Article Discussion: Energy solutions won't be simple

by email2annemarie on August 31st, 2009, 4:34 pm 
 
Hi everyone,
Food for thought: there is much fraud, waste and misuse of funds in the electricity/gas/water sectors, also known as public corruption. Folks, they're distracting you with the climate talk and their carrying on about needing infrastructure to avoid an impending black-out is lies- greed- disreguard for customers and a true cost-expense billing;instead they buy new trucks, company vehicles, equipment they don't need and then apply for a rate increase. And the smart meters???- Folks, they don't care about efficiency- the more efficienct the consumers are the less revenue they get. Their carrying on about the smart meters means one thing to them- REVENUE PROTECTION- they can turn people off an on from the comfort of their
desks, please- I urge you to browse the smart meter manufacturers's websites- heres a start
http://www.carinatek.com/products/carina_amd2.html 

And a little more about corruption at http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTENERGY2/Resources/WBelectricitysourcebookpub.pdf
I read meters as an independent contractor for 8 years, same town, same people, every month of the year- never missed a beat- electric, gas and water meters at the same time- 1200-2500 meters a day and Folks don't let them fool you with their carrying on about "accurate reads". The handheld computers for entering the readings have "high-low ranges" built in so RARE was it that I went back on a recheck and if there was, I did it. The utilities cannot justify the cost of replacing all the meters with smart meters, (or A.M.R. automated meter reading) and it seems like those that install them are whining for a rate increase soon there after. Just for interest sake- I charged $0.30 a meter from 2001-2006, $0.35 2006-2009 and as an independent contractor drove my car, paid all expenses, no bennys- but I loved it, really adored the meter reading. Anyways folks what I'm trying to say here is unfortunately some of them outfits are greedy, don't fix the customer's meters and can get away with many things. Including stealing power (some utilities generate, make power) from the company itself- municipals/public power. They buy and sell electricity, like the stock market, the prices change all over every minute. Oh and about alternative
resources and clean energy- excellent point brought up earlier about the work going over seas by the way, thank you- also, I don't know how much you guys have talked about it or looked into it, but I'm from MN and I'm a huge fan of wind power- and folks investing in their own wind turbine!!!! From what I read earlier this summer I think the advancements in energy "storage" have climbed significantly- wahoo!!!!- So perhaps it isn't as critical when the wind blows- what are they going to say then about needing infrastructure, rate increases and power plants??? Boy I tell ya, I really hope it is seldom the utility employee who cares more about his/her own job security than about every citizen strapped to the utility bills and the future of our kids. Also I was really upset to read (twice now) a utility outfit(s) "backbilling" customers for a faulty automated meter that had "miscalculated" the total consumption and hit the customer with over a grand owing to the utility. That's awful- and sounds pretty fishy to me. A link to one of those cases http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/biz/309722
But then there are the utility companies that seem to SHINE and although I've never seen nor do I know anyone who gets service from Ottertail Power Company- they really seem to be doing a great job, being smart, way customer oriented and have an awesome website!!! They seem to do many things the utility companies that whine about needing smart meters don't do/offer. And they don't have smart meters, they're just smart and very refreshing. 
Well I been researchin since February 2009, day in and day out, this is the first time I typed in/commented anywhere. Take care over there Denver, and I hope you all have a great holiday weekend!!!! 
Thanks for reading,
 
Sincerely,
 
Annemarie
 
P.S. Let???s get some of them wind turbines: ) Even seen em??? on Amazon the other night, not bad mula-wise, and don???t forget: energy stimulus/recovery act money can pay for part of it- maybe even 30% if I recall correctly!!!