With smart meters the power company can charge more during peak hours. My wife runs the dishwasher at night to save a little.
I bought a Kill-a watt meter to see how much thing were using. The printer sits in the corner with the power on and rarely gets used. I figured it was costing me a lot. I found out it was pennies a month so I don't worry about it. It was interesting to see how much power some thing actually use. It only works for 120v devices so you can't check the water heater or cook stove.
https://www.amazon.com/P3-International-P4460-Electricity-Monitor/dp/B000RGF29Q
https://www.harborfreight.com/kill-a-watt-electric-monitor-93519.html
It is illegal to turn off your power. Quit paying your bill. When they disconnect you for non payment go down and pay exactly what you owe. They will ask for an additional deposit or a reconnect fee. Just tell them that you'll be back when you have the money. You leave owing nothing.What made me so upset was he knew I had told them last week no meter changing. Then they show up with a meter,same guy.Plus they are still going to charge for the ' digital ' meter they put in today. Extra $30.00 a month and it can go up as they please. So it is insult after injury.
Saying digital meter and they won't have to come on our property,well they never came on it in 22 years anyway to read meter.
I hear it is against the law to go off totally grid too. You can have some solar it just has to be hooked up along with power com.
Maybe when it cools down some. And we plan for it and hook up our solar. Which is our next big project.It is illegal to turn off your power. Quit paying your bill. When they disconnect you for non payment go down and pay exactly what you owe. They will ask for an additional deposit or a reconnect fee. Just tell them that you'll be back when you have the money. You leave owing nothing.
Meerkat, do you belong to an electric co-op? Who is your electricity supplier? I would draft a letter to the board and voice your concerns and contact your local legislators and tell them what happened. It likely will be like peeing in the wind b/c it won't change your situation, but they need to hear of your displeasure of the whole situation. I know what you are going through. I've gone through something similar and it is frustrating to say the least. Thus far, we still have our analog meter, but I know our time is limited on that. They do know that they'd best notify me beforehand b/c they got a big earful when changing another meter without notice. I think they were a bit surprised at the pushback. Hubs knows one of the board members as well, so I think that helps. They have put out newsletters saying that at some point in the near future they will have to switch all the meters. So, it's just a matter of time. But, that doesn't mean I have to like it, nor does it mean I have to take it laying down. That reminds me, it's time to contact my local legislators on the matter and see what's going on with the state laws. I haven't heard anything in quite some time, so I think they are just letting it go.
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