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Opt Out On Smart Meters To Cost Consumers

Wilmington News-Journal -- Four members of the California Public Utilities Commission approved a proposal that allows PG&E to charge residential customers an initial fee of $75, plus $10 each month, to opt out of the company's highly contested $2.2 billion SmartMeter program.

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Submitted Feb 02, 2012 By: catfish99
Category: Daily News Article Discussions > Topics Add to favorite topics  
Author Topic: Opt Out On Smart Meters To Cost Consumers Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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luwachris
Champion Author Los Angeles

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Message Posted: Feb 10, 2012 7:26:10 PM

Always finding a way to get MORE MONEY out of US!
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The_AirHawk
Veteran Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 2:20:41 PM

Excellent analogy, Sparky19038!

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Sparky19038
Sophomore Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 11:23:27 AM

@Dodge_Me

re:"Thats unbelieveable, even the evil cable companys don't make you buy their box( I didn't pay for mine)"

Actually, a better Cable analogy would be if the cable company switched from analog to digital, and some customers insisted on keeping their old analog service. The cable co says, "Okay, but we're going to charge you extra to keep that ancient technology because we really want to reclaim that bandwidth for our new digital services."

The entire point is to make it uncomfortable to cling to the old technology.

It is not a tax, it is a tactic. It is a stick: if you wish to stand in the way of progress, you will pay for it.
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Sparky19038
Sophomore Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 11:11:08 AM

@MadDogUSMC

re:"From what I read a few years ago, with the smart grid, they can control your electric consumption. If you are using too much electric and have a smart meter, they can turn your electric off. They won't even have to send out a meter man. I think I would like to go completely off their stupid grid! I hate being controlled. Whatever happened to FREEDOM??"

You answered your own question: You give up some freedom any time you obtain goods or services from someone else. Raise your own cattle to prevent eating meat with BGH. Grow your own corn to avoid 'genetically modified' crops. Generate your own electricity to avoid having someone else tell you how much you can use. Just remember that you will need adequate storage capacity so that you can continue using your electricity when there'e not wind or sun, or whatever your source it. You can balance that by staying connected to the grid, selling your excess generated energy to the electric company, and buying at the same rate when you're not making any.
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Tomeboy
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 9:48:49 AM

Dodge_Me wrote: Thats unbelieveable, even the evil cable companys don't make you buy their box (I didn't pay for mine).

You may not have paid for the cable companys receiver box... but more than likely you are paying a monthly... receiver lease fee.

Direct TV charges $6.00/ month lease fee... per reciever.
Comcast (Xfinity) charges $8.75/ month lease fee... per reciever.
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Gas_Buzzer
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 3, 2012 4:04:16 AM

Just another example of CONTROL by the bureaucrats. The damn government needs to get out of our lives ! ! !
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TIGERPAW46
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 11:24:02 PM

Another Rip Off.
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leraar2
Champion Author Massachusetts

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 11:09:39 PM

no comment.
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wild3bill
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 11:03:59 PM

The Gov't forced the breakup of th power generating half and the delivery and meter half of electric Companies just like thw breakup of AT&T 20 OR 30 years ago. NYSE&G once broken up was taken over by Iberdrolqa a European company.
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REKEY
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 10:28:18 PM

Charging to opt out! What a scam!
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asog75
All-Star Author Indiana

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 10:19:53 PM

I got one, only i didnt get a bill for install.
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eric_tdi
Sophomore Author San Jose

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 10:10:43 PM

These people are a bunch of misinformed people !! If they where really worried about the environment they would not want some one to drive to your house to read the power meter and wast that time and fuel to do something that can be done remotely !! they live in the stone age and should have to pay for the service.... The Fed government has encouraged this to save moneys and better control the power grid .

[Edited by: eric_tdi at 2/3/2012 1:14:56 AM EST]
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jorod55
Veteran Author California

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:47:08 PM

Gota pay for their major gas fopah some how.
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ron98146
Champion Author Seattle

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:46:10 PM

the protesters don't like the rf, same as cell phones that they probably use all day long.
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danreino
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:36:52 PM

My electricity meter will ONLY be used by my electric company. Thanks so much ;0



[Edited by: danreino at 2/3/2012 12:38:44 AM EST]
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LanguageMan1
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:34:58 PM

Yep, they're going to get us coming and going, and it's one of the things Obama didn't lie about!
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kkimes
All-Star Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:34:29 PM

"does this raise or lower the price of gas?"

I'm sure it will raise it. Doesn't everything?
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us4usa
Champion Author Missouri

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:34:28 PM

jkpsr:Why would anyone opt out?

Maybe they are the meter readers, trying to keep their jobs???
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nomad228
Champion Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:31:38 PM

that's what i call scamming america . they wanted automated meters to put their own employeess/meter readers out of jobs then charge the customer more so pg&e can have the homeowner pay for it coming and going. giving the electric companies record earnings.someones playing games ,thinking that the public is that dumb to let this slip by.that like wally world charging customers the same price when they use autometed check out lines,doing the job one of their cashiers is suppose to tod as part of the shopping experience at any store front. what's next utility companies wanting paid for the customer supplying their own power. :). pretty soon people will get tired of these games and just opt out of using any power supplied by local utilities.except they won't be paying any fees to do so.people will get fed up with this and get solar,wind,geothermal,then tell the utilities to go take a flying leap off a short pier. i say we all boycott the utilities for a month and see how they like it.then they would owe us a months in advance. : )
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MadDogUSMC
Champion Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:30:23 PM

From what I read a few years ago, with the smart grid, they can control your electric consumption. If you are using too much electric and have a smart meter, they can turn your electric off. They won't even have to send out a meter man. I think I would like to go completely off their stupid grid! I hate being controlled. Whatever happened to FREEDOM??
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NO_SWEAT
Champion Author Toronto

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:29:53 PM

and the price of gas......
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HDFXR1991
Veteran Author Wisconsin

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:28:49 PM

ok?
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kitty1750
Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:28:16 PM

BTW....we were NOT given a choice to opt out. We got smart meters whether we wanted them or not.
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Prodaddy
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:28:04 PM

This is just plain wrong.
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Dodge_Me
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:26:26 PM

Thats unbelieveable, even the evil cable companys don't make you buy their box( I didn't pay for mine)
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northeast2
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:25:54 PM

Like banks charging to see a teller.
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CaesarI
Sophomore Author Augusta

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:25:34 PM

Don't see how it relates to gasoline prices.
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kitty1750
Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:25:13 PM

We all have smart meters in this Ontario city. You save about 3 cents a KWH if you use your big hydro pulling appliances between 7p.m. & 7a.m.....such as washers & dryers, vacuums, air conditioners, fans, stoves, and keep computers and TV's turned off outside of those discount hours. It really doesn't interfere with the lifestyles of many.
But it DOES eliminate jobs as the meters are not checked manually anymore.
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CatMan623
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:24:29 PM

"A little revolution, now and then, is a good thing."

Thomas Jefferson
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rf6480
All-Star Author Miami

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:24:02 PM

does this raise or lower the price of gas?
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CarolinaBlue150
Champion Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:22:36 PM

Unbelievable.
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LVNV6ofSpades
Veteran Author Las Vegas

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:22:16 PM

Either get screwed by the State of California or get screwed by PG&E. Just bend over and take it.
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abacus44
Champion Author Toms River

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:20:28 PM

Only in California
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915Chief
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:19:28 PM

almost sounds like a tax
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bobt2382
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:19:04 PM

ok.
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LoneGuy
Champion Author Lansing

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:18:56 PM

This looks like an opportunity ripe for corruption.
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Bigwaynef
Champion Author South Carolina

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:17:57 PM

What else could anyone want???
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Badjef
Champion Author Florida

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:17:30 PM

I wonder if the meters were smart enough to know that was a rooster and not a chicken!
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g747
Champion Author Mobile

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:17:17 PM

The Customers should have the right to opt-out @ their convience.
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tedjm1
Champion Author New York

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:15:53 PM

George Orwell..................
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tampacrvdriver
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:15:31 PM

Consumers bear the brunt.
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jkpsr
Champion Author New Jersey

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:15:05 PM

Why would anyone opt out?
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umitb
Champion Author Indianapolis

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:12:55 PM

ok
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Blue_Cruzer
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:12:28 PM

This is one way to discourage new them.
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duffee01
All-Star Author Mississippi

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:12:19 PM

Again, another state that the unions and stupid people run. No bailout, file bankrupcy. I don't want to be paying for your mistakes.
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joel27nc
Champion Author Raleigh

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:10:40 PM

Glad I'm not in Cali
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judgemobile
Champion Author Ohio

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:10:30 PM

RIP OFF the customer that's what they do under Governor Moonbeam. That is also why so many people are LEAVING the now tarnished "golden" state.
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TommyTraveler
Champion Author Cincinnati

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:10:09 PM

We have continued to elect irresponsible people to office what do we expect?
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frostyWV
Champion Author West Virginia

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:09:22 PM

ok
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herndonks
All-Star Author Baltimore

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Message Posted: Feb 2, 2012 9:08:46 PM

.
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