hey! all you electricians out there; I NEED YOUR HELP!

Meter Reader? When I phone in my payment/cc I have to go outside and write down the number and then actually punch it in over the phone, wait a few secs, and it calculates my bill and tells me what to pay...One more benefit of living in the sticks I guess. I'd be pissed about the dog being hurt, but the digital meter is pretty standard fare nowadays, but I don't think it has the ability to monitor when and what loads are requested - I guess it could be electronically transmitted, but since I have to read my own for them - so methinks not.

hi dnutz, thanx for the reply; what do you mean about not starting an op with a remote meter? we've had one for over three years, and have had no probs. like stinky said, on their monthly go round, they don't get out of the truck, they just write down the number, and drive away...

and... i filed a complaint against the individual, and told them his occupation. i'm hoping the go after him, as he is the one that has the issues.

edit, tok, i think you're right... it just seems too sci fi. i know a little about electricity, and i know that unless they are mapping me 24/7, they can't see what's going on. even then, it would be in ten second intervals...

but, if they can, how is it done? like i said, there is no phone line, and the nearest station supplies about a fifteen mile radius, so they can't pick me out there...

they use a spotting scope to read the meters so they dont have to get out of there truck it saves time and money. sounds like they installed a digital meter. with that they can monitor your power it also lets them know when your power is being used not just how much you are using.
in my area the power copany offers it to people who wish to save money by using most there electricity at off peak hours.

i would call your electric company and file a complaint you do not have to put up with that.( your dog being attacked that is.)

i would put a lock on your gate

new day, time for a bump. i need a deffinite on the power monitoring; i don't think they can do that, but i need to know for sure. the meter looks just like the old remote meter...

Actually there are a couple guys on the boards who work/have worked for the power company but I suspect the initial outburst alienated them... re: pack dogs idea... oops...

It CAN be done. Whether they are going to put resources into actually doing it is a different story.

Anyway call your attorney.

Maybe if you think they are in fact monitoring it, you could just turn everything that you can when you lights had normally been on! Then they won't think anything different! Ha ha, I'm obviously joking! I would seriously call a lawyer if you can afford it.

:jointsmile: Bree


We miss you around here! I understand about the meds though, I would hate to have to go back to them! I'm praying for you!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scarlet Sky

new day, time for a bump. i need a deffinite on the power monitoring; i don't think they can do that, but i need to know for sure. the meter looks just like the old remote meter...

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Sky - This story is kind of incomplete. Apparently you filed some kind of complaint with the power company about whether or not your power bill was accurate. Is this correct?

If the above is correct, then the power company has specialized monitering meters they can install that record specific data about your energy consumption, allowing them to analyze the data and determine if there is a problem. (Anyway, this is what the power company sez. Hell, for all I know it may all be a ploy to pretend like they care about your complaint.)

If you made a complaint about the accuracy of your bill, call the power company and ask them what they are doing about investigating your complaint. Ask them if they have changed the meter. Ask them if they have installed some kind of monitoring meter.

Many power companies offer an "energy audit" where they will come out and inspect your house and tell you ways to save energy. If your power company offers this, get them come out. Since your house is now completely clean, let them have a good look around and see how you are using the energy - your timers and such.

pharma, what happened was, i had a several week period of no work. we went to an organization that helps with the bill when they are about to shut the power off. they helped, but wondered about the amount (over 300$ a month for three years, lots of appliances and such...) and thought we may have a leak or bad meter. they replaced the meter, but have not been in the house.

i've heard nothing else from them, we are paying the bill regularly, there seems to be no issue...

maybe i'll just grow four tomatoe plants in dwc, and see if i get raided :p can't see as how they could argue about my growing hobby with over a hundred rose bushes and a 1/8 acre veggie garden ;)

stinky, i sent you an email.

bree, sorry for being awol... i'll eventually get back in the swing :p

Got the email.

An attorney could be pricy. Mine doesn't charge me for advice as I already used him when I was being charged with a couple felonies last year- ironically they had never happened (police were a little creative in writing up the report after coming to my house and finding me bleeding and unconscious on the lawn) and the alleged 'victim' testified to that- I HATE HATE HATE violence and it was such a punch in the guts to answer those charges.

He quoted me $2000 for all the stuff leading up to a trial and then more if I had to go to trial, but it was very simple and I only ended up paying $1500. He is very inexpensive by most standards. And as for the outcome... sucking it up and accepting probation... I wasn't thrilled, of course, but I didn't need them investigating me any more.

It was a major sacrifice I had to make to avoid making waves, see? It's a tough game and you have to be tougher. Just part of the game. You really do have to give up certain rights and protections if you have a big skeleton like this in your closet.

That doesn't mean caving to the little gangsta attitude I see so often on the site, that of taking the law into your own hands. I actually had a couple offers to 'deal with' my nemesis the gangsta way... but that's not how I roll.

Growing cannabis without a permit means accepting certain hardships. If you are sincere in your belief that cannabis cultivation is worthwhile as its own reward, you have to ask yourself how much sacrifice you are willing to make to continue doing it.

Most attorneys will give you a first phone call as a freebie just to see if you have a case or not.

This is going to be tough, but if you can find an attorney who deals with growers, you are golden... Mine represents growers and dealers; I found this out AFTER I had hired him, and I have him on retainer for the future and he of course scolds me not to get too big for my britches and grow too many plants for personal use. hahaha glad he's got a sense of humour about it.

In your case I can honestly say that as much as you are justifiably upset over the dog, there's only so much you want to stir the shit, and filing a complaint with the humane society is as far as you can take it without REALLY pissing off the utility... at this point you are so high visibility that the situation pretty much precludes future growing at your location.

The suggestion of a voluntary energy audit is a very sound one. Remember, when you are both breaking the law and asking for help, you just have no choice but to suck that shit up with a STRAW.

If you even suspect a raid, NO HYDRO INDOOR SHIT. NONE. No tomatoes, no peppers, nada. This advice is courtesy of my own attorney: You don't want to be thought CAPABLE of growing so much as a Boston fern in your house if there is suspicion of cultivation.

Hindsight 20/20, but I would have done everything in my power to avoid asking for aid. Shit, my bills are close to $2500 a month and I work my ass off and literally eat black beans and rice all winter to have enough cash to even keep the gas company off my back. Last winter I was working 3 jobs totalling 85 hours a week, at the lab, bartending, and cooking line at a TexMEx place. I'm fully eligible for heating fuel assistance but I will NEVER NEVER ask because they are so likely to audit your energy consumption.

If you rent, it may be time to get the hell outta Dodge. I'll tell ya, I'm playing with fire growing so much as a single prize mother in a comprimised location. I'm prepping my house for sale at the earliest opportunity. I pretty much assume I have to leave the state.

Be tough, be ethical, deal with your problems with restraint. Revenge is an outdated concept from the times of duels...

Just my few cents on the subject.

i do see what you mean about the hydro; though i hope they don't think too much of the tropical plants in the lizard cages...:D

i understand that i'm high profile right now, but i don't have anything to hide at the moment.... looks like i was right in my assumption; i'm going to have to wait until we move. oh well.....i've lived without it before, i can do it again ;)

hopefully we'll be able to move by the end of the summer. or, the bill will pass, and i can get a script :p