Has anyone turned down the PEPCO Smartmeter? [PEPCO Smartmeter Opt Out]

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PEPCO tried to install the smartmeter last week and I declined it. When I researched further on my rights to decline the smartmeter, I found that if you are in Maryland, you can opt-out of the smartmeter by submitting a written request. The instructions are pasted below, but basically, Maryland is investigating whether PEPCO has the right to install this meter.

After a little more digging, I found that new electronic devices constantly sends data to PEPCO on your power usage. Additioanlly, new electronic appliances and devices in your house "talk" with the smartmeter track your use of dishwashers, TV's, appliances, etc. All of this is sent through the smartmeter to PEPCO, where someone can see your household patterns, habits, etc. This is a bit too Big Brother for my tastes.

With all of PEPCO's power issues, it is really alarming that they are spending money on collection our data. It is the cost of the meter, the labor to install, and the administration of the installation and data tracking.

If the meter is already installed, you can still opt out and they are required to disable the data-sending function of the smart meter. You can opt out by mailing a letter to PEPCO or submitting a request by the following avenues.

ONLINE OPT-OUT:
https://www.pepco.com/contact/online/default.aspx

MAIL OPT-OUT:
Pepco
MD Opt-out
701 9th St. NW
Mail Stop EP7642
Washington, DC 20068

The general Maryland Opt-Out information:

On May 25, 2012 the Maryland Public Service Commission issued an interim order stating that, effective immediately:

Until such time as the Commission issues its final decision on these issues, the utilities [Pepco, BGE and Delmarva Power] shall refrain from installing a smart meter in the home or business of any customer who notifies the utility in writing that they do not wish to have a smart meter installed, and
For those customers that inform their utility in writing that they have already received a smart meter but do not wish to have one, the utility shall refrain from activating those customers’ smart meter transmitters until such time as the Commission issues its final decision on these issues. (Order no. 84926)
The Company is complying with the Maryland Public Service Commission’s interim decision, and we look forward to the Commission’s final decision.

Customers are required to make opt-out requests in writing. Please submit your request by clicking here or by mailing the request to:

https://www.pepco.com/contact/online/default.aspx

Pepco
MD Opt-out
701 9th St. NW
Mail Stop EP7642
Washington, DC 20068

Get over yourself, OP. Who gives a shit if Pepco knows you're watching the Real Housewives or whatever? You sound like a loon.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Smart grid can actually help in recovery from power outages, be careful what you reject on minimal information

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/epb-chattanooga-cuts-outages-in-half-after-recent-storm/

this is just BS. the delay comes from having enough crews to service to poorly maintained physical wires, poles, transformers, etc. it is actually pretty easy Pepco to find the location of the repair locations. fairly negligible time in the scheme of things.

your link is just a bunch of smartmeter babble not applicable to the problems we all face with pepco outages.

More switches per feeder cuts the number of customers affected by any line cut.

Why are people so hostile to this technology?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, the meters are not constantly sending data and the RF energy is exceedingly low. Most utilities send maybe a millisecond of data once an hour. Moreover, the smart meters and any other transmitters all have to be certified by the FCC, which imposed radiation requirements on devices to protect human health. And I highly doubt you have appliances that are communicating with the meters - I don't even think the standards have been finalized for appliances, and if so they probably haven't been manufactured yet.

All this to say I think you've bought into the fear mongering that some people are creating in this area about smart meters.

wow, PP, you must be very well versed on this topic and combing the internet on behalf of the Power companies? or smart meter manufacturers to attack concerns of local consumers.

It is clear that the OP says nothing about RF issues. OP makes no reference at all to the emission of bad stuff through the air an into homes, and here you are defending this issue unprompted. You pile on with all the pro-smartmeter CR*P that the power industry is feeding people. you are the low of the low that you have a job to comb these boards to mislead.

fear mongering is really not the issue here. the consumer has the right to decide whether this kind of personal data can be taken and distributed.

Wow, Remind me who is the one with the agenda???

[Anonymous]

Sometimes I think people are contrary out of spite.

It was kind of like the uproar over Google: Who gives a shit if Google knows what I'm searching? I'm just not THAT interesting, and the people who get all worked up over privacy really have an exaggerated sense of their own importance.

Same here. Who cares if Pepco knows your energy usage patterns?

[Anonymous]

LOL. at least five responses in a row from the pro smart meter loonymeister. you gotta wonder why this person is so agressivy stalking this thread on a parenting board. funny!

btw, i too am opting out for now and agree that there is not need for individual household data to be mined for good service.

[Anonymous]

So, you guys don't want your electrical usage monitored, but you are ok with your phone calls being tracked by cell providers (including every location where a call was made/received), AND your internet and cable usage being tracked by your IP provider?

Not to mention, your internet browsing history is also being tracked by your IP provider.

Seems to me like you've got your panties in a bunch over the wrong thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i wonder if the last three posts are from the same person. hmmmm. maybe a PEPCO exec or a PEPCO consultant that helps with forcing this meter on everyone?

I am the person who said my listserv is being spammed. I am getting multiple unsolicited mails from a non-member with the message: PSC Allows Customers to Defer SMART METER Installation; Please Write Letters" They are going to my moderator's account.

It urges people to opt out of the smart meter process, provides pdfs for signs they want you to post on your property to prevent the utility from doing so, etc.

Generally I am OK with an interest group sending a message that they might like forwarded to my members. But if I get them repeatedly, that person is a spammer and I question the issue/product they are promoting because of their bad behavior. The group mentioned in the emall (which may not have authorized the spam) is "Maryland Smart Meter Awareness". If one of you is affiliated with them, please convey that they should be more careful about how they promote their interest.

Bottom line: If a group wants me to believe them, they should not use spam to get their message across.

[Anonymous]

I'm interested in opting out and appreciate the OP posting. OP just posted basic info and is just putting the option out there for people who might not have known that opting out was even a possibility. I didn't know until I read the post.

I've had some bad experiences with PEPCO since moving to MoCo (billing issues, power outages) like so many others that I don't have tons of faith in them at all. At the very least I'll give this some thought and look into it a but more this week.

[Anonymous]

Well, I have to say this is concerning. Here in DC we have no opt out ability.

http://aaemonline.org/images/CaliforniaPublicUtilitiesCommission.pdf

[Anonymous]

I'm mor concerned with people tracking what I watch, search and read on the Internet than whether I'm using a microwave. I agree with the pp, people are worried about the wrong thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm mor concerned with people tracking what I watch, search and read on the Internet than whether I'm using a microwave. I agree with the pp, people are worried about the wrong thing.

There's no reason why you can't be worried about both. I don't have a Google account anyway, but from what I understand, you can change the settings so that they cannot track all your activity. Isn't that true? This is the same thing, as far as I can see - allows you to opt-out.

[Anonymous]

Today in traffic I saw a car with a bumper stick that said "Say No to Smart Meters." I don't like the idea but wow...

[Anonymous]

Let's face it, you are BATHED in RF all the time.

If you are worried about it, turning down smartmeters isn't going to do a thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let's face it, you are BATHED in RF all the time.

If you are worried about it, turning down smartmeters isn't going to do a thing.

I didn't even realize that the RF was an issue until this thread!

[Anonymous]

smartmeters don't bother me. The "Energy Wise rewards thermostat" bothers me a LOT. Luckily, that is voluntary.