[Jesenia]

Smart Meter?
Just saw that my electricity company offers it.
Good? Bad?

Smart meters for electricity are becoming more common, and many people are being encouraged to switch from traditional meters.

From your experience or perspective, do you think smart meters are a good or bad thing? Are there clear benefits such as cost savings, convenience, or better control over energy usage?

On the other hand, do you see any downsides like privacy concerns, potential health effects, or technical issues?

I’d love to hear your thoughts, both positive and negative, based on any experiences you’ve had with smart meters or what you’ve heard from others.

Would you recommend getting one?

[Liberty]

Bad. The premise is great but they can then remotely control it to not allow you to turn your A/C lower or heat higher.

[Lisa]

I will never use a meter or thermostat that the electric company can control.

They need to work on increasing their capacity not rationing what customers use.

[Laura]

I’m in NJ and had my smart meter installed several months ago. If not a year ago. I forget. No issues with anyone controlling my usage or anything.

I do appreciate seeing how much energy I’m using and to get an idea of any trends in my usage.

I also don’t have anyone coming on my property anymore to read the meter.

[Kitty]

Smart meters do not control your power. They are more convenient for the electric company and allows you to see when you are using your most power.

Energy management is the one that controls your power and can turn off your ac, water heater and pool pump

[Laina]

Bad. It’s bad for health, and it will increase your bill as well.

[Rona]

I skipped it my friends who have it are controlled during peak usage they limit your usage.

I’m not down with that.

It’s hot here.

[Angie]

We couldn’t opt-out where I live. Had it about a year. I think it depends on where you live and your energy usage.

My average went down, but I don’t use ac and keep it at 64 in the winter.

Don’t have things that pull a lot of power.

Heat, hot water, cooking are all gas.
We don’t have extreme weather and don’t worry about rolling outages.

[Helen]

Have had a smart meter for years; we have total control of our energy usage.

Definitely streamlines operations; I do like the app on phone so I can check daily usage/costs, see outages if needed; have estimated time of repair.

[Crystal]

No! I’m in Texas & everyone I know has issues with it. Several of my friends claim that “someone” turns their AC up in the middle of the night or in mid afternoon.

[Samantha]

Don’t do it. Ours installed it without asking us and then our electric bill went up an extra $150/month because “ it could tell something was running 24/7.” That’s exactly what they told us when we called to find out why it jumped.

This was in dead of winter so we had a couple small heaters running to help the furnace.

We were over $600/month on our electric during the winter after that

[Carrie]

That would depend on where you live. If you live in an area with extremes or “rolling blackouts” and such maybe not a good idea as they can control your power usage.

If you are the average homeowner who pays your bill on time and want to track and reduce your electricity usage, it can be helpful.

Ask questions and read the fine print. Not all power companies/ locations are the same.

So, learn about what your specific power company can & can not do with your smart meter.

[Lynne]

Smart meter on the outside of house or on the wall inside that controls the central air or furnace?

If on the outside you ill not have a choice.

That is more of a convenience for the power company than you.

[Sonda]

Required where I live. Keeps them from reading every month. If I want, I can move to where they control my electric usage.

I won’t want.

[Martha]

You usually don’t get a choice when they change meters, absolutely say no if you have a choice.

I remember 10 or 15 years ago when they did it in our area peoples electric bills sky rocketed, it was terrible.

If they are offering a smart thermostat for inside your home that’s something totally different.

[Pat]

There’s been a lot of issues with them where I live. Bills have doubled & tripled for some.

So many issues that now congressman in our state are involved & investigating.

[Trish]

I think you should get it if having the same entity that provides you with power to your house also now controls the usage, throttled down of their own choosing.

[Linda]

They just changed mine out. The perk is no one has to come onto your property to read it and I am able to track usage by month, week, day, and hours.

I like it.

[Ann]

My town installed smart meter and now I can track my usage daily or weekly.

It’s great for when you are out of town.

[Author]

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