*New PG&E Smart Meters

they just installed them, now *they say i'm gonna save $$$. Then they say the >old ones< were not calculating the actual amounts used.
I called them to ask when all this money saving is gonna kick in? and then i told them it better not be a "you've used more" Gas&Electricity this period then ever before thing. They replied,"the older meters have been giving us a deal, the new ones will be more accurate"

My question.......does anyone out there, have one of these things in action and was there a difference in used utillities?

i know there is a lawsuit filled by a group of so-cal'rs already, just looking for NorCal'rs who might know more.
  

here's bakersfield . . .

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/pge-sued-over-smart-meters-slows-down-bakersfield-deployment/


and the WSJ:
http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20091119-718348.html

Adam-

I think you better tighten your belt and get ready to throw down a little more $$$ for utilities. It's never a good thing when a big company says that we've been getting a break. Let us know how it goes though.

Freddie

Just build a greenhouse! 

Just build a greenhouse! 

This is the year to take advantage of good tax credits for energy savings upgrades. Up to 1500.00 bucks back on Water heaters, insulation, windows. Saltydog was briefing me on the credit last week. Let us know how it goes Adam. We have been burning wood for heat since Nov. and our utility bill is still over 100 bucks a month.

Let us know how it goes though.

if you are a PG&E customer? you're gonna get your chance to save $$$ too......the places that have filled the lawsuit are the places they've slowed conversions. You can see when your area is slated for upgrade in their website.

No more deals for nobody!!  this is NOW the Real_amount that you're using.......if you do not pay, you will be cut off. that simple! 

I live in a small apartment (2 bed room) and they've just switched us over a couple of weeks ago.  I think I average about $50 a month although it's been a bit higher the last few months because of the cold.

For those of you who live in average size 3 bed room homes....what do you typically pay?  Of course there could/will be a lot of variance, but I'm hoping to buy soon and wonder what the difference may end up being.

This is the year to take advantage of good tax credits for energy savings upgrades. Up to 1500.00 bucks back on Water heaters, insulation, windows. Saltydog was briefing me on the credit last week. Let us know how it goes Adam. We have been burning wood for heat since Nov. and our utility bill is still over 100 bucks a month.

Water heater change-outs seem to be one of the rebate items that can actually recoup investment and save money fairly soon. Windows . . . iffy . .  . there is a LOT of argument in the construction trade publications about when and if they pay back due to their high initial purchase/installation cost. This can be reduced a lot by doing the install yourself - but buy the book on how to do it right. Insulation varies, but will definitely make you more comfortable and reduce energy use . . . it's just a matter of weighing actual costs, rebates/credits versus savings and how it that equals our (or not).

Our electrical bill doubled in December - I think that it was the 4 kids home for school break, cooking, baking and running EVERYTHING.

For those of you who live in average size 3 bed room homes....what do you typically pay?  Of course there could/will be a lot of variance, but I'm hoping to buy soon and wonder what the difference may end up being.

In Contra Costa it gets pretty cold in the winter and our PGE bills run $200-300 for a 4 bedroom house. With the new smart meter our bill went up to $350. I have heard from neighbors that their bill went up several hundred dollars on the new meter. We feel lucky it went up only $50.

I live in a small apartment (2 bed room) and they've just switched us over a couple of weeks ago.  I think I average about $50 a month although it's been a bit higher the last few months because of the cold.

For those of you who live in average size 3 bed room homes....what do you typically pay?  Of course there could/will be a lot of variance, but I'm hoping to buy soon and wonder what the difference may end up being.

i have a 2 bdrm/1 bath house, the size of an apartment. We =get it down to $30ish in the summer & in the winter over $100.
I want to compare it to prior bills of the same months and see if they show "how much you consumed on the old meter and how much on the new one".

Water heater change-outs seem to be one of the rebate items that can actually recoup investment and save money fairly soon. Windows . . . iffy . .  . there is a LOT of argument in the construction trade publications about when and if they pay back due to their high initial purchase/installation cost. This can be reduced a lot by doing the install yourself - but buy the book on how to do it right. Insulation varies, but will definitely make you more comfortable and reduce energy use . . . it's just a matter of weighing actual costs, rebates/credits versus savings and how it that equals our (or not).

Our electrical bill doubled in December - I think that it was the 4 kids home for school break, cooking, baking and running EVERYTHING.
[/quote]
I got an est. for all the windows to be upgraded. After doing the math, it would take over 20 years to break even. That aint worth it to me, i'll just pay the $$$ during the cold months and enjoy the $30 bills in the spring,summer&fall.......unless the meters really do save me some money, but that i doubt!

Our December PGE was $375.00 $275.00 electric, the balance is gas. We have a 4 bedroom 3bath, with a huge family room in the basement that has a gas fired wall heater.

Like Craig, we've been heating with our woodstove since November, been through 2 cords of oak/madrone at $300.00/cord.

Both girls were home in December, so with the Christmas lights, their bedroom lights on till 2 or 3 in the morning, their computers on constantly, 800 loads of laundry, but $275 freakin bucks for electricity???

Rich

Damn yo! That's a lotta $ to spend on bills.
Our PG&E bill is between $60-140 per month. Never been close to 200. Even when I was living w/3 women! But then again, I live near Monterey...where it never gets colder than 50* and never hotter than 75* And I have a greenhouse