Meter Reading

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John Valdes

John Valdes

Senior Member
Location
SC.
Occupation
Retired Electrician
My wife mentioned to me some time ago that she has not seen a meter reader for some time. I then realized I have never once seen a meter reader at my house. I have been on disability for almost 3 years. They have to pull into my driveway and parking area to read it. So I am quite sure no one has been here.
Do you think it is possible they are estimating my watt hour usage? I do not have an electronic type meter, only the regular wheel and clock type.
 
Maybe they are estimating your current usage, and only 'read' the meter 2 or 3 times a year.

Check your electric bill.... sometimes this is stated there.
 
480sparky said:
Maybe they are estimating your current usage, and only 'read' the meter 2 or 3 times a year.

Check your electric bill.... sometimes this is stated there.
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Another approach would be to have someone read your meter from a few days before, until a few days after, the meter is supposed to be read.

I've never seen anyone read my meter, and I have security cameras and haven't seen the meter reader show up on them either. But sure enough, they not only do read it, they also read it the day they say they do.
 
360Youth said:
Some of the POCOs here are going digital meters that can read from the truck. Has your meter been changed out recently?
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Either that, or one that can be read with a digital meter-reader. Hold it near the meter, push the button as you walk by.... gone!

Keep in mind that most meter-readers are pretty quick and quiet. They don't make a lot of noise or attract attention... And it doesn't take a long time to read a meter. Even the old 5-dial types only take 2-3 seconds, and they're off to the neighbors.
 
why have a meter

why have a meter

Tacoma, Wa Poco installs data links in new construction to read the meter back at the office.
 
We just got a letter from the POCO today saying that they are installing the new rf meters that can be read "from the street in front of your house". The meters are in the back yards.

They're also going to change all of our services from OH to UG. They claim that with their horizontal boring they won't tear up any yards. We'll see about that.

Jeremy
Tulsa, Ok
 
I just had one installed on one of my commercial project 3 days ago.It can be read from 1/2 mile away.Dont even think of messing with it.If they get pulled out for any reason a red flag will tell them it was messed with.They are high tech and getting better.One of my jobs a few months ago was at a poco and i seen there guy from fraud department every day bringing in meters that where messed with.Before my home was changed to digital i actually caught the meter reader a few times in about 8 years.Them and ups men move fast seems they know about my killer dog.
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
I just had one installed on one of my commercial project 3 days ago.It can be read from 1/2 mile away.Dont even think of messing with it.If they get pulled out for any reason a red flag will tell them it was messed with.They are high tech and getting better.One of my jobs a few months ago was at a poco and i seen there guy from fraud department every day bringing in meters that where messed with.Before my home was changed to digital i actually caught the meter reader a few times in about 8 years.Them and ups men move fast seems they know about my killer dog.
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Alot of them read them with a scope also. I couldn't get them to come in my yard and read mine and my bill was jumping all over the place, so I just put a piece of tape over it and then they had to come in. Got a nice refund check for that one.
 
480sparky said:
Keep in mind that most meter-readers are pretty quick and quiet. They don't make a lot of noise or attract attention... And it doesn't take a long time to read a meter. Even the old 5-dial types only take 2-3 seconds, and they're off to the neighbors.
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My dog Josh does a good job notifiying me that he is around otherwise I would never know he was there. He's pretty quiet.
 
rootboy said:
My dog Josh does a good job notifiying me that he is around otherwise I would never know he was there. He's pretty quiet.
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Dogs love meter readers more than the mail-man. An old freind has a dog that recongnizes the uniforms and will go nuts when it sees either on the street during it's walks. I can imagine it saying - "THAT'S THE GUY!!!!"

Anyway, I'd call and ask the poco to see when and/or if they are doing it at all. The guy may even be filling them in at home.... Or the Caribean. :rolleyes:
 
Jim W in Tampa said:
I just had one installed on one of my commercial project 3 days ago.It can be read from 1/2 mile away.
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And how do you know it's not transmitting live data? Some geek (like me) sitting at a computer...

"Oh, Jim's demand just jumped by 8kW... He must have some ladies over because he fired up the hot tub!"

Much later that night:

"Oh, Jim's demand just jumped by 11W... He must be raiding the fridge again!"

:grin: :grin: :grin:
 
jerm said:
We just got a letter from the POCO today saying that they are installing the new rf meters that can be read "from the street in front of your house". The meters are in the back yards.

They're also going to change all of our services from OH to UG. They claim that with their horizontal boring they won't tear up any yards. We'll see about that.

Jeremy
Tulsa, Ok
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Believe them. When I converted to gas, they tapped a main across the street (30') dug a small hole, and bored into my backyard some 110' away, and up a slight slope. (They said they did it twice - they "lost" an expensive bit but that's not common.) They dug a hole where it came out, and then bored again about 40' to the center of the back wall of my house. The gas pipe is plastic and includes a tracer.
 
Rampage_Rick said:
And how do you know it's not transmitting live data? Some geek (like me) sitting at a computer...

"Oh, Jim's demand just jumped by 8kW... He must have some ladies over because he fired up the hot tub!"

Much later that night:

"Oh, Jim's demand just jumped by 11W... He must be raiding the fridge again!"

:grin: :grin: :grin:
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Actually if they wanted to they could do exactly that.I will unscrew that light bulb in frig right now.The hot tub stays at 102 and only allow good looking women to use it.
 
cowboyjwc said:
Alot of them read them with a scope also. I couldn't get them to come in my yard and read mine and my bill was jumping all over the place, so I just put a piece of tape over it and then they had to come in. Got a nice refund check for that one.
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That is ingenuous, more power to you!! e/m
 
remote

remote

POCO here coverted all meters to remote read. Transmits via their grounded conductor, I'm told. Lil hut at the substation handles all the readings now.
 
augie47 said:
POCO here coverted all meters to remote read. Transmits via their grounded conductor, I'm told. Lil hut at the substation handles all the readings now.
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I think this is a prelude to residential demand response and time of use billing. It would be interesting to follow up national trends on this. e/m.
 
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