garygid
Well-known member
Here, any upgrades to capacity require trenching, since the 32-year old buried wires must be replaced with new wires in buried (plastic, 24" deep) conduit. Apparently a PU requirement, so I was lead to believe.
Was the previous meter an analog one or the Smart Meter?Rat said:I got my TOU meter installed today. This is clearly as a result of calling the EV hotline again last Thursday. Do not rely solely on sending in the form/application for the E9 rate. They didn't say the rate change would also take place today, but I assume it will. It took the installer about 1 minute to swap the old meter out for the new one. He seemed to have no idea about rates or even how the meter worked; he was just filling an order. He said "we don't get many of these." After I asked him if one meter could monitor all the different TOU periods independently he looked at it and said it had 4 different displays, so he figured it could monitor up to 4 different periods.
If it's like mine, it monitors three different periods plus total usage. Is it a GE kV2?Rat said:After I asked him if one meter could monitor all the different TOU periods independently he looked at it and said it had 4 different displays, so he figured it could monitor up to 4 different periods.
Rat said:I got my TOU meter installed today...
... so he figured it could monitor up to 4 different periods.
Yikes, the meters computer the TOU period energy totals? I had assumed that they just collect hourly data (like the smartmeters), then PG&E's back office calculates the totals. No wonder they don't do daylight savings time. Sounds like PG&E still has some work to do.planet4ever said:If it's like mine, it monitors three different periods plus total usage. Is it a GE kV2?
DeaneG said:Yikes, the meters computer the TOU period energy totals? I had assumed that they just collect hourly data (like the smartmeters), then PG&E's back office calculates the totals. No wonder they don't do daylight savings time. Sounds like PG&E still has some work to do.planet4ever said:If it's like mine, it monitors three different periods plus total usage. Is it a GE kV2?
Well, if it is a GE kV2 like mine, the only "collecting" being done is when the meter reader comes around once a month, just like they used to.DeaneG said:Yikes, the meters computer the TOU period energy totals? I had assumed that they just collect hourly data (like the smartmeters), then PG&E's back office calculates the totals. No wonder they don't do daylight savings time. Sounds like PG&E still has some work to do.planet4ever said:If it's like mine, it monitors three different periods plus total usage. Is it a GE kV2?
They didn't say anything about a charge. I guess I'll find out when I get my next bill. No permit. There was no construction. It was like unscrewing a lightbulb and screwing in a different one. They called me a couple of days after the install and told me the new rate would start that day. Another Leafer I know told me he got his meter installed over a month ago and they have only billed him for gas, no electric since then. I assume they recorded his meter reading somewhere and will eventually get the full amount billed, but hey, if I get free electricity for life out of this I'll be happy.leaf561 said:Good to know it is a simple swap. Did PG&E charge you anything? And did you take any city permit? (Sorry if it is a repeat question).Rat said:I got my TOU meter installed today...
... so he figured it could monitor up to 4 different periods.
planet4ever said:My meter was installed before the starting and ending dates were changed (for the US) in 2007. Perhaps leaf561's meter was, too. My meter does automatically jump an hour back and forth, but it does it on the wrong dates. Because of this, PG&E uses "meter DST" instead of real DST for the time periods used to calculate billing rates. It's bad enough to tell your wife to start the dryer after 9PM in the summer and finish the load before 5PM in the winter, but when 5PM becomes 4PM or 6PM for a couple of weeks in the spring or fall ...
You will pay a small amount each month on your regular PG&E bill - in my case about $13. This covers fixed charges, like the meter charge and some levies. All of the charges based on usage (+ and -) will be accumulated for a year, then you will get a "true-up" charge added to your bill if the net is positive. I'm not sure what happens if the net is negative since we only generate about 2/3 of what we use. You will get a separate statement each month showing a usage breakdown by time period and the state of your true-up account.Rat said:They didn't say anything about a charge. I guess I'll find out when I get my next bill. No permit. There was no construction. It was like unscrewing a lightbulb and screwing in a different one. They called me a couple of days after the install and told me the new rate would start that day. Another Leafer I know told me he got his meter installed over a month ago and they have only billed him for gas, no electric since then. I assume they recorded his meter reading somewhere and will eventually get the full amount billed, but hey, if I get free electricity for life out of this I'll be happy.
No, I don't have solar, nor does the other Leafer who hasn't been charged for electricity. There is no reason to accumulate and true up later. I will owe every month just like I do now. I will be really unhappy if they don't send me bills showing usage reasonably promptly (unless they give it all to me free, which is a pipe dream). I want to get an accurate view of my usage and cost as I start using the Leaf, so I can adjust driving style and charging times and household uses as necessary. The guy on the phone said it is not possible to see usage online, either.planet4ever said:You will pay a small amount each month on your regular PG&E bill - in my case about $13. This covers fixed charges, like the meter charge and some levies. All of the charges based on usage (+ and -) will be accumulated for a year, then you will get a "true-up" charge added to your bill if the net is positive. I'm not sure what happens if the net is negative since we only generate about 2/3 of what we use. You will get a separate statement each month showing a usage breakdown by time period and the state of your true-up account.Rat said:... if I get free electricity for life out of this I'll be happy.
Oops, my bad. But from your description it does sound like they installed the same sort of meter we solar folks have. I asked earlier if it is a GE kV2. Is it?Rat said:No, I don't have solar, nor does the other Leafer who hasn't been charged for electricity. There is no reason to accumulate and true up later. I will owe every month just like I do now.
It's a kV2cs. Mine looks like the one in this picture, without that black curly cord and without the label that says it runs both directions. The label in the picture obscures the "KVcs" on the face underneath. Like the one shown, mine has the letter T blacked out in the upper right "radio button" set, but mine also has marked in pencil in the upper left "E9".planet4ever said:I asked earlier if it is a GE kV2. Is it?
On November 2, 2010, PG&E submitted an advice filing to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requesting that our current electric vehicle rate (E-9 rate schedule) be made voluntary rather than mandatory starting December 2, 2010. This proposed change is subject to approval by the CPUC and we do not know if, or when, the request will be approved. We recommend that you consider this information, and any potential rate options that may be available, when choosing a PG&E electric rate that meets your charging needs. Please check our website after December 2, for updates on the status of this proposal. Feel free to contact us directly in the meantime with your questions at 1-877-743-7782.
Rat said:but hey, if I get free electricity for life out of this I'll be happy.
thimel said:Just ran into this tidbit about the E9 rate structure on the PG&E website at http://www.pge.com/myhome/environment/pge/cleanair/electricdrivevehicles/pluginready/index.shtml
On November 2, 2010, PG&E submitted an advice filing to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requesting that our current electric vehicle rate (E-9 rate schedule) be made voluntary rather than mandatory starting December 2, 2010. This proposed change is subject to approval by the CPUC and we do not know if, or when, the request will be approved. We recommend that you consider this information, and any potential rate options that may be available, when choosing a PG&E electric rate that meets your charging needs. Please check our website after December 2, for updates on the status of this proposal. Feel free to contact us directly in the meantime with your questions at 1-877-743-7782.
Ready2plugin, I am curious to know if you have done the math to see what rate would work best for you assuming that all options are available for you. That is whole house E1, E6, E9A in addition to E1 and E6 with a second meter for E9B.Ready2plugin said:Now I'm thinking that with my solar I should go from E1 to E6 and just forget about the added expense of setting up my house with a second panel for the E9b or E9a. Anyone look at this already?
Spies said:Ready2plugin, I am curious to know if you have done the math to see what rate would work best for you assuming that all options are available for you. That is whole house E1, E6, E9A in addition to E1 and E6 with a second meter for E9B.Ready2plugin said:Now I'm thinking that with my solar I should go from E1 to E6 and just forget about the added expense of setting up my house with a second panel for the E9b or E9a. Anyone look at this already?
I am looking at adding solar electric right now and at least for me whole house E9A still looks like the way to go. I'm guessing whole house air conditioning would be a big factor here which I don't have.
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