Gas company note.

[kenmac]

Sometimes we just want to update our records as to the appliances in your home that uses gas.Example: We have some customers that just gas for heating only & if you have had a warm spell for a while your meter will not show usage because you haven't used the heat. If we can just check your appliances ( & note it ) for our records , then, we don't have to keep sending someone out to replace the meter everytime it shows no usage. We can (somewhat) do a field test on the meter to see if it is working properly. But, my bet is, they just want to update their records of your gas appliances.

 

[Podunkadunk]

Sometimes we just want to update our records as to the appliances in your home that uses gas.Example: We have some customers that just gas for heating only & if you have had a warm spell for a while your meter will not show usage because you haven't used the heat. If we can just check your appliances ( & note it ) for our records , then, we don't have to keep sending someone out to replace the meter everytime it shows no usage. We can (somewhat) do a field test on the meter to see if it is working properly. But, my bet is, they just want to update their records of your gas appliances.

Nobody's business how many propane burning items I have in my home! If I pay my bill on time, and my meter isn't reflecting that I'm using...who cares. I dang sure don't have a leak, because the meter isn't spinning.

Maybe I'm just being difficult...sounds like the darned BATFE!

 

[coffeeman]

We have power no gas/propane. When we designed the house we looked into how the power company would read the meter. They had a special service where the meter could be read remotely if there was a phone connection near the meter base. It cost ME and extra $5-10 per month to make it cheaper for them to read the meter. So they got to drive up our road. The power company has a lock on the gate for access. About a year ago we got a letter saying they would replace or meter with a digital meter that allows them to read the meter a good distance from the house. I don't even think they get to the gate anymore.

Later,
Dan

About 25 years ago, one winter, our family spent a lot of time out of town. also, that's the year I got a big wood burner. We are a total electric house. The power company thought I tampered with the meter. Of all things, the meter seal was broke. Meter guy even showed me how a meter could be dissconnected. In those days there was a little slide connection inside meter that would stop the meter from turning but let power through. I figured that was a feature for power perks for electric company employees. The power company started reading meter on weekends and sometime 2-3 days in a row followed by regular readings. They wanted to catch meter turned off.

Finally they added a winters worth of heating charges and accused me of tampering with meter. I was a little younger then and had been known to do dumb things. So...I tied a dog to meter and put up a gate at the entrance of my property. I didn't tamper with meter, so I had the dog watching meter. Had to protect meter from vandals. The meter reader walked my .5 mile lane once to read meter. Didn't read meter because of dog. That brought a letter threating to turn off power unless I got rid of dog and gave them key to gate. So, I gave them a key and moved the dog. I negotiated with power company for a few months; then short of going to court they took most of the up charge off. They cheated me out of some $$ but it wasn't worth the fight.

Today I have two heat pumps. One heats living area and the other zones off to heat the bedrooms. I can turn down heat in living area when sleeping and lower sleeping area during day. I think it saves a lot. My house used to be heated with ceiling cable heat and that's expensive. We also have a set of propane logs in fireplace. Way easier that cutting wood. Don't use wood burner anymore.

Bottom line. The power or gas company can do a lot of damage to you. However, I don't think is as easy today to accuse people of things without proof. In the "old days" it was different.

Cheers...Coffeeman

 

[LBrown59]

...sounds like the darned BATFE!

What's that ?

 

[thatguy]

What's that ?

Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms???? they are very agressive about enforcing gun/explosive laws and regulations, if you dont read any of the gun forums like ar15.com

 

[turbo36]

Nobody's business how many propane burning items I have in my home! If I pay my bill on time, and my meter isn't reflecting that I'm using...who cares. I dang sure don't have a leak, because the meter isn't spinning.

Maybe I'm just being difficult...sounds like the darned BATFE!

This isn't propane gas, it is natural gas, and all the gas company is doing is working within their "terms of service". If you want to buy gas from them then you have to follow their rules, if not then find a different energy source.

 

[kenmac]

Nobody's business how many propane burning items I have in my home! If I pay my bill on time, and my meter isn't reflecting that I'm using...who cares. I dang sure don't have a leak, because the meter isn't spinning.

Maybe I'm just being difficult...sounds like the darned BATFE!

If your on propane I don't know if anyone would care. Your gas isn't metered.


If we can check nat. gas appliances (that are metered), then we wouldn't have to coum out & replace a meter & leave someone in the cold when they get home. Wou would be supprised at how many people out there that are stealing gas , water , power,

 

[coffeeman]

This isn't propane gas, it is natural gas, and all the gas company is doing is working within their "terms of service". If you want to buy gas from them then you have to follow their rules, if not then find a different energy source.

The question is: Is the gas company following the rules? Just because they are a big public utility company, doesn't mean they follow the rules. We have all heard about Enron.

Cheers

 

[dqdave1]

In our area; anytime the gas company shuts off the gas to your location ( meter change, etc) they must enter location to relight any needed appliances and make sure all gas related appliances are functioning ( furnace works). I think it is a liability issue so a hoimeowner does not call and complain that their hot water tank is out, or sr they tried to relight appliance "x" and got injuried, etc.

 

[VA_Joe]

The electric an gas companies will use estimates to save on labor. Usually they will read every two months if your meter is outside (and estimate on the other months) and a few times a year if it is inside (too difficult to get people at home these days). Up in New York - if its inside - they will ask the homeowner to read their own meter and leave the tag on their doorknob for the gas/electric company to pick up. The gas/electric company will only check the meter themselves once or twice a year to keep the homeowner honest.

Where I live now - both the electric and gas companies recently replaced my outside meters with electronic ones that let them read the meter without getting out of the car.

Joe