daily consumption (that's me) will likely get hit with the average daily minimum because the combination of the estimated and actual consumption will be too low to bill as actual consumption.
To my knowledge they have no plans in the near future to install "smart" meters which could actually reduce costs to both the customer AND the utility, albeit at a high initial capital cost. They can't offer "time-of-day" metering with the existing "dumb" meters and I don't think that Washington state law even allows T-of-D billing. Being a night person I could probably save significantly on a T-of-D. plan.
My gas utility installed RF meter registers several years ago along with transceivers mounted on the street lamps every several hundred yards to allow remote reading of the meters. They then laid off the majority of their meter-reading force. Other than having to replace the battery in the meter every few years (they actually swap out the entire register assembly) there have been NO problems with this system.
As I understand this same utility which provides electrical service in other areas has had remote-readable electric meters since before the gas meters and people who have them for electrical service can see their own accounts and consumption via the utility's website.
MY electric utility, a Public Utility District, has been billing their customers every other month since forever. They have recently decided to do monthly billings, stating that it will help both the utility AND the customer. I say, HOGWASH! Although I use a free bill-paying service through my credit union people that pay by check or money order through the mail will now have to send twice as many checks and use twice as much postage. Further, they include an envelope in the billing for the payment, regardless of how you pay. Now they will have an increased cost of twice as many return envelopes as well as double the cost of mailing the bills. In addition, they will likely need to hire more people to deal with the increase of payments.
The PUD states that it will make for smaller payments (albeit twice as many) so that budgeting will be easier for the customer. However, the PUD has had an "average payment plan" for at least the last thirty years where anyone who has a year of history at their residence can opt for this plan where the full years worth of electricity consumed is calculated into 12 equal monthly payments so the bills are the same throughout the year. On the last payment of the year the current total consumption is calculated and any over or under payment is made on that last bill and then a new monthly average is calculated for the following year.
Now here is the kicker; They are NOT going to increase (or decrease) the meter reading staff but simply estimate every other bill. As Lucky points out this estimated bill will likely ALWAYS be an OVER estimate and for anyone that is near the minimum average daily consumption (that's me) will likely get hit with the average daily minimum because the combination of the estimated and actual consumption will be too low to bill as actual consumption.
To my knowledge they have no plans in the near future to install "smart" meters which could actually reduce costs to both the customer AND the utility, albeit at a high initial capital cost. They can't offer "time-of-day" metering with the existing "dumb" meters and I don't think that Washington state law even allows T-of-D billing. Being a night person I could probably save significantly on a T-of-D. plan.
#7
08-31-15, 09:43 AM
love the reply. should I feel special since I got a smart meter a year ahead of everyone
We have reached out to the Meter Department, they have verified the meter installed is a Smart Meter. We are unable to replace this meter with a standard dial meter. You can submit your readings online by clicking into each dial and use your mouse to drag the dial hands, positioning them as currently displayed on your meter. The corresponding numbers will appear in the boxes below the dials. You can also submit your read via email by using a Contact Us Form or by speaking to a representative at the number below. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we are updating our technology
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funny thing is I didn't ask for a dial meter, I asked for a meter that I can do an online reading with. I find it amazing I cannot do an online reading with a digital display but I can with the dial meter. and contact us forms mean 1 to 2 days until they see emails. it says so when you do that. so what if I miss a date because they don't read my emails. ugh.
We have reached out to the Meter Department, they have verified the meter installed is a Smart Meter. We are unable to replace this meter with a standard dial meter. You can submit your readings online by clicking into each dial and use your mouse to drag the dial hands, positioning them as currently displayed on your meter. The corresponding numbers will appear in the boxes below the dials. You can also submit your read via email by using a Contact Us Form or by speaking to a representative at the number below. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience while we are updating our technology
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funny thing is I didn't ask for a dial meter, I asked for a meter that I can do an online reading with. I find it amazing I cannot do an online reading with a digital display but I can with the dial meter. and contact us forms mean 1 to 2 days until they see emails. it says so when you do that. so what if I miss a date because they don't read my emails. ugh.
#8
10-09-15, 11:59 AM
it took me a few weeks to finish but I finished my met ed electricity usage spreadsheet. ill show you sometime maybe lol. but i can conclusively say between November 2012 and may 2015 I saved 750 bucks by having my time of day plan then they had to go and cancel it. ugh. . the spreadsheet is vast and detailed but the most striking example of how it affected me was that in February of this year I used about 800 KWH and the distribution charge was 17 bucks because of the time of day plan. but now just last month I used about the same amount of electricity and the distribution charge was 32 bucks since that time of day plan is gone. so that part of my bill has literally doubled.
#10
10-09-15, 01:58 PM
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