On Thu, 19 Apr 2012 07:41:09 -0500, wrote:

On Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:30:18 -0700, Erik wrote:

In article ,
wrote:

How do they read "Smart Meters"?

I've heard two different stories on this.

1. They can read my usage anytime, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and
do so right at the power company. Supposedly the signal is sent via the
power lines to their office.

2. They can only read these meters by driving past the residence or
business where the meter is located, the signal is sent by a radio wave
and is limited to a certain number of feet from the meter, which they
read once a month by driving past homes with their meters. The vehicles
they drive have a receiver to read them.

Which of these is true?

---

This brings up another thought.....
What would happen if I removed my "Smart meter"? Would an alarm go off
in their office? In the old days, when I had to work on the mains or
service entrance (beyond the meter) in a home, I'd just pull the meter,
do the work, and put the meter back. Then I'd notify the power company
to tell them that I cut the band on the meter, and why I had to do so. I
never got any complains since I had legitimate reasons to do it.
I'd hesitate to do that these days.... even with a legitimate reason....

I've had a 'remote reading' electric and gas meter here in W Los Angeles
for some years now.

They drive by to read them... every 2 months for the electric, and once
a month for the gas.

The guy that installed the electric meter said they might want to
inspect it from time to time, but so far haven't. I have never cut the
seals and removed it, but have turned the power off a time or two to do
maintenance. It has a small visible antenna within it's glass enclosure.

I googled and found out that the electric meter will remember and 'blow
the whistle' next time it's read should it 'think' it's been tampered
with. There wasn't a lot of detail, but being subjected to a strong
magnetic field was disclosed to be at least one trigger parameter.

Far as the gas goes, all the installer clown knew was that it generates
it's own battery charge current somehow from the actual gas flow, and
that it's read via street drive by.

I've seen both the electric and gas reader trucks driving by.

The water meter is still read manually.

Here's mo

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automatic_Meter_Reading

Erik

What gets me is that my electric meter pole is located at the middle of
my farm, which is 3/4 mile from the road. Yet I never see anyone from
the power company come down here, except once a year when they check the
wires and look for fallen or damaged trees near the wires. Unless there
is a storm and wire problems. I dont think the meter signal can go that
distance, but I could be wrong.
The new smart meters are networked through the power line and read
in real time. At least the ones here in Waterloo North and Kitchener
Wilmot Hydro areas.(Region of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada - home of the
"Blackberry"