Surprise visit from the power company

[W1AEX]

I guess the power company didn't like the digital KWH meter they installed at my service entry back in 2004. The one they took out was one of the digital readout smart meter type things (never made a peep on the radio) but it never seemed to work correctly because they still had to send someone out to read the meter. He said it must have been defective because it kept sending very low KWH readings to them, as if it was resetting to 00000 frequently. (Maybe some 160 meter RF getting in there and re-setting it? Hah!) At any rate, they installed a brand new Schlumberger CL-200 today! Unlike the digital one they pulled out, it looks kinda retro, and I like that. Still perfectly silent across the bands, so that's my smart meter report. Nothing heard from it on the HF bands.

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Makes you wonder if RF really was an issue? That'd be a hoot! 

[W1RKW]

Rob,
I'd be interested in knowing the before and after on your electric bill.

[Ed/KB1HYS]

Makes me wonder what my tesla coil efforts do to the meters in the house...

[WA1GFZ]

I also have a heathkit at GFZ south. No noise from my meter. But gee maybe i should hit it with some RF.

[N0WVA]

My brother needed some three phase to run a large motor for his sawmill. He used a smaller motor to somehow simulate the three phase. Its just a motor in a wooden box that spins with nothing attatched. I dont know how it works, but the electric company sent someone out. The meter was being stopped in its tracks. He was not impressed with the motor in a box thing and even said that there was no way it could work. Not sure what he done to fix the meter problem.

[W1AEX]

Rob,
I'd be interested in knowing the before and after on your electric bill.

Yes indeed, I am curious about that as well. The guy who installed it had a decent sense of humor and told me he grabbed one for me that seemed to turn much slower than all the others.

Interesting about your brother's experience with the three phase simulation (WVA). I did notice in the online documentation for this meter that it calls home if it detects tampering. Should be interesting if it can't handle the RF field from the 160 meter antenna that runs by about 50 feet away. Time will tell...

[WBear2GCR]

My brother needed some three phase to run a large motor for his sawmill. He used a smaller motor to somehow simulate the three phase. Its just a motor in a wooden box that spins with nothing attatched. I dont know how it works, but the electric company sent someone out. The meter was being stopped in its tracks. He was not impressed with the motor in a box thing and even said that there was no way it could work. Not sure what he done to fix the meter problem.

It works fine, requires an external cap to "resonate" the third phase... I use it all the time, will have to check to see if it stops my meter!! That would be very cool. You can look up "phase converter" or words like that on da 'net and find all sorts of variants on this simple three phase converter... actually "rotary three phase converter" is more specific...

             _-_-bear

[W2DU]

Back in the middle 30s I also had a visit from the power company, who accused me of fraudulent use of the power meter, because it's readings showed that it had been turning backward, indicating the the power company owed me money. The meter was actually turning backward, but we found the cause.

I was using a 3kw pole pig in reverse for the final amp PS. Apparently it was sufficiently inductive to produce a reflection of power back into the line, causing the meter disc to turn in the reverse direction.

The guy from the power company left, scratching his head, and said "I've never seen anything like this before."

Walt

[ke7trp]

wow..  middle 30s.  Good story walt!   

I had a neighbor growing up that was a serious science engineer type.  Looking back on this, I think he was fueled by some type of Drug.  He would spent weeks in the garage working on a device to turn the meter backwards.  It was a bicycle rim with many spinning magnets on it.  He powered it by solar panels and then a DC motor.  It ran for months at a time and he claimed that it was netting him checks in the mail from the power company!


C

[flintstone mop]

Amazing how that 1920's technology still works for electric meters.

Fred

[Opcom]

The mechanical ones are great and are not bothered by 'noise'. The SS ones use a current transformer and ought not be subject to odd loads. I too am now interested in what will happen to the meter's brain when the dipole goes up. I'd oove to force them back to one with no internal disconnect switch. The main thing I do not like about the new meter is the internal switch that the electic company can turn off whenever they like, It will therefore be possible for them to force a rolling blackout. I consider a forced blackout to be a breach of contract and a deceptive trade practice. They don't. The communications is on 800 and 900MHz, a "mesh network" they called it.

The internal switch is a huge national security threat as well since hackers can easily turn off power to people's homes by the millions if they get in.

[WA3VJB]

We've got a normal mechanical meter, but I'm noticing the electronic ones on new builds. I don't think they're retrofitting yet.

Local utility was trying to interest us in a remote shutoff for the air conditioner, offering a discount from the bill if they were allowed to shut down the air when demand was high.  

I declined after they refused to describe how the thing worked, beyond hooking it up.   All I need is some kind of pulse coming through and blowing another ballast tube in the R390A. (a har har from the other thread)

[KC2YOI]

It was a matter of time.
Two ladies up the road from me ( "the two angry beavers" )
as they are known  , surmised that I was stealing power with an elaborate and dangerous device. This would be my 135' dipole, ladder line and the spread of ground rods below it.
I'm used to deer eating the Variegated Hostas around the footing of my house but not finding them mooshed. My system and property had been "inspected for violations"  
I have a new meter tamper tag and found a leaflet re: power theft dangers and legal consequences. My electrical usage is extremely low as I get a thrill out of being a cheapskate with utilities. Any thing to knock down the monthly $ drain.
In the end I got a chuckle out of it and felt a bit proud.

I still stand outside and watch the ladder and dipole sway in the wind with a cup of mud in the morning when it's windy.  

[Ed/KB1HYS]

It was a matter of time.
Two ladies up the road from me ( "the two angry beavers" )
as they are known  , surmised that I was stealing power with an elaborate and dangerous device. This would be my 135' dipole, ladder line and the spread of ground rods below it.
I'm used to deer eating the Variegated Hostas around the footing of my house but not finding them mooshed. My system and property had been "inspected for violations" 
I have a new meter tamper tag and found a leaflet re: power theft dangers and legal consequences. My electrical usage is extremely low as I get a thrill out of being a cheapskate with utilities. Any thing to knock down the monthly $ drain.
In the end I got a chuckle out of it and felt a bit proud.

I still stand outside and watch the ladder and dipole sway in the wind with a cup of mud in the morning when it's windy. 

A pet peave of mine is those nosey, busy body neighbors (or not even neighbors but those folks who think they should cruise around and bug others. 

I don't crap you your front lawn, don't crap on mine...

[W1ATR]

We've got a normal mechanical meter, but I'm noticing the electronic ones on new builds. I don't think they're retrofitting yet.

Local utility was trying to interest us in a remote shutoff for the air conditioner, offering a discount from the bill if they were allowed to shut down the air when demand was high.  

I declined after they refused to describe how the thing worked, beyond hooking it up.   All I need is some kind of pulse coming through and blowing another ballast tube in the R390A. (a har har from the other thread)

They wanted to install an LCR at your condenser outside. With the LCR (Load Control Receiver), they can kill your ac whenever they need to rob power from one part of the system and move it to another. It shut's down the ac anywhere from 2-5 hr's when it gets the signal from the PLC transmitter for your area then starts it back up when they are damn good and ready. That's why they wouldn't tell you exactly what it does and how they use it.

Your reward for putting up with sweating on the hottest days would have been around 8-10 bucks a month because after they start it back up, the ac has to run a while to bring the house back down. You did good by telling them to eff off.  

[N0WVA]

They wanted to install an LCR at your condenser outside. With the LCR (Load Control Receiver), they can kill your ac whenever they need to rob power from one part of the system and move it to another. It shut's down the ac anywhere from 2-5 hr's when it gets the signal from the PLC transmitter for your area then starts it back up when they are damn good and ready. That's why they wouldn't tell you exactly what it does and how they use it.

Your reward for putting up with sweating on the hottest days would have been around 8-10 bucks a month because after they start it back up, the ac has to run a while to bring the house back down. You did good by telling them to eff off.  
[/quote]

So on one hand you have the people in the news room telling you to stay inside in the A/C because its so hot out, on the other you have the power company turning your A/C off. Yeah that makes a lot of sense to me.

[ke7trp]

I would fight them on changing to the new electric meters.  For me I had no choice.  They just walked up to the house, Cut the power and ripped the meter out and slapped the new one in.  When I got out there with my pistol, I realized it was the power company.  I explained that he was about the biggest A-hole I ever met since he cut my power off while all the computers and radios where on and running.  He disagreed and got into his truck and left. He should have knocked on the door and let me know.. Clearly I was home with the lights on and the car in the Drive!

Now, The power company can shut my power off at any time remote.  Not good in my book.  Remember.. You are SECOND RATE to them. They will shut you off if the loads get to high to support high dollar clients.

Also watch for the power companys installing "Free electronic thermostats"   This is a scam  by the power company.  My mom fell for it and now has lost control of her AC and heating system in her home.  The system ramps up 1 degree per hour in the summer during peak times and cannot be set or controlled by you. She now has to sit in her house at 87 degrees with fans running, sweating all day. This was a way to reduce the power load in her town and she fell for the scam. Its in a tamper proof box.  The penatly for removal is NO power service. Her neighbor bypassed the system, it detected this, and sent a message to the power company. They came out and locked the power off on his home for 4 days. He had to stay in a hotel.  

Dont let the scumbags in your house.....

C

[WA1GFZ]

Guess what they can turn you off by remote control with radio controlled switches all over the state. I know a couple guys who work on the system. This way then can drop your neighborhood out to keep preferred customers up.
I bet the fine print of your building permit allows them access to their inteface and meter.

[N0WVA]

If you want to really mess their heads up, put in a few thousand watts worth of solar power.

[W1ATR]

Yes they do have to have access, but they're not the FBI. Quite q few times in the past I've told them to eff off, I'm busy, and make an appointment like normal people. Shortly afterward, somebody calls and politely makes an appointment that doesn't screw up my schedule.  

[W1ATR]

I would fight them on changing to the new electric meters.  For me I had no choice.  They just walked up to the house, Cut the power and ripped the meter out and slapped the new one in.  When I got out there with my pistol, I realized it was the power company.  I explained that he was about the biggest A-hole I ever met since he cut my power off while all the computers and radios where on and running.  He disagreed and got into his truck and left.  What a F'in doughbag.. He should have knocked on the door and let me know.. Clearly I was home with the lights on and the car in the Drive!

Now, The power company can shut my power off at any time remote.  Not good in my book.  Remember.. You are SECOND RATE to them. They will shut you off if the loads get to high to support high dollar clients.

Also watch for the power companys installing "Free electronic thermostats"   This is a scam  by the power company.  My mom fell for it and now has lost control of her AC and heating system in her home.  The system ramps up 1 degree per hour in the summer during peak times and cannot be set or controlled by you. She now has to sit in her house at 87 degrees with fans running, sweating all day. This was a way to reduce the power load in her town and she fell for the scam. Its in a tamper proof box.  The penatly for removal is NO power service. Her neighbor bypassed the system, it detected this, and sent a message to the power company. They came out and locked the power off on his home for 4 days. He had to stay in a hotel. 

Dont let the scumbags in your house.....

C

If she signed a contract with the azzholes, then all she needs is a note from her doctor saying the house has to be maintained at a certain temp and they HAVE to come remove it as it poses a health liability to the customer.

[ke7trp]

Yeah. They Tricked her into thinking she was going to get a new state of the art thermostat that would save her money.  She signed a contract thats apparently water tight.  Can you imagine living in a part of the country where its 120 outside and an AC system that ramps up your temp to nearly 90 in the house and then during peak hours shuts off!  She has to go hang out at the mall sometimes because its over 100 in the house.  I feel like driving out there and figuring out a way to bypass this damn thing

[K9PNP]

Sounds about right.  The lady that used to live next door to me used AC powered medical devices due to her failing health.  So, the power company put a big orange band around the pole with the xfmr that fed both our houses.  This was supposed to indicate a medical priority for repair.  The next outage the only sections in town to not have power were our 4 houses and the part of the square block south of us which was on the same HV breaker.  Called the power company "outage reporting" number which is apparently answered someplace where 'they no speak do English too very good'.  When I got ahold of somebody in our state was told that the 'medical priority' was just [apparently] a myth.  Took another 2 days to get the block lit up.  Luckily I could string some heavy duty extensions to take care of her medical equipment off of my generator. 

They also don't like their meter behind my security fence, but after talking to their legal department and reminding them that my tower was an "attractive nuisance" just like their transmission line towers they left that one alone.  Got a remote read meter shortly thereafter.  And, no, it's not RF -proof.

[k4kyv]

It's not just the power company that operates similar scams.  My wife works at a medical clinic, and she told me about an elderly patient who came in for a necessary medical procedure.  She was sent to the local hospital, and they told her the hospital did not accept her medical insurance, that she would have to find a way to Nashville, 50 miles away, to a hospital that was in her "network".  She thought she was on Medicare, but she had been conned into signing up for an "Advantage Plan" that only paid doctors and clinics that were in their network.  She was told by the salesman that the plan was a "supplement" to regular Medicare.  But she was SOL; the Advantage Plan made her ineligible for regular Medicare.  The lady at the hospital said that this happens all the time; she had seen many similar cases, but there is nothing they could do because the contracts signed by the elderly patients are technically legal.