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A HELCO employee tried getting into our yard today by opening our front gate that is plastered with OSHA signage about how our working dogs may bite and to not even think about trying. We were working at the rear of the property and I could hear our dogs going ballistic, I bolted towards the gate when our Belgian Malinois's barking frequency went to a tone that he only uses when somebody is actually trying to get into our yard.
The "smart meter network" is down and the meter needed to be read manually. (Our old smart meter never had this problem).
I looked at the security video and he actually tried to open the gate (it was locked) with a malinois and a doberman putting on a full display.
While I was on the way from the back he did call the number on the account and explained he needed to read the meter, but I looked at the security footage and it wasn't until after he discovered the gate was locked.
So much for smart meters or smart employees.
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I can understand the "smart meter network" being down, but I can't imagine HELCO sending out meter readers instead of just sending you an estimated usage bill.
But it's HELCO we are talking about!
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But that's not what the utility companies want. They want to be billing companies that outsource the power production...
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This is exactly what HECO has been doing. They get other companies to invest in the various power production plants, taking the risk off themselves. They then purchase the power from the provider and mark up the cost to the consumer. PGV, the new Waikoloa solar farm, the probably failed attempt at burning trees to produce electricity...
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Oh thank you, I almost forgot about the burning tree powerplant!
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So HELLco came to read our meter again and we asked (again) why, since we went almost 12 years without them ever having to physically read it, and they explained that our newer "smart" meter was out of range of their network, like this was now an indefinite thing.
So we get all the extra RF of the "smart" meter but none of the benefits.
We also got this email from them:
"Aloha,
In the wake of the devastating fires that have affected communities and families on Maui, the Public Utilities Commission has approved our request to delay the start of the Shift and Save pilot program to Feb. 1, 2024.
This new start date applies to O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island customers who were selected at random to participate in the Shift and Save pilot. On Maui, the PUC has temporarily suspended the program, however eligible Maui customers may voluntarily enroll in the time-of-use rates at their own discretion.
Additionally, all Hawaiian Electric customers on the five islands we serve may enroll in the TOU rates at hawaiianelectric.com/shiftandsave."
Of course now it's "shift and save". In the future it will be "shift or lose".
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I called HELCO today.
"Please enter your 12 digit account number."
I enter the 12 digit account number.
"If this number is correct press 1. If not press 2"
I press 1.
"If you pressed 1, press 1, otherwise press 2."
Then the call is rerouted and they hang up.
This happened twice. Then I gave up.
I'm not making this up.
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"I'm not making this up."
Don't worry, I believe you.
If you need to get ahold of them, stop paying your bill. Then THEY will be the ones calling YOU.
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Well the reader came again today, which is only the second time we've seen them because they have been coming when we are gone. Since they can't get through our locked gate or past our dogs we've been texting them the image of the meter reading. So I guess I've been a part time unpaid meter reader. Sort of like when I go to the store and I have to check myself out.
Anyways, I asked him if they could re-install our old meter and his advice was to call and complain because the readers obviously would prefer that too, but "they don't listen to us, but they'll probably listen to you".
So I called and got a message about unusually long wait times and was given the option to fill out a form online instead, which I wanted to do in the first place but the "contact us" button only lists phone numbers. So I submitted my request. We'll see what happens...
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was given the option to fill out a form online instead, which I wanted to do in the first place but the "contact us" button only lists phone numbers.
If HELCO’s electricity ran through their power lines like their phone messaging system is routed, I’d be afraid to plug anything into the wall socket.
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01-06-2024, 04:58 AM
(This post was last modified: 01-06-2024, 04:59 AM by terracore.)
Update! Received message 10/31/2023:
"Thank you for your inquiry. A request has been sent to our Meter Shop department in regards to your request to have the previous ERT meter installed due to your concerns and safety of our employees."
Well... that was last year so I asked for an update a few days ago:
"We apologize for the delay in having your meter replaced with an ERT meter. Due to limited resources, there is a slight delay in the installation of meters at this time."
Limited resources? They are removing the old meters.... what are they doing with them?
In the meantime, I've been asking the meter readers what to do, and all of them (at least three thus far) have said "You have to keep nagging them, they don't listen to us."
How long should I wait between "nagging" ?
