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Archive through June 28, 2010

Reality TVClubHouse Discussions: General Discussions ARCHIVES: May 2010 ~ August 2010: Free Expressions: The return of The Return of the Gripe Thread: Archive through June 28, 2010 users admin

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Juju2bigdog
Member

10-27-2000

Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 6:47 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Juju2bigdog a private message Print Post    
OG, you are putting the a/c on down there????? And it comes on at 76??? Are you hogging off all the west coast heat or what? We don't have a/c, usually don't need it.

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 7:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
Chewpito, here in the South Bay we got the notice about smart meters being installed this week. They seem to think it's going to save me money, although I can't see how.

Oh, and it's still 90 degrees here and it's nearly 8pm :-(.

Merrysea
Moderator

08-13-2004

Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 7:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Merrysea a private message Print Post    
We have the smart meters. Our bill did go down, but then it would have anyway since they were installed about the time we started using the heater less. I was initially excited about the smart meters, because they said that PG&E could just drive by and read them; but our meter is in the backyard, and they still have to go back there to read it (which really sets the dogs off).

Wargod
Moderator

07-16-2001

Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 9:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Wargod a private message Print Post    
100+ here today, spoke too soon the other day about the not so hot days here. Dakota had practice this morning (10-12) and they ended up cutting it short at 11:30 because it was already 100 degrees. 10:30 pm and it's still 79, which wouldn't be too bad except that I refuse to run the cooler in the living room at night and I have the dryer going.

Landileigh
Member

07-29-2002

Sunday, June 27, 2010 - 10:45 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Landileigh a private message Print Post    
i've had the smart meter for a couple of months. my bill has gone down, but not because of that. for some reason we are using less water, as my gas bill is half of what it was. electricity is about the same.

DSL is a phone service, not connected to the electric. Your modem though would be. I would guess if it keeps going out, and your electricity isn't going out, that your modem is about shot.


Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 4:33 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
If you have itty bitty power surges, it can reset your modem and/or cause it to drop packets. I would call your DSL carrier and ask them to troubleshoot the line on their end (they can ask you to do some things like checking the number of hops from your place to another, and the response time). If they say it tests out OK, then call the electric folks.

But really, a tiny power surge can throw your computer and modem into a bit of a whack. You might want to consider power surge protectors, if you aren't already using them.

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 4:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Goddessatlaw a private message Print Post    
I'd like to gripe that it's Monday already. Thank you for listening.

Whoami
Member

08-03-2001

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 4:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Whoami a private message Print Post    
I remember when I had DSL problems. Constant interference, and when I was on the phone there'd be a static sound. It turned out to be a back phone jack in one of the rooms we didn't even have a phone plugged into. So I just removed the phone jack hardware, taped off the wires, and never had another problem with the phone or DSL. But that means going around and checking every jack you have in the house. I remember the phone company sending out techs who could never figure out the problem (they only checked outside, leading up to the house), and said it had to be something inside the house (which would cost extra). Finally, one girl they sent out said enough was enough and took a special meter she had to go around and check all the jacks for me (without charging me for coming inside the house).

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 5:03 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
I'd like to gripe that it's not Wednesday yet (I'm taking the day off)!!

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 6:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
I'm just south of you Chew, in YC. I got a smart meter a few months ago and my bill dropped $20.

Happymom
Member

01-20-2003

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 7:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Happymom a private message Print Post    
Chew, I'm dreading the smart meters after all the stories on the news about people having much higher bills, but...I'm encouraged by you, Dipo and Escapee, I hope ours will be lower. I'm sure we will eventually have to have a smart meter.

Merry, we put a card in a front window with our meter readings. We read it ourselves. Only twice a year do they need to have access to our backyard to verify the meters. I don't know if there is a way to do that with the smart meters. But maybe there is. We keep our gates locked, so, there is no way for them to get to our backyard.

Mak1
Member

08-11-2002

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 7:10 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Mak1 a private message Print Post    
My gripe is that I got a charley horse in my leg at 5 a.m. that made me limp so bad I couldn't go to the gym this morning, and it still feels like a bruise!

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 7:27 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
LOL Mak! I went and worked out with my trainer, and hobbled out of their with a majorly sore BUTT!!! Seriously, dude, my BUTT?

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 8:05 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
I don't understand why changing the meter is going to lower my cost? Are they saying the old meters were inaccurate and overcharged? If so I want a rebate for the last 10 years!! Just don't get it.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 8:14 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
My understanding with the smart meters is that they can be read electronically, am I wrong on that? So they are more accurate.

Kitt, I think sometimes instead of reading the meter PG&E did estimates based on past usage. As I said above I thought they were better because they don't require a human to read them. Humans can read the meter wrong resulting in higher or lower costs. I just think the smart meters are more accurate since they are better technology.

That's why I said that some people just lucked out. Now I do think there are some true horror stories out there where maybe the smartmeter is a lemon. But I suspect some with some of the other high bills they may find that someone is stealing electricity and they didn't know it before, or the old meter wasn't working right and they have been undercharged for years.

Denecee
Member

09-05-2002

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 8:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Denecee a private message Print Post    
I'm so irritated with myself! I washed my cell phone with my pants and now I have no cell phone. Did I have the insurance? no

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 8:47 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Call, get insurance on it. Then turn it in as broken. Seriously.

Goddessatlaw
Member

07-19-2002

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 9:09 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Goddessatlaw a private message Print Post    
Denecee, if it helps Colossus once mailed his cell phone to Denver in a package of some pants he was returning LOL. (Fortunately they called him and sent it back, took a couple of weeks, though during which he was going nuts trying to figure out where it was).

Denecee
Member

09-05-2002

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 9:19 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Denecee a private message Print Post    
Now that is funny, Goddess!
Escapee, they can tell if it has water damage:-(

Kitt
Member

09-06-2000

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 9:31 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Kitt a private message Print Post    
The letter I got said the meters would be read in the traditional way (someone coming round) at first but they will be changing to automatic reading when... can't remember, when they'd set something up. For now I guess it's the same except it's a digital reading not that dial thing.

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 9:35 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
You can call and add the insurance over the phone. Does it not cover water damage?

Costacat
Member

07-15-2000

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 9:36 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Costacat a private message Print Post    
Denecee, yes, they can tell if it had water damage. Odds are that insurance wouldn't cover the washing machine, but you should check.

Prisonerno6
Member

08-31-2002

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 9:40 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Prisonerno6 a private message Print Post    
Isn't adding insurance after the fact insurance fraud?

Escapee
Member

06-15-2004

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 9:42 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Escapee a private message Print Post    
Prisoner, you are probably right. I only suggested that because when my phone broke the CSR at Verizon told me to do that. Didn't think about the fraud.

Dipo
Member

04-23-2002

Monday, June 28, 2010 - 10:58 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post Send Dipo a private message Print Post    
Well, Kitt, that does make sense. Digital would be easier to read than those little round things. Plus there are probably areas that can't transmit electronically.