The network for agriculture in Ontario, Canada
Smart meters and new "Green tax"
I received a call today from Hydro One. The very nice gentleman on the other end of the line wanted to apologize first.
Apparently a Smart Meter was installed on the farm 6 months ago. We received estimated monthly bills over the time period which included the harvest season and paid accordingly. This months' bill was an actual reading for the last 184 days. To be kind, it was a huge bill as harvest was reflected in the bill. I can accept that.
But today came the apology. For some reason, the actual reading was not correct. The Smart Meter calculated a revised usage. The outstanding amount is closer to $3300.00 over and above the amount paid last week. They were sorry to inform us about the miscalculation and wondered if there would be a problem paying the new outstanding.
Please remember, the person on the phone is a Hydro One employee. He was polite to boot.
I told that I did indeed have a problem. I did not want a Smart Meter on our property but we were not given an option. Smart Meters read time usage and prime time usage of hydro is double the rate of off-peak times. Smart Meters will have the capacity to monitor and even know what equipment and appliances are used. Smart Meters will have the capacity to reduce amperage and even stop the flow of hydro remotely. If there is an increased Hydro use and the Province was in short supply, the Smart Meters will be able to reduce flow in select areas. (that would affect our equipment in a huge way).
The polite man said the Smart Meters are read remotely and would save money under the new system whereby bills were estimated 2 months and read the 3rd month. I countered there are other methods to be effecient other the the use of Meters that invade my privacy.
WE FARM. We really do not have too many options in regards to running heavy equipment on off-peak times. Mother Nature for the most part dictates equipment usage in harvest.
The polite man from Hydro One asked if there was a possible way to defer heavy motor use to such times as weekends so to capture the lower rates charged? NO. Not possible.
Today I see first hand how the Smart Meter is affecting us.
But then to add insult to injury, we found out today that we are being slapped with a new "Green Tax" on our hydro bill this year. The Green Tax will be assessed every year.
So this summer I will see on our hydro bill a delivery charge, regulatory charges, debt retirement charges, HST and a Green Tax. The hydro will be billed according to amount and time of day usage.
Again, it clearly shows our current government has absolutely no respect for agriculture.
Apparently a Smart Meter was installed on the farm 6 months ago. We received estimated monthly bills over the time period which included the harvest season and paid accordingly. This months' bill was an actual reading for the last 184 days. To be kind, it was a huge bill as harvest was reflected in the bill. I can accept that.
But today came the apology. For some reason, the actual reading was not correct. The Smart Meter calculated a revised usage. The outstanding amount is closer to $3300.00 over and above the amount paid last week. They were sorry to inform us about the miscalculation and wondered if there would be a problem paying the new outstanding.
Please remember, the person on the phone is a Hydro One employee. He was polite to boot.
I told that I did indeed have a problem. I did not want a Smart Meter on our property but we were not given an option. Smart Meters read time usage and prime time usage of hydro is double the rate of off-peak times. Smart Meters will have the capacity to monitor and even know what equipment and appliances are used. Smart Meters will have the capacity to reduce amperage and even stop the flow of hydro remotely. If there is an increased Hydro use and the Province was in short supply, the Smart Meters will be able to reduce flow in select areas. (that would affect our equipment in a huge way).
The polite man said the Smart Meters are read remotely and would save money under the new system whereby bills were estimated 2 months and read the 3rd month. I countered there are other methods to be effecient other the the use of Meters that invade my privacy.
WE FARM. We really do not have too many options in regards to running heavy equipment on off-peak times. Mother Nature for the most part dictates equipment usage in harvest.
The polite man from Hydro One asked if there was a possible way to defer heavy motor use to such times as weekends so to capture the lower rates charged? NO. Not possible.
Today I see first hand how the Smart Meter is affecting us.
But then to add insult to injury, we found out today that we are being slapped with a new "Green Tax" on our hydro bill this year. The Green Tax will be assessed every year.
So this summer I will see on our hydro bill a delivery charge, regulatory charges, debt retirement charges, HST and a Green Tax. The hydro will be billed according to amount and time of day usage.
Again, it clearly shows our current government has absolutely no respect for agriculture.
Views: 297
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by John Schwartzentruber on -
Oh, I don't think they have us singled out for a dose of disrespect! Many other industries will feel the sting of the Green Tax. As for the "Green Tax", I think it begs the question - how much does it owe its existence to the mentality around Anthropogenic Global Warming?
I would hope that everyone who is concerned about the hugely negative effects of various carbon taxes (in whatever disguises they may hide) have taken the time to inform their respective M.P.'s and M.L.A.'s that we must NOT sign onto any agreements that will increase our taxes in order to fund the biggest scam ever visited on humanity.
Because if left unchallenged, it will only get more burdensome.
-
Permalink Reply by Jacqui Laporte on
-
Here's a link to a CBC report on them :
http://www.cbc.ca/news/background/energy/smartmeters.html
Here's a report from Dallas about the smart meters installed there:
http://www.consumerismcommentary.com/2010/03/05/dallass-smart-power...
Here's another one:
http://earth2tech.com/2010/03/10/smart-meter-backlash-again-this-ti...
I would encourage you to read the comments - there are a variety of opinions expressed about the reliability and effectiveness of the meters.
Here's the FAQ on Smart Meters:
http://www.smartmetersontario.ca/index.cfm?page=OntariosEnergyNeeds
Here's yet another report from a residential customer who did reduce her energy consumption and still pays the same amount:
http://www.thestar.com/business/article/779798--no-payoff-in-smart-...
-
Permalink Reply by Jacqui Laporte on
-
And while we are on this path, I would draw your attention to something I noted on my Bell Canada bill this month. Luckily - this has never been an issue for me, but I cant help but think how much this will hurt some folks:
In the small fine print on Page 2 of my bill, it says:
Bulletin Board FYI Message
+++ As of your May invoice, the late payment charge on overdue accounts will increase to 3% per month (42.58% per annum). 42.58% !!!!!!!!!!! Thats just wrong......
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Twynstra on -
I received my actual top-up this January after our Smart Meter was installed in August of 2009. It amounted to an additional 3 mos normal usage! Spoke to the nice lady at the Hydro One call centre who was adamant that there was NO measurement error in usage over the prior 5 mos...oh, and since Hydro One owns the meter they replaced, there is NO way for me to check to ensure that the reading on it the day it was swapped out is accurate! I asked to see the actual meter.,...nothing but a stone wall. A week later I also received a nice polite call from a gentleman from Hydro One informing me that there were some issues with meters and that an investigation confirmed that my meter was not one of those affected. Apparently some of the Smart Meters would roll over incorrectly thereby adding too many kwh to the bill. I was given 3 mos without penalty to pay my additional billing.
Then, last month another of my accounts (our personal dwelling) had its Smart meter reconciliation with the old meter. We had been estimated for 6 mos, despite the Smart meter being on the side of the house since August. This time there was an extra 6 mos of normal usage attached!! Again, when i called the call centre the nice lady told me I could not see the old meter as it "was the property of Hydro One" When I first called tho I was asked if my inquiry was for my business or personal account..so they do know of any cross references.
During the conversation we were discussing kwh numbers (as we undertook major kitchen renos October 09 thru late Feb 10 and were without an electric stove/oven during much of the period in question); something did not jive. We determined that although my statement SAYS in black and white that it was READ on January 11th, in REALITY it was read on January 25th! The call centre staffer told me that the invoices must be read for invoicing by the 15th of the month but because of scheduling mine was read later, DESPITE what was printed on it. I was told I should be happy as I would be "prepaying" 14 days of my next actual billing cycle! Who else can get away with this billlng practice?? After some time of discussion where I was trying to determine what recourse I have to dispute this invoice, the call centre employee hit me oput of the blue with the bombshell...an extra 6 mos usage was added because my old orginal meter "HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH!" She could NOT tell me what specifially except that it had been tampered with! I was firmally told that Hydro One can legally bill an extra 6 mos usage if THEY determine that a meter has been tampered with. This is something they can do without notifying the account holder and do quite arbitrarily as account holders have NO access to the old meter as it is owned by Hydro One! We agreed to take a time out, but not before the employee told me to pay my bill in full to prevent proceedings to disconnect me for non-payment, even though the amount is in dispute. She did give me an extra month penalty free to space out the payment.
Two weeks later I called the call centre and spoke to the nice lady again to enquire about the tampering alegation. I was told that she had seen the old meter and that the glass was cracked, the "receiver" was wedged onto the "rotating disc", and that "all the gears were stripped"!! This is an utter fabrication as I know the meter was reading perfectly...it sat just outside our deck in plain view!! I asked again to see the meter or pictures of it to see for myself...again being told that this was NOT possible due to who owns the meter. I suggested it must have been damaged when it was swapped out or in transit...again, I was told this was impossible as the old meters were put in the same shipping boxes as the new Smart meters. I enquired as to why the meter reader would not report this on the last ACTUAL recording date if the meter was so inoperative? The nice lady told then me that my July 09 ACTUAL reading was not really an actual!! Apparently the meter reader could not gain access to the meter and could not see it with binoculars! I was told my guard dog must have kept the meter reader at bay. I suggested that that may the case IF I HAD A GUARD DOG!! Anyhow the meter is at eye level on the west side of our house. It cannot be read from our laneway to the east or the road to the south. I suggested they should maybe investigate the competency or integrity of their meter reader...no reply to that so far.
Bottom line, I have serious allegations of electricity theft pending against me..with no proof from Hydro One except the word of one of their senior call centre staffers. I have paid the bill in full under duress and threat of losing service. I am considering legal action...other bloggers may wish to contact me if you have experienced a similar situation.
A simple google search has thrown up a plethora of security issues mentioned by Joann above. (There is little to nil security for hackers who can tell via Smart meters when security alarms are activated, hot water heaters kick in (you are in the shower), or the best yet...hackers can program in usage 'factors' ...great for grow ops and to really upset someone they really don't like). Smart meter hackers have the potential to be just like urban dwellers hacking into cable TV service, but with much greater consequences for the rest of us. Smart meters are a boondoggle unlike we have ever known. Hydro Ones tactics speak of desperation by a monopoly utility wholly out of touch with its customers and wholly unprepared for the onslaught about to erupt when time of use pricing is utilized. I can already hear the legal community smacking their hands.
-
Permalink Reply by Joann on
-
Our neighbour, behind the bush line to the south of us has built a dryer system. He has been running the dryer the last few days (again). The noise is VERY loud and constant. In the early evening it is not possible to open the windows as the noise is disruptive in the house. Its farm country and farmers need to keep their grains dry or the commodities could be negatively impacted by excess moisture. He turns off the dryers at a respectable time. He gets his rest, and we can get ours with a window open.
Until the end of April, people with smart meters pay; Monday to Friday
9.3 cents/kWh 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM. (On Peak)
8.0 cents/kWh 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Mid Peak)
9.3 cents/kWh 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (On Peak)
4.4 cents/kWh 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM (Off Peak)
(rates above do not include delivery charges, regulatory charges, debt retirement charges, other taxes)
It has been reported that new time-of-use, Smart Meters, has actually increased energy costs by a whopping 7%.
Now OPG is asking for a 9.6% rate increase. A new Green Tax will be an extra tax on hydro bills this summer over and above the other charges.
Again, it is very clear the disrespect our government has for farmers. Energy costs are increasing in leaps and bounds. McGuinty is encouraging consumers to change their energy use patterns. Social engineering.
Ontario is not respecting FIPA so farmers are not receiving COP if prices on the board are too low.
I can see it coming.
Farmers, like other energy consumers will change their patterns in regards to energy use. On Peak hours will become cost prohibitive and farmers will start running Off Peak hours.
Noise complaints will become a rural issue when dryers and other heavy motors run all night and weekends.
Farmers will shift working hours later running the risk of increased farm accidents due to lack of proper rest and sleep.
I see a widening of the rural divide and government is the one putting another huge wedge between the farmers and the rest of society.
Steve Twynstra said:I received my actual top-up this January after our Smart Meter was installed in August of 2009. It amounted to an additional 3 mos normal usage! Spoke to the nice lady at the Hydro One call centre who was adamant that there was NO measurement error in usage over the prior 5 mos...oh, and since Hydro One owns the meter they replaced, there is NO way for me to check to ensure that the reading on it the day it was swapped out is accurate! I asked to see the actual meter.,...nothing but a stone wall. A week later I also received a nice polite call from a gentleman from Hydro One informing me that there were some issues with meters and that an investigation confirmed that my meter was not one of those affected. Apparently some of the Smart Meters would roll over incorrectly thereby adding too many kwh to the bill. I was given 3 mos without penalty to pay my additional billing.
Then, last month another of my accounts (our personal dwelling) had its Smart meter reconciliation with the old meter. We had been estimated for 6 mos, despite the Smart meter being on the side of the house since August. This time there was an extra 6 mos of normal usage attached!! Again, when i called the call centre the nice lady told me I could not see the old meter as it "was the property of Hydro One" When I first called tho I was asked if my inquiry was for my business or personal account..so they do know of any cross references. During the conversation we were discussing kwh numbers (as we undertook major kitchen renos October 09 thru late Feb 10 and were without an electric stove/oven during much of the period in question); something did not jive. We determined that although my statement SAYS in black and white that it was READ on January 11th, in REALITY it was read on January 25th! The call centre staffer told me that the invoices must be read for invoicing by the 15th of the month but because of scheduling mine was read later, DESPITE what was printed on it. I was told I should be happy as I would be "prepaying" 14 days of my next actual billing cycle! Who else can get away with this billlng practice?? After some time of discussion where I was trying to determine what recourse I have to dispute this invoice, the call centre employee hit me oput of the blue with the bombshell...an extra 6 mos usage was added because my old orginal meter "HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH!" She could NOT tell me what specifially except that it had been tampered with! I was firmally told that Hydro One can legally bill an extra 6 mos usage if THEY determine that a meter has been tampered with. This is something they can do without notifying the account holder and do quite arbitrarily as account holders have NO access to the old meter as it is owned by Hydro One! We agreed to take a time out, but not before the employee told me to pay my bill in full to prevent proceedings to disconnect me for non-payment, even though the amount is in dispute. She did give me an extra month penalty free to space out the payment.
Two weeks later I called the call centre and spoke to the nice lady again to enquire about the tampering alegation. I was told that she had seen the old meter and that the glass was cracked, the "receiver" was wedged onto the "rotating disc", and that "all the gears were stripped"!! This is an utter fabrication as I know the meter was reading perfectly...it sat just outside our deck in plain view!! I asked again to see the meter or pictures of it to see for myself...again being told that this was NOT possible due to who owns the meter. I suggested it must have been damaged when it was swapped out or in transit...again, I was told this was impossible as the old meters were put in the same shipping boxes as the new Smart meters. I enquired as to why the meter reader would not report this on the last ACTUAL recording date if the meter was so inoperative? The nice lady told then me that my July 09 ACTUAL reading was not really an actual!! Apparently the meter reader could not gain access to the meter and could not see it with binoculars! I was told my guard dog must have kept the meter reader at bay. I suggested that that may the case IF I HAD A GUARD DOG!! Anyhow the meter is at eye level on the west side of our house. It cannot be read from our laneway to the east or the road to the south. I suggested they should maybe investigate the competency or integrity of their meter reader...no reply to that so far.
Bottom line, I have serious allegations of electricity theft pending against me..with no proof from Hydro One except the word of one of their senior call centre staffers. I have paid the bill in full under duress and threat of losing service. I am considering legal action...other bloggers may wish to contact me if you have experienced a similar situation.
A simple google search has thrown up a plethora of security issues mentioned by Joann above. (There is little to nil security for hackers who can tell via Smart meters when security alarms are activated, hot water heaters kick in (you are in the shower), or the best yet...hackers can program in usage 'factors' ...great for grow ops and to really upset someone they really don't like). Smart meter hackers have the potential to be just like urban dwellers hacking into cable TV service, but with much greater consequences for the rest of us. Smart meters are a boondoggle unlike we have ever known. Hydro Ones tactics speak of desperation by a monopoly utility wholly out of touch with its customers and wholly unprepared for the onslaught about to erupt when time of use pricing is utilized. I can already hear the legal community smacking their hands.
-
Permalink Reply by Steve Twynstra on
-
And to know that the average weighted price for electricity in Ontario was 1.99 CENTS/kwh... http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/marketdata/marketToday.asp ... We ALL know where this surplus is going don't we???
Joann said:Our neighbour, behind the bush line to the south of us has built a dryer system. He has been running the dryer the last few days (again). The noise is VERY loud and constant. In the early evening it is not possible to open the windows as the noise is disruptive in the house. Its farm country and farmers need to keep their grains dry or the commodities could be negatively impacted by excess moisture. He turns off the dryers at a respectable time. He gets his rest, and we can get ours with a window open.
Until the end of April, people with smart meters pay; Monday to Friday
9.3 cents/kWh 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM. (On Peak)
8.0 cents/kWh 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Mid Peak)
9.3 cents/kWh 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (On Peak)
4.4 cents/kWh 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM (Off Peak)
(rates above do not include delivery charges, regulatory charges, debt retirement charges, other taxes)
It has been reported that new time-of-use, Smart Meters, has actually increased energy costs by a whopping 7%.
Now OPG is asking for a 9.6% rate increase. A new Green Tax will be an extra tax on hydro bills this summer over and above the other charges.
Again, it is very clear the disrespect our government has for farmers. Energy costs are increasing in leaps and bounds. McGuinty is encouraging consumers to change their energy use patterns. Social engineering.
Ontario is not respecting FIPA so farmers are not receiving COP if prices on the board are too low.
I can see it coming.
Farmers, like other energy consumers will change their patterns in regards to energy use. On Peak hours will become cost prohibitive and farmers will start running Off Peak hours.
Noise complaints will become a rural issue when dryers and other heavy motors run all night and weekends.
Farmers will shift working hours later running the risk of increased farm accidents due to lack of proper rest and sleep.
I see a widening of the rural divide and government is the one putting another huge wedge between the farmers and the rest of society.
Steve Twynstra said:I received my actual top-up this January after our Smart Meter was installed in August of 2009. It amounted to an additional 3 mos normal usage! Spoke to the nice lady at the Hydro One call centre who was adamant that there was NO measurement error in usage over the prior 5 mos...oh, and since Hydro One owns the meter they replaced, there is NO way for me to check to ensure that the reading on it the day it was swapped out is accurate! I asked to see the actual meter.,...nothing but a stone wall. A week later I also received a nice polite call from a gentleman from Hydro One informing me that there were some issues with meters and that an investigation confirmed that my meter was not one of those affected. Apparently some of the Smart Meters would roll over incorrectly thereby adding too many kwh to the bill. I was given 3 mos without penalty to pay my additional billing.
Then, last month another of my accounts (our personal dwelling) had its Smart meter reconciliation with the old meter. We had been estimated for 6 mos, despite the Smart meter being on the side of the house since August. This time there was an extra 6 mos of normal usage attached!! Again, when i called the call centre the nice lady told me I could not see the old meter as it "was the property of Hydro One" When I first called tho I was asked if my inquiry was for my business or personal account..so they do know of any cross references. During the conversation we were discussing kwh numbers (as we undertook major kitchen renos October 09 thru late Feb 10 and were without an electric stove/oven during much of the period in question); something did not jive. We determined that although my statement SAYS in black and white that it was READ on January 11th, in REALITY it was read on January 25th! The call centre staffer told me that the invoices must be read for invoicing by the 15th of the month but because of scheduling mine was read later, DESPITE what was printed on it. I was told I should be happy as I would be "prepaying" 14 days of my next actual billing cycle! Who else can get away with this billlng practice?? After some time of discussion where I was trying to determine what recourse I have to dispute this invoice, the call centre employee hit me oput of the blue with the bombshell...an extra 6 mos usage was added because my old orginal meter "HAD BEEN TAMPERED WITH!" She could NOT tell me what specifially except that it had been tampered with! I was firmally told that Hydro One can legally bill an extra 6 mos usage if THEY determine that a meter has been tampered with. This is something they can do without notifying the account holder and do quite arbitrarily as account holders have NO access to the old meter as it is owned by Hydro One! We agreed to take a time out, but not before the employee told me to pay my bill in full to prevent proceedings to disconnect me for non-payment, even though the amount is in dispute. She did give me an extra month penalty free to space out the payment.
Two weeks later I called the call centre and spoke to the nice lady again to enquire about the tampering alegation. I was told that she had seen the old meter and that the glass was cracked, the "receiver" was wedged onto the "rotating disc", and that "all the gears were stripped"!! This is an utter fabrication as I know the meter was reading perfectly...it sat just outside our deck in plain view!! I asked again to see the meter or pictures of it to see for myself...again being told that this was NOT possible due to who owns the meter. I suggested it must have been damaged when it was swapped out or in transit...again, I was told this was impossible as the old meters were put in the same shipping boxes as the new Smart meters. I enquired as to why the meter reader would not report this on the last ACTUAL recording date if the meter was so inoperative? The nice lady told then me that my July 09 ACTUAL reading was not really an actual!! Apparently the meter reader could not gain access to the meter and could not see it with binoculars! I was told my guard dog must have kept the meter reader at bay. I suggested that that may the case IF I HAD A GUARD DOG!! Anyhow the meter is at eye level on the west side of our house. It cannot be read from our laneway to the east or the road to the south. I suggested they should maybe investigate the competency or integrity of their meter reader...no reply to that so far.
Bottom line, I have serious allegations of electricity theft pending against me..with no proof from Hydro One except the word of one of their senior call centre staffers. I have paid the bill in full under duress and threat of losing service. I am considering legal action...other bloggers may wish to contact me if you have experienced a similar situation.
A simple google search has thrown up a plethora of security issues mentioned by Joann above. (There is little to nil security for hackers who can tell via Smart meters when security alarms are activated, hot water heaters kick in (you are in the shower), or the best yet...hackers can program in usage 'factors' ...great for grow ops and to really upset someone they really don't like). Smart meter hackers have the potential to be just like urban dwellers hacking into cable TV service, but with much greater consequences for the rest of us. Smart meters are a boondoggle unlike we have ever known. Hydro Ones tactics speak of desperation by a monopoly utility wholly out of touch with its customers and wholly unprepared for the onslaught about to erupt when time of use pricing is utilized. I can already hear the legal community smacking their hands.
-
Permalink Reply by Joann on
-
obviously not towards our spiraling debt! you know... that black-hole we affectionately call Queens Park. (is that why Stephen Hawkings is planning to move to Ontario?)
must be for consultants. where is the money going? and why are we still paying for debt retirement?
Steve Twynstra said:And to know that the average weighted price for electricity in Ontario was 1.99 CENTS/kwh... http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/marketdata/marketToday.asp ... We ALL know where this surplus is going don't we???
Joann said:Our neighbour, behind the bush line to the south of us has built a dryer system. He has been running the dryer the last few days (again). The noise is VERY loud and constant. In the early evening it is not possible to open the windows as the noise is disruptive in the house. Its farm country and farmers need to keep their grains dry or the commodities could be negatively impacted by excess moisture. He turns off the dryers at a respectable time. He gets his rest, and we can get ours with a window open.
Until the end of April, people with smart meters pay; Monday to Friday
9.3 cents/kWh 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM. (On Peak)
8.0 cents/kWh 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Mid Peak)
9.3 cents/kWh 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (On Peak)
4.4 cents/kWh 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM (Off Peak)
(rates above do not include delivery charges, regulatory charges, debt retirement charges, other taxes)
It has been reported that new time-of-use, Smart Meters, has actually increased energy costs by a whopping 7%.
Now OPG is asking for a 9.6% rate increase. A new Green Tax will be an extra tax on hydro bills this summer over and above the other charges.
Again, it is very clear the disrespect our government has for farmers. Energy costs are increasing in leaps and bounds. McGuinty is encouraging consumers to change their energy use patterns. Social engineering.
Ontario is not respecting FIPA so farmers are not receiving COP if prices on the board are too low.
I can see it coming.
Farmers, like other energy consumers will change their patterns in regards to energy use. On Peak hours will become cost prohibitive and farmers will start running Off Peak hours.
Noise complaints will become a rural issue when dryers and other heavy motors run all night and weekends.
Farmers will shift working hours later running the risk of increased farm accidents due to lack of proper rest and sleep.
I see a widening of the rural divide and government is the one putting another huge wedge between the farmers and the rest of society.
-
Permalink Reply by Roadrunner on -
There must be some electricians out there that can provide good data like Fred....I agree with him that consumers need to be working together to get this figured out....What about someone like the Fifth Estate or Marketplace on TV..
-
Permalink Reply by Sara Parker on
-
@ Steve Twynstra
I was involved in Hydro one's smart meter changes and have been a meter reader for years.
Your story is absolute non sense.
First off, at the very least once a week each and every installer breaks an old meter during installation and the damage you described is exactly what happens, when we put the puller on the meter, sometimes the glass comes off, however is held on by the security seal in the back, We would prefer not to use our hands to remove a meter for the risk of broken lugs in the meter base so we will continue to pull said meter by pulling it loose from the jaws by the government seal and glass in the puller. During this process the face plate will press down on the rotating disc stopping it and undoubtably stripping the gears. We were never told to report when we broke a meter, only if we found a broken one prior to us touching it. We always thought that anything broken shipped back to them in the meter box with no tags attached would be known to be broken by us installers.
Also, the use of binoculors is far too commong for LAZY meter readers. No wonder the public is happy we have now all lost our jobs. Many times, if the meter is not on driveway side said lazy meter readers will use various excuses to not get out of their trucks, by using the NEVER questioned " Bad Dog" or comment code 1 as their reason for not reading the meter. Then will proceed to put a note in the note pad if said home does not have a dog, that there was a stray dog there that day that was not friendly.
Another thing about your story, the reason they can not show you your old meter is because, as we were told, the meters are taken apart and recycled after one month of not having a dispute. Most people had not even recieved their actual bill for 2-3 months after we would change it. I dont know for sure if this is the truth or not. hard to believe anything this company tells their employees or customers.
-
Permalink Reply by Nancy Moisan on
-
I've been doing some comparisons, one with Florida and another with our Provinces. According to Florida rates, my bill would have been $37.62 instead of $122, with their tax system and a "customer charge of $5.52. They pay 4.6 cents for the first 1000kwh, 5.7 over that. BC Hydro has a website doing its own comparisons, unfortunately the most recent was for April '09. I dug out my April '09 bill which was $107, BC was $41.19, Winnipeg - $45.91, Montreal - $46.25 and Edmonton - $70.61. BC gives a rebate of 7% on their bill to discount the HST plus another discount for ICE, an environmental tax. This is before the new time of use rates kick in and HST. What's wrong here, we don't stand up and do something. We're going to be in the dark anyway, I suggest pulling the breaker at whatever time is feasible for the majority, at least 1 hour a month so McGuinty can see his province in the black. That's the only time its going to be in the black, he seems to love red. Nancy Moisan, Dalkeith, ON
Joann said:obviously not towards our spiraling debt! you know... that black-hole we affectionately call Queens Park. (is that why Stephen Hawkings is planning to move to Ontario?)
must be for consultants. where is the money going? and why are we still paying for debt retirement?
Steve Twynstra said:And to know that the average weighted price for electricity in Ontario was 1.99 CENTS/kwh... http://www.ieso.ca/imoweb/marketdata/marketToday.asp ... We ALL know where this surplus is going don't we???
Joann said:Our neighbour, behind the bush line to the south of us has built a dryer system. He has been running the dryer the last few days (again). The noise is VERY loud and constant. In the early evening it is not possible to open the windows as the noise is disruptive in the house. Its farm country and farmers need to keep their grains dry or the commodities could be negatively impacted by excess moisture. He turns off the dryers at a respectable time. He gets his rest, and we can get ours with a window open.
Until the end of April, people with smart meters pay; Monday to Friday
9.3 cents/kWh 7:00 AM to 11:00 AM. (On Peak)
8.0 cents/kWh 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM (Mid Peak)
9.3 cents/kWh 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM (On Peak)
4.4 cents/kWh 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM (Off Peak)
(rates above do not include delivery charges, regulatory charges, debt retirement charges, other taxes)
It has been reported that new time-of-use, Smart Meters, has actually increased energy costs by a whopping 7%.
Now OPG is asking for a 9.6% rate increase. A new Green Tax will be an extra tax on hydro bills this summer over and above the other charges.
Again, it is very clear the disrespect our government has for farmers. Energy costs are increasing in leaps and bounds. McGuinty is encouraging consumers to change their energy use patterns. Social engineering.
Ontario is not respecting FIPA so farmers are not receiving COP if prices on the board are too low.
I can see it coming.
Farmers, like other energy consumers will change their patterns in regards to energy use. On Peak hours will become cost prohibitive and farmers will start running Off Peak hours.
Noise complaints will become a rural issue when dryers and other heavy motors run all night and weekends.
Farmers will shift working hours later running the risk of increased farm accidents due to lack of proper rest and sleep.
I see a widening of the rural divide and government is the one putting another huge wedge between the farmers and the rest of society.
-
Permalink Reply by Bristow on
-
All the noise under the sun will not solve your power bills, go to youtube type in "96 is your fix " go throw all the video. Its not a con, its your power you own it, you pay tax on it, to run it, its legal. In fact I beat you everyone of the Politians use it to pay their bills.
Agriculture Headlines from Farms.com Canada East News - click on title for full story
Grains Traded Higher Today
Tuesday's Closing Grain and Livestock FuturesSNF ratio cap administration changes August 1
Producers who had a solids not-fat (SNF) ratio above 2.35 for their May milk will see a message on their milk statement in regard to this. If this occurs in August 2013 or subsequent months, you will not be eligible for any SNF payment recapture.Corn Futures Prices Rise On Demand & Outlook.
Monday's Closing Grain and Livestock Futures Prices And NewsCropLine Podcast - June 14, 2013
Field crop specialists respond to current questions that grain and oilseed producers ask on crop management tips, herbicide recommendations and pest alerts.Pulmotil® AC for respiratory disease control in swine now available in Canada
Aqueous concentrate formula makes control fast and effective© 2013 Created by Darren Marsland.
