Xcel randomly just showed up to replace gas meter

I have worked for and against Xcel on gas meter issues, some you have read about in the papers.

If they are supposed to get an automatic reading and don't, they change them out. The gas meters are owned by them and if you look, you have granted them permission to come on your property to service their equipment. Guy driving the vehicle that collects may drive by twice, but they don't check them for actual function. You might see something a bit off on the next bill, or a note that it was adjusted.

They are NOT required to be changed out every 10 years. However, the regulators have a date stamp and they are required to be changed out at some time period. The longest residential is currently 25 years. I did a house explosion a few years back, the regulator was date stamped 1952...you could actually see the gas leaking from the seals.

The meter they took will be rebuilt and then when another one goes down, it will be swapped out for that one.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Metalhed

I wish they would replace mine. It chirps like a bird all night long, when it is cold. It is under the bedroom window. We have called them and they state it is normal for it to chirp

Pain in the ass, when rying to fall asleep

---

By all means, don't trip near it while carrying a hammer, you might break something. :)

Wulf, I would like to learn about the surveillance equipment you purchased.

Please PM me.

My last two gas readings were "estimated" so I hope they fix my meter soon.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Metalhed

I wish they would replace mine. It chirps like a bird all night long, when it is cold. It is under the bedroom window. We have called them and they state it is normal for it to chirp

Pain in the ass, when rying to fall asleep

---

My wife complained there was mouse or "something" in the basement.

It was the gas meter right next to one basement window that was squeaking.

A call to Excel with that info and the added fact that all the pipes were wonkey and seemed stressed from ground settling brought an immediate replacement even though they set them up to account for movement.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by rbeau30

Wulf, I would like to learn about the surveillance equipment you purchased.

Please PM me.

---

You're the second to ask so I'll post it.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846
driveway monitor, you can add multiple sensors, range is good (i've gotten 200 yards in an out building reliably), batteries last a year usually. False alarms are far less than the HF model.

night owl 8 channel h.264 dvr w/4 hi res 600tvl cameras
1 camera with intercom at front and back doors. (way out of date but they work)

No relevance to Xcel but United Power is replacing their readers. Maybe this time they will face it in a direction that is can actually be read. Oh, and I doubt it has been replaced in 40 years.

We got ours replaced in late 2012 after our house caught fire (electrical) from the ground settling. We inspected the gas meter and the pipe being twisted into a pretzel and took a photo of it. The ground settled something fierce in 2012.