XCEL Energy smart meter opt out?

[bellavite1]

I received notice that my XCEL meter in Wheatridge will be switched to a smart meter.
I can opt out, but that will result in additional monthly charges:
https://xcelenergycommunities.com/sites/xcelenergycommunities.com/files/document/pdf/21-03-119%20NonCommunicatingMeterFeesSheet-p1.pdf
So, I am debating what to do...
If I understand correctly the Ft Collins area has seen this a while ago.
What is your experience?
Have you seen your bills skyrocket after the switch?
Would I be better off staying with my non-smart meter and paying the additional charges?

[Sawin]

Subscribed. I’d like to know from someone’s firsthand experience too.

[XJ]

Let's see the fine print...

[hollohas]

So, they've been asking people to switch to smart meter's for years. Offering tiny incentives to do so. Apparently no one took them up on their BS offer to remotely turn off our AC when it's hot outside so they will fine you for not switching?

Ugh.

[Bailey Guns]

We were required by IREA to switch over at our house in Bailey several years ago...2012 or 2013 ish. Our bill more than doubled for 3 months. Then it dropped slightly but was significantly higher than it had been historically.

[kidicarus13]

The Saver's Switch program allows Xcel Energy by remote control to cycle central air conditioner compressor units on and off at 15 to 20-minute intervals while the fan stays on circulating previously cooled air.

Do what you want but I'll be thinking about you on those 100? days when you've already spent your couple dollar savings on Starbucks and you think your AC has $hite the bed because it's so hot in your house.

Looks like I am confusing a Smart Meter with a Saver's Switch.

[BushMasterBoy]

I have a smart meter. No problems. I believe it is just internet over the power lines. They send a high frequency signal along the grid. I do believe they are able to shut off power remotely, usually if they don't get paid. I like that I don't have some power company employee in my back yard reading a meter. It is Black Hills power co. Been like this for over 10 years. I guess technically, they can tell when you turn on heavy draw appliances. I have three generators as backup. I originally had the old dumb meter. Not sure why someone would opt out. The water company added smart meters a few years before the power company. The water meters have to be scanned by a guy in a truck.

[bellavite1]

Edit: after reading more carefully, they will change your meter anyway, you cannot stay with the same actual meter.
You only get a choice between a new "dumb" meter (with an additional monthly fee to go with it) or the new smart meter.
Either way chances are your bill will be different than what you are used to...[panic]

[bellavite1]

I have a smart meter. No problems. I believe it is just internet over the power lines. They send a high frequency signal along the grid. I do believe they are able to shut off power remotely, usually if they don't get paid. I like that I don't have some power company employee in my back yard reading a meter. It is Black Hills power co. Been like this for over 10 years. I guess technically, they can tell when you turn on heavy draw appliances. I have three generators as backup. I originally had the old dumb meter. Not sure why someone would opt out. The water company added smart meters a few years before the power company. The water meters have to be scanned by a guy in a truck.

Any significant changes to your bill?

[hollohas]

I was confusing the savers switch too.

The smart meters also have the ability to monitor WHEN you use the electricity you use. Demand response. That way they can charge you higher rates when you're using electricity during high demand periods. Like in the evening when you are actually home.

[buffalobo]

Morgan County REA switched us to Smart meter long ago. Bill went up approx 30%.

The benefit of not having scumbag driving around my yard messing up my road and landscaping out weighs the increase in bill.

MCREA can kiss my azz.

[Jeff350]

I got a notice about switching out the “smart saver” switch that cycles off the A/C. I never signed up
for it in the 1st place, must have been the previous homeowner. I’m definitely going to tell them to pound sand, I’m not giving up control of my A/C on the hottest days to save $40/year.

[BushMasterBoy]

Any significant changes to your bill?

Seems the same. It is a brand new house I bought in 2006. Average monthly bill is $75. However my bill is up this summer due to using central air conditioning. I rarely use the A/C as I have a window swamp cooler. It seems way hotter this year and I thought global warming was BS. First time I have ever seen roads closed to flooding, too. Lots of neighbors have photo voltaic panels around here. Many are the large arrays that are mounted to frames on the ground. All the lots are an acre or more.

PS...I just got the bill amount VIA email...$103...so about 25% higher than last year. I know the Central AC is the culprit. I have a solar powered fan for the attic, just never installed it. Maybe install it this winter?

[colorider]

I had the saver switch put on my AC several years ago. Without it, my wife would have the damn thing on 24/7.

[Gman]

Smart meter is different than the saver switch.

Got my analog meter changed out a few months ago. Bills didn't change. Allows the electric co. to use the Zigbee wireless protocol to read the meter from a distance which saves labor not requiring meter readers.

[Delfuego]

It keeps the meter-reader from going onto your property mostly. I spoke with my Xcel guy years ago about it. They can read the meter wireless/remote. Not sure what else it does. It is 2021, and those dial meters are 50's technology. Probably a good upgrade for them, especially if you keep a dog in your yard.

If your worried about privacy... Xcel already has all your personal info on a internet facing server with in an unsecured/unencrypted database on an un-patched server with known security flaws :) That's the weaker link imo, not the smart meter.

[MrPrena]

xcel

[bellavite1]

So I called Xcel this morning and this is what I was told:
We have the opt-out option, which will incur in additional fees (I guess for the cost of having someone come to read the analog meter).
Or we can get the smart reader.
The new pricing structure is supposedly going to be optional:
Come April 2022 we would be given the option of either keep our current rate or getting into the new deal (I guess for some folks it could be cheaper).
Either way they will replace the existing unit with a new one (smart or analog) which may or may not give the same readings as before...
So, considering that if they want to increase my readings/bill there's really not much I can do, and considering I only have a swamp cooler, no fancy computerized AC, I will probably let them do it and stay with my current rate.

[ray1970]

On a related note, not sure if my meter is smart or not but it still has the little wheel thing that spins around. I was near it last weekend and man that thing was hauling ass.

Looking forward to cooler weather so all of my utility bills will come back down.

[O2HeN2]

I'm inquisitive, do you want to opt out for some specific reason, or just principle?

O2

[bellavite1]

I'm inquisitive, do you want to opt out for some specific reason, or just principle?

O2

.
Word on the street is that a lot of people has seen their bills skyrocket, so maybe I would be better off paying the extra $$$ and stay with my old analog meter.
But it looks like they will change the unit regardless, so it's a moot point...[Mad]

[fitterjohn]

My opinion is your shouldn’t be worried about the smart meter. It’s the next step after the smart meter. Fort Collins started with smart meter, then tiered rates, then the latest and greatest 2 years ago was point of time use. 2-7 in the summer and 5-9 in the winter it’s something ridiculous like 7x more than non peak hours. And they keep making the gap larger. But hey at least they came and tore up everyone’s yard to put city owned and ran internet in, why wouldn’t you want the city to control media that your taxes and electrical bill paid for, it’s only slightly more expensive than Comcast.

[bellavite1]

My opinion is your shouldn’t be worried about the smart meter. It’s the next step after the smart meter. Fort Collins started with smart meter, then tiered rates, then the latest and greatest 2 years ago was point of time use. 2-7 in the summer and 5-9 in the winter it’s something ridiculous like 7x more than non peak hours. And they keep making the gap larger. But hey at least they came and tore up everyone’s yard to put city owned and ran internet in, why wouldn’t you want the city to control media that your taxes and electrical bill paid for, it’s only slightly more expensive than Comcast.

Did you get the option to stay with your previous rate?
They told me this morning that the "point of time use" is going to be optional, that I can stay with my current rate even after the smart meter install, if I choose to.

[fitterjohn]

Nope we have city of Fort Collins power, so they just mandate what we need. But from what I remember we have had smart meters for a very long time.

[mjzman]

Mountain View Electric outside CoS sent notice last winter that they would be installing new smart meters this spring/summer, capable of being read from their office. To opt out was going to cost IIRC $75/ month. Since my bill averages about $120/month that would have been a prohibitive fee. They claim that they will neve use the system to control individual usage, but did not deny that they 'could' do so. I have not seen any rate change, only somewhat higher bill last two months because of running more A/C. The new meter is all digital.

[bellavite1]

$11.84 monthly fee to opt out in the Denver metro area.
I couldn't find anything in writing about having the option to stay at my current rate with a smart meter, so, being the trusting individual i am, I opted out.
Fuck them.

[beast556]

I have had a smart meter on my last two houses and haven't seen any weird fluctuations or high bills. All houses up this way have had the smart meters for approx 10 years.

[FoxtArt]

Not an issue where I am at but dang...

The solar tax credit was extended back in Dec of 2020 for the record. It was going to expire at the end of this year. Instead, it's 26% through the end of 2022. I'd be leaning towards a solar install if I was dealing with all that B.S. - nice thing about solar is peak hours hopefully are often when solar would be peak right?

Or am I wrong and peak hours are like 6-9pm or something? The stupidity spreads so I like to plan in advance...

[ben4372]

I was confusing the savers switch too.

The smart meters also have the ability to monitor WHEN you use the electricity you use. Demand response. That way they can charge you higher rates when you're using electricity during high demand periods. Like in the evening when you are actually home.

I was talking to a contractor that was putting these in. They are way more sophisticated. They keep track of time, peaks, can throttle houses, and do remote power disconnects. He said they no longer get drive by readings. Xcell id converting some street lights to a 5G style antenna that will have fiber run links. Near as I can figure the new light are a wireless link to the meters on the houses. Kinda cool kinda scary.