Do smart electric meters alert the power company when it's removed?

[tulenutn2o]

Locally, entergy wanted to put a device on my air conditioner to shut off the compressor during peak usage.

I told them no and refused to sign for permission. I had an energy efficient model, high end windows, and added 10" of insulation in the attic.

When it was 110° outside, my ac would kick on and run once an hour for 20 minutes as long as the doors weren't opened.

The AC unit next door in the rental house was running constantly from about 10am until dark.

Same with the neighbors across the street.

The device they install would cut your unit off during peak periods say 20 min. on and 20 mins. Off. Trouble is, if your system just kicked on to satisfy demand and they shut it down, your system could get behind if close on capacity. Every time I find them on my rentals, they get removed/unhooked.

 

[Dftodd]

The device they install would cut your unit off during peak periods say 20 min. on and 20 mins. Off. Trouble is, if your system just kicked on to satisfy demand and they shut it down, your system could get behind if close on capacity. Every time I find them on my rentals, they get removed/unhooked.

That was my thought on them as well.

I had just spent almost $2k getting the unit fixed. A pressure valve went bad inside the house, and the unit was short cycling and burned up the fan motor.

The last thing I wanted was for them to jack something up with the unit and it cost me more money.

My unit only kicked on for 20 minutes or so an hour, so they weren't reducing much usage by shutting my unit down.

If I remember right, the local power company had two options for those shut down switches and your discount was based off which option you chose.

Option 1 was mild. Option 2 was extreme.

Of course you got a bigger discount for Option 2.

I chose neither.

 

[ultrarunner]

Friend in the business gets service calls unit down and some are because of the disconnect.

I couldn’t remove the meter at a vacant rent house so I had service turned off… $600 electric for a vacant home with not a clue on my end… property manager said nothing was on except refrigerator.

I still need to investigate for myself but 800 miles away makes it problematic at the moment.

 

[tulenutn2o]

I would be looking for a thief…

 

[Dftodd]

Friend in the business gets service calls unit down and some are because of the disconnect.

I couldn’t remove the meter at a vacant rent house so I had service turned off… $600 electric for a vacant home with not a clue on my end… property manager said nothing was on except refrigerator.

I still need to investigate for myself but 800 miles away makes it problematic at the moment.

Coworker had a compressor on his ac unit that malfunctioned and stayed on continuously.

His electric bill jumped pretty drastically.

 

[grsthegreat]

Weird as it may sound, its possible for a underground wire to be losing voltage thru the ground if wire is damaged. Also interior wiring issues can cause power spikes. Our power companies here will attach a meter to house and monitor usage for a few days. Check with your supplier

 

[ultrarunner]

Lots to do on my list for August…

I will be bringing my meters to check for usage.

It’s the only time I have had a power meter that is not direct 1 for 1 reading.

PSE has my meter set up with a 80 multiplier so the meter registers 1/80 of actual usage.

In other words electricity used does not flow through the meter… the meter only registers use?

I believe pulling the meter with this setup would not interrupt power.

 

[grsthegreat]

No, thats a ct ( current transformer) remote read meter. Our utility companies here would install a graft meter at house panel and compare usage readings there to the ct meter. If theres a major difference……than have to find out where.

 

[ultrarunner]

All indications point to someone required to be onsite to take a deep dive.

At least with the service off the monthly bills in the hundreds of dollars have abated to zero.

One thing I was always cautious about is turning off the breakers for the well when away.

With 17 acres to cover the process of elimination will take time.

Home has 400 amp service and 2 breaker panels, there is a lighting outdoor panel and another in the shop…

I suppose it is possible the underground feeder to the shop or to the basketball court could be damaged drawing power but not enough to trip.

Other than that all power used would be inside the home…

 

[grsthegreat]

or your property monitor dude is running a covert grow operation