Ever had Gas meter moved outside? archived

Why do you want to do this?

If it's about getting the meter read when you aren't home, I believe that PSE&G will put a remote meter on it ... FOR A PRICE. I recall receiving a mailed offer to that effect many years ago. Of course, I had just had a remote meter installed by NJAWC for the water meter at no cost to me, so by comparison, I found it a bit presumptuous for them to want to charge me to make it easier for them to read my meter. So, I never did it and occasionally the meter reader comes around at an odd time if he hasn't found anyone home at the "regular" time.

It seems like a no brainer to pay for the remote reading meter as opposed to taking a chance of a gas explosion.

How does adding the remote meter reduce the chance of a gas explosion? If I understand it, the remote meter is basically an extension of the inside meter if it works like the one NJAWC put in. And, even if you are talking about relocating the meter outside, is the meter more subject to risk than any other connection in the gas system in a house? If one were really concerned about gas explosions, wouldn't they be better advised to remove all gas appliances and associated gas lines from their home and eliminate the gas completely?

I think the remote is electronic. The PSE and G guy just reads it on a receiver. This is how Jersey American Water does it in our neighborhood.

I understand that there is some technology where a meter reader just drives by in a van and picks up the reading.

You can also read the meter yourself and phone it in.

(I find it absurd that PSE&G still has to employ meter readers. I mean, really. I understand it is an honest job for some people...but all the same, a job that should really be automated by now.)

(Reminds me of the Woody Allen joke:

I called my parents, my father was fired. He was technologically unemployed. My father had worked for the same firm for twelve years. They fired him. They replaced him with a tiny gadget, this big, that does everything my father does, only it does it much better. The depressiong thing is, my mother ran out and bought one.)

Rant alert...

My house has a remote (via telephone) reader installed for the water meter. Seems like a reasonable, and relatively low tech solution, that makes life easier for all, right?

Shortly after I moved in, 6 years ago, I requested a remote reader for the gas meter (at the time it was free). First they were backlogged, and couldn't get to it for months. Then they were out of meters for months. By the time they had meters they were charging. Ok -- but then -- they would only install during the day!

So I put it off. When PSEG replaced the gas lines and meter a year or so ago (they put in the high pressure lines) -- I asked for the remote reader to be installed. You'd think they could do that? But NO -- that's a different department -- and so I'm back on the wait list.

Even worse, my gas meter has not been once since the new meter was installed. I get left cards on my door -- but when I call the guy -- he returns my call -- says when hes back around he'll call for an appointment. But never once has he called back.

IDIOCY!

/p

How about putting the meter at a basement window, rather than outside?

nam10 - if "...PSE&G said they don't recommend it since it's a low pre.....", it sounds like they CAN do it...., they just prefer not to (in fact, we all know that there are external meters, so......). So...,I offer, you could 1) as a customer, insist on what you want (if you really do want it outside), or 2) reflect on why you're actually considering the meter location (per Rastro & sac) and just leave the whole thing alone. You can bet they'll get their reading one way or another anyway, so.......

Pete - it seems strange to me that you're on a waitlist for a remote-read meter. I just had ours replaced a month or two ago and PSE&G scheduled the install within a week or so of the time I called.

Is the fee stupid? Absolutely. But for me, it's so worth not having to deal with estimates. And no matter how many times I put the date on my calendar - in big red letters - it seems I'm never around on the date they decree that you can call in the reading...

"You can also read the meter yourself and phone it in."

And you can go to the website and enter your meter readings.

Pretty easy.

Later,
George

What's so bad about estimates? Is it that your bill amount varies widely? PSE&G offers a "bill even-ing" service so that you get 12 bills a year of the same amount. Then they send you a 13th bill for the difference, if any, or a refund.

My gas meter is outside. Always has been. I've never even thought about it. Is that a problem or disadvantage for some reason?

Mergele, you can phone in a meter reading to PSE&G at any time, there is no decreed date for you to call it in.

Even if they send you an estimated bill, if you call the current reading in the next day, they'll actually send you an updated bill.

Since its been so long since a legit meter reader came to my house, PSEG won't accept a called in reading.

They won't come to the house, either, to read the meter.

And they can't seem to install a remote meter.

of course, they expect the bill to be paid...

/p

That's crazy, peteglider! Maybe you should, well, gee, I don't know what you can do that you haven't done. Don't pay the bill?

peteglider:

They must be doing estimates, which I try to avoid. The last time they did an estimate here they overestimated significantly. Luckily, it was during September, and the usage was low. You should do a reading and compare it with their estimate.

Peteglider: I had a huge run-in with PSEG over my electric meter a few years ago. I lived in a condo and they were reading the wrong meter. It went on for months, with them claiming the meter was right and me saying it was wrong. The only thing that solved it was writing a nasty letter to the chairman and president. But it worked - I got a call a few days later and everything was straightened out.

Ralph Izzo
Chairman, President and CEO
PSEG
80 Park Plaza
Newark NJ, 07102

I'd also CC the Board of Public Utilities and the Department of Consumer Affairs. THAT usually gets some action fast.

Jeanne M. Fox, President
New Jersey Board of Public Utilities
Two Gateway Center (8th Floor)
Newark, NJ 07102

Lawrence DeMarzo, Acting Director
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
124 Halsey Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102

Come to think of it, njguy99 is right. There are people who can help. I once had a complaint about PSE&G, and the above board of public utilities was extremely helpful. They really slapped PSE&G around on my behalf.

Posted By: rastroWhy do you want to do this?

We are looking to move it out of the way.

Nam 10,

Freeze and burst? Sounds ridiculous to me. This is, after all, a gas, not in liquid form. Other communities have the meter and pipes on the outside. I think you are getting a tap dance here.

we had the remote put on - didn't have a problem having it done (this was a couple years ago). PSE&G said they'd charge us, but they must have messed up on billing, because I never saw a charge on our bill.

nam10 - since you want it out of the way, then have it moved outside. They can (obviously) do it. You're a customer; insist on what you want.