Showing posts with label Smart Meters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smart Meters. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Thursday, December 1, 2016
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Smart Meters being installed in Lake Worth
Comment Up
Siemens' sub-contractors have been in my community for the last several days changing out the water meters to Smart Meters. Eventually this means that we will lose more employees unless they are transferred to different jobs within our utility.
The city is spending nearly $3 million on over 4,000 LED streetlights, $5.5 million on solar panels at our landfill, close to a million on new a/c units, etc. and hold on to your chair, they will be spending right under $13 million for advanced metering infrastructure that includes new smart meters, meters they say aren't really smart meters (that was for the Mayor's benefit) but they are.
We had discussions at the time--people were worried that smart meters could cause cancer. Smart meters give off RF radiation. RF radiation is low-energy radiation. RF radiation is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
Siemens' sub-contractors have been in my community for the last several days changing out the water meters to Smart Meters. Eventually this means that we will lose more employees unless they are transferred to different jobs within our utility.
The city is spending nearly $3 million on over 4,000 LED streetlights, $5.5 million on solar panels at our landfill, close to a million on new a/c units, etc. and hold on to your chair, they will be spending right under $13 million for advanced metering infrastructure that includes new smart meters, meters they say aren't really smart meters (that was for the Mayor's benefit) but they are.
We had discussions at the time--people were worried that smart meters could cause cancer. Smart meters give off RF radiation. RF radiation is low-energy radiation. RF radiation is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Smart Meters, Smart Grid Solutions and the $23 million dollar price tag
Comment Up
Slick Salesman
First introduced to us on February 10, 2015, Hector Samario told us that he wants a lot of money from the City of Lake Worth. Everyone heads to Lake Worth when they want to save us from ourselves. Is there some list being passed around directing people to come here?
The city manager has been working with Siemens behind the scenes like they are the 2nd coming of Christ, no kidding, and now has them on tonight's agenda under New Business J. City Manager Bornstein has a dream to take Lake Worth into the 21st Century.
The total cost of the project to the City is projected to be $32.5M and the city has to get the approval and closing of a Bank of America equipment lease loan to pay for the equipment and installation costs of $23M. Once funded, the monies will be deposited into an escrow account from which the City will make draws to pay Siemens and make the direct equipment purchases. It seems that the city will be spending nearly $3 million on over 4,000 LED streetlights, $5.5 million on solar panels at our landfill, close to a million on new a/c units, etc. and hold on to your chair, they will be spending right under $13 million for advanced metering infrastructure that includes new smart meters, meters they say aren't really smart meters (that was for the Mayor's benefit) but they are. We just replaced meters.
Siemens wants us to know that the contract does not constitute a debt, liability or obligation?? With Siemens' implementations, such as vending machine sensors at 3 buildings, no kidding, they say we will save money. If the agreed upon energy goals are not met, Siemens pays the shortfall that now will be a 15 year contract. We will have an annual cash flow of $210,666 a year for 15 years on a debt that isn't a debt of $23 million depending on the street light contingency. Wow!
*The City must reasonably permit SIEMENS to control and/or operate all building controls, systems, apparatus, equipment and machinery necessary to perform the Work, subject to CITY operational requirements. In other words, Bornstein wants to turn over the whole enchilada.
This city administration, once again, is going around the people. This time it is $23 million dollars. Have you ever heard of anything quite like it? The city commission can vote you, the taxpayer, into 15 years of commitment by simply voting yea and something that the city manager wants them to do. If they can't get it from a referendum, they will get some of it by at least a 3/2 vote perhaps more. Think about all that power they have over your money on improvements that will be outdated in five years and need constant care and maintenance. We have a big problem just thinking about the word "maintenance."
We have attorneys who really should be advising the city commission on things that could go wrong but the city attorney who is appointed by the commission does what the city manager wants him to do. Do we really need all these "improvements" and spending millions? If anyone on the dais has the slightest doubt tonight, please vote it down. If not, should they all be recalled?
Slick Salesman
The city manager has been working with Siemens behind the scenes like they are the 2nd coming of Christ, no kidding, and now has them on tonight's agenda under New Business J. City Manager Bornstein has a dream to take Lake Worth into the 21st Century.
The total cost of the project to the City is projected to be $32.5M and the city has to get the approval and closing of a Bank of America equipment lease loan to pay for the equipment and installation costs of $23M. Once funded, the monies will be deposited into an escrow account from which the City will make draws to pay Siemens and make the direct equipment purchases. It seems that the city will be spending nearly $3 million on over 4,000 LED streetlights, $5.5 million on solar panels at our landfill, close to a million on new a/c units, etc. and hold on to your chair, they will be spending right under $13 million for advanced metering infrastructure that includes new smart meters, meters they say aren't really smart meters (that was for the Mayor's benefit) but they are. We just replaced meters.
Siemens wants us to know that the contract does not constitute a debt, liability or obligation?? With Siemens' implementations, such as vending machine sensors at 3 buildings, no kidding, they say we will save money. If the agreed upon energy goals are not met, Siemens pays the shortfall that now will be a 15 year contract. We will have an annual cash flow of $210,666 a year for 15 years on a debt that isn't a debt of $23 million depending on the street light contingency. Wow!
*The City must reasonably permit SIEMENS to control and/or operate all building controls, systems, apparatus, equipment and machinery necessary to perform the Work, subject to CITY operational requirements. In other words, Bornstein wants to turn over the whole enchilada.
This city administration, once again, is going around the people. This time it is $23 million dollars. Have you ever heard of anything quite like it? The city commission can vote you, the taxpayer, into 15 years of commitment by simply voting yea and something that the city manager wants them to do. If they can't get it from a referendum, they will get some of it by at least a 3/2 vote perhaps more. Think about all that power they have over your money on improvements that will be outdated in five years and need constant care and maintenance. We have a big problem just thinking about the word "maintenance."
We have attorneys who really should be advising the city commission on things that could go wrong but the city attorney who is appointed by the commission does what the city manager wants him to do. Do we really need all these "improvements" and spending millions? If anyone on the dais has the slightest doubt tonight, please vote it down. If not, should they all be recalled?
Monday, August 31, 2015
Are Smart Meters a Dumb Idea?
Comment Up
Smart meters are probably not a dumb idea for utility companies but they might be for the consumer. We are reading about more and more utility companies installing smart meters. It has been reported that bills are going up since analog meters have been replaced. There have even been health effects and reported safety violations. No one is talking about the privacy issues. So, the question is, do we really need wireless smart meters?
The mayor didn't want them. Siemens said that well, they're not really that "smart" but they are selling them to us. On Tuesday night, part of the Siemens plan is to sell us Smart Meters. What was the sales pitch for this when we just spent thousands replacing meters throughout the city.
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is an integrated system of smart meters, communications networks, and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers. Siemens says, the CITY shall continue to be responsible for reading meters until all commissioning and acceptance plan steps are completed for the AMI system.
As one person said and I thought it very enlightening--
“Smart” Meters do not allow for fair commerce or trust.
The “smart” meter internal program and calibration settings can be changed from remote at any time and in milliseconds. No one would ever know.
This is not fair commerce for either party. The power company could easily raise the calibration settings and no one would ever know since they are the only ones who can come and check the meter. Any inspection of the internal program would only be done by them too.
The incentive to do that is hundreds of thousands of dollars per month more for a very small change in the calibration settings of millions of meters.
Also, a “hacker” could easily change the calibration settings to make the meter read less kilowatt hours. The loss to the power company would be offset by other customers through rate increases since power generation needs would not go down.
Mechanical meters are fair to both parties because it can be seen through the glass that there are no tricks going on, and the spinning dial indicator can be used to quickly check the meter readings against a small load.
In a “hacking” or reprogrammed situation, the digital LCD display could be made to show anything the programmer wanted to show, so the normal homeowner couldn’t easily tell what the immediate power usage billed for really is. It may also fool power company employees.
“Smart” Meters are a dumb idea.
Smart meters are probably not a dumb idea for utility companies but they might be for the consumer. We are reading about more and more utility companies installing smart meters. It has been reported that bills are going up since analog meters have been replaced. There have even been health effects and reported safety violations. No one is talking about the privacy issues. So, the question is, do we really need wireless smart meters?
The mayor didn't want them. Siemens said that well, they're not really that "smart" but they are selling them to us. On Tuesday night, part of the Siemens plan is to sell us Smart Meters. What was the sales pitch for this when we just spent thousands replacing meters throughout the city.
Advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) is an integrated system of smart meters, communications networks, and data management systems that enables two-way communication between utilities and customers. Siemens says, the CITY shall continue to be responsible for reading meters until all commissioning and acceptance plan steps are completed for the AMI system.
As one person said and I thought it very enlightening--
“Smart” Meters do not allow for fair commerce or trust.
The “smart” meter internal program and calibration settings can be changed from remote at any time and in milliseconds. No one would ever know.
This is not fair commerce for either party. The power company could easily raise the calibration settings and no one would ever know since they are the only ones who can come and check the meter. Any inspection of the internal program would only be done by them too.
The incentive to do that is hundreds of thousands of dollars per month more for a very small change in the calibration settings of millions of meters.
Also, a “hacker” could easily change the calibration settings to make the meter read less kilowatt hours. The loss to the power company would be offset by other customers through rate increases since power generation needs would not go down.
Mechanical meters are fair to both parties because it can be seen through the glass that there are no tricks going on, and the spinning dial indicator can be used to quickly check the meter readings against a small load.
In a “hacking” or reprogrammed situation, the digital LCD display could be made to show anything the programmer wanted to show, so the normal homeowner couldn’t easily tell what the immediate power usage billed for really is. It may also fool power company employees.
“Smart” Meters are a dumb idea.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
It's about Smart Meters and Smart Grid Solutions
Comment Up
Hector Samario of Siemens was in the chamber last night. He stuck around to observe some of our meeting as he had been at City Hall on business. In actuality, he has been around our city for going on one year now, probably accessing our electric utility situation and our needs.
Rumor has it that Siemens is the cause for the firings at our Utility. Perhaps that is why Clay Lindstrom found another job. It might also explain why the job description salary for his replacement is only $120,000 a year and why we haven't found a replacement.
Siemens says, "As utilities deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) across their distribution grids, the amount of utility and customer-related data explodes – from monthly hand-held meter reads to interval consumption received on a 15-minute or less basis. The challenge for the electric utility is to convert this massive amount of data into actionable information for multiple purposes across the enterprise. Siemens provides comprehensive metering and energy information management services to the utility industry, including meter data management system (MDMS) software, integration services and consulting.
It's all about a Smart Grid. "The grid," is a network of transmission lines, substations, transformers and more that deliver electricity from the power plant to your home or business. It’s what you plug into when you flip on your light switch or power up your computer. As this commission is always talking about moving forward, in order to do that, it is said that we need a new kind of electric grid, that can handle the ever increasing use of digital and computerized equipment and the technology dependent on it...bring us into the 21st Century. Source: The Smart Grid
No one is talking at City Hall but one thing that is certain, all on the dais as well as the residents in our city are into the efficient transmission of electricity. I was under the impression that it was efficient now and that perhaps we should start looking into producing and investing in our own power. We did have a presentation by Siemens on February 10th and were told that the scope of work is between $20 and $25 million and that we should reap a savings of 10% a year. It was not mentioned how Siemens makes its money or what percentage of the savings it will put in its own pocket or anything on the structure of the deal or any guaranty.
There will be a workshop regarding Siemens on May 12 at City Hall at 6pm where perhaps we will learn about the savings, the financing, why we didn't go out on a bid and what has been called by one commissioner as "a win, win" deal. I don't think anything is that simple and when you're dealing with a desperate city...well, anything can happen.
Rumor has it that Siemens is the cause for the firings at our Utility. Perhaps that is why Clay Lindstrom found another job. It might also explain why the job description salary for his replacement is only $120,000 a year and why we haven't found a replacement.
Siemens says, "As utilities deploy advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) across their distribution grids, the amount of utility and customer-related data explodes – from monthly hand-held meter reads to interval consumption received on a 15-minute or less basis. The challenge for the electric utility is to convert this massive amount of data into actionable information for multiple purposes across the enterprise. Siemens provides comprehensive metering and energy information management services to the utility industry, including meter data management system (MDMS) software, integration services and consulting.
It's all about a Smart Grid. "The grid," is a network of transmission lines, substations, transformers and more that deliver electricity from the power plant to your home or business. It’s what you plug into when you flip on your light switch or power up your computer. As this commission is always talking about moving forward, in order to do that, it is said that we need a new kind of electric grid, that can handle the ever increasing use of digital and computerized equipment and the technology dependent on it...bring us into the 21st Century. Source: The Smart Grid
No one is talking at City Hall but one thing that is certain, all on the dais as well as the residents in our city are into the efficient transmission of electricity. I was under the impression that it was efficient now and that perhaps we should start looking into producing and investing in our own power. We did have a presentation by Siemens on February 10th and were told that the scope of work is between $20 and $25 million and that we should reap a savings of 10% a year. It was not mentioned how Siemens makes its money or what percentage of the savings it will put in its own pocket or anything on the structure of the deal or any guaranty.
There will be a workshop regarding Siemens on May 12 at City Hall at 6pm where perhaps we will learn about the savings, the financing, why we didn't go out on a bid and what has been called by one commissioner as "a win, win" deal. I don't think anything is that simple and when you're dealing with a desperate city...well, anything can happen.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Siemens Industry - Energy Audit for Lake Worth to grab $20 million of your money
Comment Up
Well, it's probably not a scam but it definitely is being sold by an expert salesman who makes big bucks to convince deep pocketed municipalities to partner up. The only thing that will be "energized" will be your "walking wallet," a phrase coined by Peter Timm.
A. Hector Samario, Siemens Industry, Inc., (a salesman) will be at a city of Lake Worth tonight to give a 26 page Power Point presentation in order to provide an update on Energy Performance Contracting Services. They will try and convince this commission to take on a partner to implement their ideas on how Lake Worth can be more energy efficient. This is about SMART GRIDS and SMART METERING.
"Mr. Samario is on the Board of Directors of the USGBC South Florida as Vice President. Hector Samario, LEED AP, a Senior Project Executive with Siemens Industries, Inc., works with municipalities, counties and school districts to develop energy and water conservation strategies aimed at reducing utility consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the overall cost of operations. Moreover, the strategies developed have the additional focus of creating and/or maintaining "green" jobs in the local economies." Their targeted and lucrative market has the deep pockets from taxpayers.
Back on April 1, 2014, every single commissioner voted to hire Siemens Industry to conduct an audit on energy efficiency--Peter Timm, the resident this commission loves to muzzle, spoke out saying we could not afford this $148,000 audit. Siemens only charged the County $89,000 for an audit. Suzanne Squire said that we paid $199,400 for Energize Lake Worth (a study by Lewis, Longman and Walker) for the same service (Read the PBPost article) and asked that city money not be wasted. Bornstein brought it to the table and now it appears that the audit might be complete. If the plan is accepted, we are obligated to enter into an energy performance contract and/or pay the $148,000 audit fee.
Siemens says that its guarantee ensures energy consumption savings throughout the contract period. If the agreed upon energy goals are not met, Siemens pays the shortfall. If your energy savings surpass the Guarantee goals, you receive 100 percent of the excess savings – an unbeatable formula they say. After the initial implementation is done, in a sense, free of charge, with the payment coming from the percentage of the energy savings collected by a financing company or the ESCO.
Now nothing is free. That's my take on it. This all would have to be paid by the taxpayers in some form and Siemens is there to "help" the city to that end when this crack jack administration (that already wasted $200,000 of your money on Energize Lake Worth) decides to implement their audit findings. That's the only way you might come out ahead. You can't save money until you implement their suggestions. And you can't save money until you go into debt. Until you do that, you owe them. And how much is this contract?
Scope of Work
$20M - $25M Project
Annual Guaranteed Savings $2M - $2.5M
So, this is about borrowing $20 to 25 million over approximately 20 years or putting it on your tax bill. They can help our new finance director craft financial options that meet the city's requirements and get as creative as the last idea (still on the table), the general obligation bond for infrastructure. Remember, that finance director disappeared in the middle of the night?
You've heard that old saying--If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Energy and Carbon Management says that the biggest barrier is the lack of appropriate, low-cost, long-term financing. The biggest problem here is that the city continues to have pipe dreams to spend millions that they do not have.
And we can't even fix a pothole.
Hacking Smart Meters of a Utility
Well, it's probably not a scam but it definitely is being sold by an expert salesman who makes big bucks to convince deep pocketed municipalities to partner up. The only thing that will be "energized" will be your "walking wallet," a phrase coined by Peter Timm.
A. Hector Samario, Siemens Industry, Inc., (a salesman) will be at a city of Lake Worth tonight to give a 26 page Power Point presentation in order to provide an update on Energy Performance Contracting Services. They will try and convince this commission to take on a partner to implement their ideas on how Lake Worth can be more energy efficient. This is about SMART GRIDS and SMART METERING.
"Mr. Samario is on the Board of Directors of the USGBC South Florida as Vice President. Hector Samario, LEED AP, a Senior Project Executive with Siemens Industries, Inc., works with municipalities, counties and school districts to develop energy and water conservation strategies aimed at reducing utility consumption, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and the overall cost of operations. Moreover, the strategies developed have the additional focus of creating and/or maintaining "green" jobs in the local economies." Their targeted and lucrative market has the deep pockets from taxpayers.
Back on April 1, 2014, every single commissioner voted to hire Siemens Industry to conduct an audit on energy efficiency--Peter Timm, the resident this commission loves to muzzle, spoke out saying we could not afford this $148,000 audit. Siemens only charged the County $89,000 for an audit. Suzanne Squire said that we paid $199,400 for Energize Lake Worth (a study by Lewis, Longman and Walker) for the same service (Read the PBPost article) and asked that city money not be wasted. Bornstein brought it to the table and now it appears that the audit might be complete. If the plan is accepted, we are obligated to enter into an energy performance contract and/or pay the $148,000 audit fee.
Siemens says that its guarantee ensures energy consumption savings throughout the contract period. If the agreed upon energy goals are not met, Siemens pays the shortfall. If your energy savings surpass the Guarantee goals, you receive 100 percent of the excess savings – an unbeatable formula they say. After the initial implementation is done, in a sense, free of charge, with the payment coming from the percentage of the energy savings collected by a financing company or the ESCO.
Now nothing is free. That's my take on it. This all would have to be paid by the taxpayers in some form and Siemens is there to "help" the city to that end when this crack jack administration (that already wasted $200,000 of your money on Energize Lake Worth) decides to implement their audit findings. That's the only way you might come out ahead. You can't save money until you implement their suggestions. And you can't save money until you go into debt. Until you do that, you owe them. And how much is this contract?
Scope of Work
$20M - $25M Project
Annual Guaranteed Savings $2M - $2.5M
So, this is about borrowing $20 to 25 million over approximately 20 years or putting it on your tax bill. They can help our new finance director craft financial options that meet the city's requirements and get as creative as the last idea (still on the table), the general obligation bond for infrastructure. Remember, that finance director disappeared in the middle of the night?
- Standard general obligation bonds
- Revenue bonds
- Tax-exempt municipal leases
- Capital leases
- Energy services off-balance sheet agreements
You've heard that old saying--If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Energy and Carbon Management says that the biggest barrier is the lack of appropriate, low-cost, long-term financing. The biggest problem here is that the city continues to have pipe dreams to spend millions that they do not have.
And we can't even fix a pothole.
Hacking Smart Meters of a Utility
Monday, May 26, 2014
Lake Worth's New Electric Meters
Comment Up
We just got ours installed on Friday.
It was announced at the time that Customers using outdated meters would be notified of the amount their bills would likely increase to after new meters were installed and old meters were tested to determine how much power they were not recording. Has anyone received this notification?
We were told that they are not Smart Meters but they're smarter than what we had. It's been reported that 70% of the total 18,200 residential meters are older than their useful life and consequently, according to the city, have been costing $600,000 in lost revenue per annum. The old meters will be replaced as needed. These new digital meters replace the old electro-mechanical meters at a cost to the city of $2.5 million. Meter readers will no longer have to get out of their trucks to "read" the meter.
As this five year replacement program was to begin in the early part of 2013, it would be interesting to see if the city is gaining on the revenue side in spite of the 4.5% electric reduction and how many years it will take to recapture the cost.
AND, We've come a long way, baby!
We just got ours installed on Friday.
It was announced at the time that Customers using outdated meters would be notified of the amount their bills would likely increase to after new meters were installed and old meters were tested to determine how much power they were not recording. Has anyone received this notification?
We were told that they are not Smart Meters but they're smarter than what we had. It's been reported that 70% of the total 18,200 residential meters are older than their useful life and consequently, according to the city, have been costing $600,000 in lost revenue per annum. The old meters will be replaced as needed. These new digital meters replace the old electro-mechanical meters at a cost to the city of $2.5 million. Meter readers will no longer have to get out of their trucks to "read" the meter.
As this five year replacement program was to begin in the early part of 2013, it would be interesting to see if the city is gaining on the revenue side in spite of the 4.5% electric reduction and how many years it will take to recapture the cost.
AND, We've come a long way, baby!
Friday, April 4, 2014
Utility companies, Smart Meters and Agenda 21
Comment Up
FPL submitted a plan to the Florida Public Service Commission. It was modified--Don't try and opt out-- people who don't allow smart meters on their property will be charged by FPL. They will charge you a $95 enrollment fee and you will also have to pay them a $13 monthly surcharge. See Channel 5 for report
FPL submitted a plan to the Florida Public Service Commission. It was modified--Don't try and opt out-- people who don't allow smart meters on their property will be charged by FPL. They will charge you a $95 enrollment fee and you will also have to pay them a $13 monthly surcharge. See Channel 5 for report
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
Big Brother in Washington?
Comment Up
New radio waves coming from your faucet? Lake Worth's Constitution Lady has brought this up on many occasions.
Click here and read how big Brother is closer than you think. The government will even know when you flush your toilet! George Orwell's 1984 is becoming a reality where society is tyrannized by The Party and its totalitarian ideology.
And we know that this government is over-stepping its bounds because of what happened yesterday--
Without going through Congress, Obama's Department of Homeland Security issued a new rule that will reduce the time illegal immigrants are separated from their American families while seeking legal status. According to The Los Angeles Times, the Obama administration eased the way for illegal immigrants who are immediate relatives of American citizens to apply for permanent residency, a change that could affect as many as 1 million of the estimated 11 million immigrants unlawfully here.
According a Gallup Poll, a full 62 per cent of the American people believe that stopping illegal immigration should be a top priority of the U.S. government. But hey, we don't matter.
Read more...
Click here and read how big Brother is closer than you think. The government will even know when you flush your toilet! George Orwell's 1984 is becoming a reality where society is tyrannized by The Party and its totalitarian ideology.
And we know that this government is over-stepping its bounds because of what happened yesterday--
Without going through Congress, Obama's Department of Homeland Security issued a new rule that will reduce the time illegal immigrants are separated from their American families while seeking legal status. According to The Los Angeles Times, the Obama administration eased the way for illegal immigrants who are immediate relatives of American citizens to apply for permanent residency, a change that could affect as many as 1 million of the estimated 11 million immigrants unlawfully here.
According a Gallup Poll, a full 62 per cent of the American people believe that stopping illegal immigration should be a top priority of the U.S. government. But hey, we don't matter.
Read more...
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
The Purcase of new Electric Meters
Last night the purchase of electric watt-hour meters from Wesco Distribution and IRBT was on the agenda. Did we really need to commit to this huge expenditure My source, an expert in the utility field, says "no."
The vote was 4 to 1 with Christopher McVoy dissenting. Even the Mayor lost her patience with his dissension and wanted to call the vote as she did not want the meeting to go past 10pm. But even he dissented for a different reason. I conferred with an expert in the industry and this is his take on the situation:
When this was brought before the Commission a few weeks ago, I recall Vice Mayor Maxwell asking that the old meters be tested after they are pulled (they can't be tested unless they are) and the results communicated to the customer so they have some idea of what their increased bill is likely to be before they get the new bill with the higher and presumably correct usage.
The vote was 4 to 1 with Christopher McVoy dissenting. Even the Mayor lost her patience with his dissension and wanted to call the vote as she did not want the meeting to go past 10pm. But even he dissented for a different reason. I conferred with an expert in the industry and this is his take on the situation:
You see, unlike gas and water meters, analog electric meters do not have a diaphragm that can weaken with age. The Asst. Utility Director's implication in the following paragraph is incorrect. Had he stated the facts, he would not have been able to sell his program.B. This item approves a not to exceed $500,000 purchase order for electric meters.This is the first part of a five year $2,500,0000 plan to replace meters that according to the asst. utility director, run anywhere from 40% - 85% inaccurately.
When this was brought before the Commission a few weeks ago, I recall Vice Mayor Maxwell asking that the old meters be tested after they are pulled (they can't be tested unless they are) and the results communicated to the customer so they have some idea of what their increased bill is likely to be before they get the new bill with the higher and presumably correct usage.
To this outsider, this is simply one way for Clay to get his smart meters in place without the citizens knowing about them. Only people who choose to keep themselves uninformed would permit this to happen. Clay is wasting the money and nobody wants to become educated enough to say anything (except you and Mary).Clay Lindstrom, Assistant Utility Director, said this purchase had nothing to do with Smart Metering.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Smart Metering in Lake Worth?
Comment Up
Smart Meter Burned to a Pulp
Smart Metering may not be so smart especially when we might spend up to $1 million dollars for something that is not exactly a necessity, at least for right now. Did we get out of our financial crunch and no one told us?
At the February 21st meeting, the Commission on a 4/1 vote with Triolo dissenting, approved the submission of an application for an Energy Grant in the amount of $500,000. Not one time during the meeting was it communicated to the public that this was a matching grant. It was said that we had $410,000 in our Machinery and Equipment Budget for year 2011/2012. The Utilities Director implied that this budget was to be used for communications. Mayor Triolo was against one aspect of its usage in pursuing this Grant, Smart Metering, as there have been reported fires and brain cancers due to these meters.
Many of these smart meters have been reviewed by expert scientists. Got to Bio Initiative. They include harmful effects such as damage to DNA in living cells that can lead to cancer, loss of fertility, brain damage due to the disruption of the blood-brain barrier and neuronal hyperactivity leading to autism in children.
From the back-up: It is anticipated that approximately twelve (12) awards each in the amount of $500,000 in federal funds, with a minimum cost share requirement of fifty percent (50%) for total allowable costs (i.e., the sum of the federal share and the recipient share of allowable costs equals the total allowable costs of the project), will be made nationwide under Phase I. Becky Mattey is not even sure if this Grant fits our needs. The Utility wants to go after the money just in case.
The irony of all of this is, the Vice Mayor keeps bitching and works himself into a frenzy about possible cost over-runs at our beach for turtle lights and such but he didn't blink an eye when it came to approving this Grant application for Smart Metering. This is a lot of money to spend (one million dollars of taxpayer's money whether one half is federal grant money and the other half taxpayer money right here in Lake Worth) in order for we the consumer to be able to "download our hourly consumption data in order to better manage electricity consumption." I guess the Vice Mayor thought that this possible expenditure of matching funds might be A-OK if the U.S. Department of Energy thinks it fits our needs. He did say, "If we don't get the money some other city will."
Just because someone gives you a gift doesn't mean that you have to accept it or...even want it. Usually there is some type of political string attached and you might end up with a "maze" made of pavers that takes away green space at Bryant Park. Take the beach redevelopment as a prime example. We had $3.5 million at one time in our beach fund. We could have fixed up our beach ourselves and told the County to go to blankety blank. Just because we have money in the budget allocated for something does not mean we absolutely must spend it.
Hey, just turn off the lights and raise that thermostat a degree or two. It will do wonders.
Smart Meter Burned to a PulpAt the February 21st meeting, the Commission on a 4/1 vote with Triolo dissenting, approved the submission of an application for an Energy Grant in the amount of $500,000. Not one time during the meeting was it communicated to the public that this was a matching grant. It was said that we had $410,000 in our Machinery and Equipment Budget for year 2011/2012. The Utilities Director implied that this budget was to be used for communications. Mayor Triolo was against one aspect of its usage in pursuing this Grant, Smart Metering, as there have been reported fires and brain cancers due to these meters.
Many of these smart meters have been reviewed by expert scientists. Got to Bio Initiative. They include harmful effects such as damage to DNA in living cells that can lead to cancer, loss of fertility, brain damage due to the disruption of the blood-brain barrier and neuronal hyperactivity leading to autism in children.
From the back-up: It is anticipated that approximately twelve (12) awards each in the amount of $500,000 in federal funds, with a minimum cost share requirement of fifty percent (50%) for total allowable costs (i.e., the sum of the federal share and the recipient share of allowable costs equals the total allowable costs of the project), will be made nationwide under Phase I. Becky Mattey is not even sure if this Grant fits our needs. The Utility wants to go after the money just in case.
The irony of all of this is, the Vice Mayor keeps bitching and works himself into a frenzy about possible cost over-runs at our beach for turtle lights and such but he didn't blink an eye when it came to approving this Grant application for Smart Metering. This is a lot of money to spend (one million dollars of taxpayer's money whether one half is federal grant money and the other half taxpayer money right here in Lake Worth) in order for we the consumer to be able to "download our hourly consumption data in order to better manage electricity consumption." I guess the Vice Mayor thought that this possible expenditure of matching funds might be A-OK if the U.S. Department of Energy thinks it fits our needs. He did say, "If we don't get the money some other city will."
Just because someone gives you a gift doesn't mean that you have to accept it or...even want it. Usually there is some type of political string attached and you might end up with a "maze" made of pavers that takes away green space at Bryant Park. Take the beach redevelopment as a prime example. We had $3.5 million at one time in our beach fund. We could have fixed up our beach ourselves and told the County to go to blankety blank. Just because we have money in the budget allocated for something does not mean we absolutely must spend it.
Hey, just turn off the lights and raise that thermostat a degree or two. It will do wonders.
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