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A story about a lady who thought she was overcharged on her utility bill with Sheffield Utilities. She called about the high rate and the utility dept. told her they could come and check her meter, but it would cost her $25.00 to do so. She has filed a complaint with the attorney general's office. If you think you had a high bill last month, just wait til this month's comes in after these frigid temps. we are having.
Anybody remember the meter reader Sheffield Utility Dept. hired a couple of years ago that never read the meters? He would clock in and go home and lay on the couch or just ride around in his truck never reading anybody's meter. Just plugging in some numbers.
"All I know about this is what I read in the newspapers," Will Rogers
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I think I have found the solution to my high rates!!!

The rates were being discussed at work the other day and a lady spoke up and said that she CALLS the readings from her meter in to the electricity dept every month! She said she bought the house from a lady that worked at the gas dept about a year ago, and she told my co-worker at that time that since she had a big dog inside the fence where the meter was, she could call them in. My co-worker has done that ever since with no problems or questions.

BTW- She was the only one standing there that was able to say that her utility bill did not go up this past month!

I think I may be putting up a fence this weekend.......
I like channel 48 because they do investigative news reports verses Channel 19 and Channel 31 will not investigate reports like this. Channel 19 is more church news oriented and Channel 31 is so unprofessional.

High power rates.
The utilities use to be regulated under the public service commission. You might want to check to see if the public service commission still has any power over the power companies, water, utilities, phone, etc.. Back when President Reagan was elected, he undid a lot of these regulations that once was on the utility companies, allowing the utility companies to set their rates as needed without getting approval from the public service commission.
quote:
Originally posted by UNA LIONS FAN:
I think I have found the solution to my high rates!!!

The rates were being discussed at work the other day and a lady spoke up and said that she CALLS the readings from her meter in to the electricity dept every month! She said she bought the house from a lady that worked at the gas dept about a year ago, and she told my co-worker at that time that since she had a big dog inside the fence where the meter was, she could call them in. My co-worker has done that ever since with no problems or questions.

BTW- She was the only one standing there that was able to say that her utility bill did not go up this past month!

I think I may be putting up a fence this weekend.......


Interesting you should mention that, because I've been wondering; when we moved in to this house Nov. 1st I was concerned because we have a fenced in yard and a big dog! He is a sweetie, but cannot be let out of the gate w/o a leash, it's illegal, plus, he'll run off! He always will try to escape if the gate is opened. Our meter is back there, so I've wondered, how are they reading it? My parent's meter reader will not read their meter if their dog is out, and they will receive an estimated bill. Is there some other way they read the meter? Is there another meter? I hope no one is going back there and risking our dog running off.
quote:
Originally posted by SaltyDog:
Whoever she is, I commend her. It's high time somebody did something with that department. That is a big racket over there and I still think they have some way of distorting the readings or something.


The original owner worked for the Gas dept, not the FED.
She may have had FRIENDS within though and they don't realize that the home now has a new owner.

Has anybody else heard of people being able to call their readings in?
I have 3200 square feet and I keep my thermostat at 62 degrees and burn wood in a very efficient plate steel heater in my basement near a wide stairway that leads to the kitchen and den. My entire utility bill ranges between about $170.00 and $210.00--water, sewer, electricity and garbage pickup. I do not take 20-minute hot showers. I have a little control valve for my shower head that lets me regulate flow without adjusting the knobs and I use only a gentle stream of water and turn it off while lathering up. I do not leave all my lights on as some folks do. I burn well-seasoned hardwood that I pay about $100.00 a FULL CORD for (no fakey "face cord" stuff; I get 128 cubic feet per cord). About 4 1/2 cords will take me through the winter (mid-November until about mid-March). Thus, I save myself a lot of bucks by being reasonably conservative with energy. That keeps me from getting cranky about my utility bill and berating city employees about perceived injustices.
quote:
It's high time somebody did something with that department. That is a big racket over there and I still think they have some way of distorting the readings or something.


I hope the next time there is an outage the utility department cuts yours on last. Call me cruel- OH WELL. Better yet- maybe you should stop being their customer if they are sooooo terrible. That will teach those terrible people. So catch rain water and build yourself a fire. This is for anyone else who wants to complain about them also.

Besides that-
Don't we have something better to worry about besides reforming the Utility Dept? If you don't work there, then don't worry about them. They are the ones who have dangerous jobs all to provide service to us. I have seen them out working on Christmas Day.

Dang- I am going to get off my soap box.
Motherofmayhem-calm down! Geez, just because people want to complain it doesn't mean they can just "stop being their customer" (as you said).

ANYWAY-a friend told me that he writes down the reading every morning and puts it on his calender. That way he can dispute the bill if it's wrong. I think it's a great idea and plan on doing this myself. Just thought I'd throw another idea out there.
The higher bill should be no surprise. TVA applied a rate increase which would be passed on to the consumer by the utility. And the fuel charge has been in place for some time. It is also administered by TVA and passed on to the consumer. The local utility can't absorb these costs. The fuel charge is set by the differential in fuel costs for TVA during the month since costs are fluctuating wildly. Don't forget TVA has to use natural gas to supplement their other fuels and sources when their loads get heavy. A lot of businesses do the same thing now that fuel is going crazy.

I think you can call your meter reading in but they will have to check it every once in a while to make sure it was being read correctly.
My bill is about the same this month, so I'm pleased. It was a little higher because we used our heater and had gas usage added on. I know we need to be more conservative because we tend to leave lights on.
I think it's a good idea to check your meter every few days and keep track of it if you feel it may be being read wrong or estimated.
quote:
Originally posted by beternU:
I have 3200 square feet and I keep my thermostat at 62 degrees and burn wood in a very efficient plate steel heater in my basement near a wide stairway that leads to the kitchen and den. My entire utility bill ranges between about $170.00 and $210.00--water, sewer, electricity and garbage pickup. I do not take 20-minute hot showers. I have a little control valve for my shower head that lets me regulate flow without adjusting the knobs and I use only a gentle stream of water and turn it off while lathering up. I do not leave all my lights on as some folks do. I burn well-seasoned hardwood that I pay about $100.00 a FULL CORD for (no fakey "face cord" stuff; I get 128 cubic feet per cord). About 4 1/2 cords will take me through the winter (mid-November until about mid-March). Thus, I save myself a lot of bucks by being reasonably conservative with energy. That keeps me from getting cranky about my utility bill and berating city employees about perceived injustices.


while i have a slightly smaller house (about 2100sqft) i do all the same things. i have a HUGE fireplace in the den. i never thought i would say this "beternU, i agree with you!" if more people would do this it will create less demand thus reducing prices!!! i keep my thermostat on 55 degrees. (just in case the fire goes out in the middle of the night) my power bill this month was $192. we even roast marshmallows in the fireplace, popcorn over the coals, and occasionally make a pot of stew over the fire!!!
quote:
Originally posted by motherofmayhem:
quote:
It's high time somebody did something with that department. That is a big racket over there and I still think they have some way of distorting the readings or something.


I hope the next time there is an outage the utility department cuts yours on last. Call me cruel- OH WELL. Better yet- maybe you should stop being their customer if they are sooooo terrible. That will teach those terrible people. So catch rain water and build yourself a fire. This is for anyone else who wants to complain about them also.

Besides that-
Don't we have something better to worry about besides reforming the Utility Dept? If you don't work there, then don't worry about them. They are the ones who have dangerous jobs all to provide service to us. I have seen them out working on Christmas Day.

Dang- I am going to get off my soap box.



I understand why you think I was being unreasonable, but let me explain. After a couple of suddenly high power bills when nothing about my familiy's living habits had changed nor was there a drastic change in outdoor temperature, I questioned whether my meter was working properly and they sent it of to be calibrated and I was charged a fee as well. The report cam back that the meter was indeed working properly, so I didn't complain about the fee. Then, one day I just happened to be at home when the meter reader pulled up in my driveway, never got out of the truck, and left. He didn't know I was at home. Being suspicious of his actions, I called the utility department that afternoon to ask them when my meter was going to be read and she told me it had been read that morning. I know for a fact he just made something up. It was raining like crazy and he didn't want to get out of the truck! A few months later a friend of mine who happens to be a relative of a fired (not the same guy I am talking about, by the way) meter reader told me they had actually witnessed him making up numbers to turn in for the meters he hadn't felt like reading that day. I understand the rate increase, but this was before all that. That makes three confirmed cases of the meter readers making up readings instead of actually reading meters, if you count the one jmbo talked about. The one he talked about may be my friends relative, I don't know. But hopefully you can see why I don't have faith that they are on the up and up.
Last edited by SaltyDog
quote:
Originally posted by unclegus:
Florence is going to an automated system where the meters are read by using a radio frequency synchronized with a receiver the reader has. The meter reader will never have to get out of the truck.
..........I wonder if the cost of the new equipment will be passed on to the homeowner?
quote:
Originally posted by unclegus:
Florence is going to an automated system where the meters are read by using a radio frequency synchronized with a receiver the reader has. The meter reader will never have to get out of the truck.


I will be SO happy when this happens!
I have a fence, but my 'big dog" (which happens to be a couple Jack Russell Terriers) are in the house.
But a couple months ago, I received an outrageous bill, so I called the utility dept and had them look at my account, and the lady plainly told me on the phone they were "estimating" my bill because the reader didn't want to come into my fenced yard or deal with my "big" dog.
Naturally, I raised 400 "you know what" and they finally came out & read my meter.
Turns out, my bill was only $88.00 that month because I had been so over charged in the past.
And since then, you can bet that they read my meter EVERY month!
quote:
Originally posted by beternU:
I do not take 20-minute hot showers. I have a little control valve for my shower head that lets me regulate flow without adjusting the knobs and I use only a gentle stream of water and turn it off while lathering up.... Thus, I save myself a lot of bucks by being reasonably conservative with energy. That keeps me from getting cranky about my utility bill and berating city employees about perceived injustices.


Taking long, hot showers does the same for me. Wink
quote:
Originally posted by DEENALYNNE:
Our actual electricity portion more than doubled this last month. The "fuel" charge (???) was $66! Who even knows what this charge is? Our normal $200 bll was almost $400 after everything was added!


If you will read the inserts they send with the bill, it was explained there. I'd rather have a "fuel charge" than a permanent rate increase.
quote:
Originally posted by motherofmayhem:
quote:
It's high time somebody did something with that department. That is a big racket over there and I still think they have some way of distorting the readings or something.


I hope the next time there is an outage the utility department cuts yours on last. Call me cruel- OH WELL. Better yet- maybe you should stop being their customer if they are sooooo terrible. That will teach those terrible people. So catch rain water and build yourself a fire. This is for anyone else who wants to complain about them also.

Besides that-
Don't we have something better to worry about besides reforming the Utility Dept? If you don't work there, then don't worry about them. They are the ones who have dangerous jobs all to provide service to us. I have seen them out working on Christmas Day.

Dang- I am going to get off my soap box.



GOT POWER?

THANK A LINEMAN!!

I agree 100%, Mother
If you live in the city of Florence you actually have a representative to call with your complaints and concerns. This is also the fact if you live "across the bridge".

However, unknown to many, if you live in the "outskirts" of the city of Florence, you still fall under the inspection district. But, being that Lauderdale County has no Utilities Board, you actually have no say, no one to complain to, and you still pay the same fees as if you lived in the city.

So, To all the people that live in the county as I do- Who do we call? An answering machine?
If you do, I can promise you that your voice will not be heard. We DO NOT have anyone backing us!! Check into it.
quote:
Originally posted by unclegus:
Florence is going to an automated system where the meters are read by using a radio frequency synchronized with a receiver the reader has. The meter reader will never have to get out of the truck.


Do why not do away with meter readers all together? Just "scan" the area and get the readings. Kinda like COMCAST.
Meter readers aren't geniuses. You should read Shoalanda's blogs on Keith McGuire working at the Lexington Water Department or go his own personal topic on here that talks about it.

I understand Lexington also had one where he would sit in the truck and send his 10 year-old son to read the water meter. Always check and double check.
quote:
Originally posted by UNA LIONS FAN:
quote:
Originally posted by motherofmayhem:
quote:
It's high time somebody did something with that department. That is a big racket over there and I still think they have some way of distorting the readings or something.


I hope the next time there is an outage the utility department cuts yours on last. Call me cruel- OH WELL. Better yet- maybe you should stop being their customer if they are sooooo terrible. That will teach those terrible people. So catch rain water and build yourself a fire. This is for anyone else who wants to complain about them also.

Besides that-
Don't we have something better to worry about besides reforming the Utility Dept? If you don't work there, then don't worry about them. They are the ones who have dangerous jobs all to provide service to us. I have seen them out working on Christmas Day.

Dang- I am going to get off my soap box.



GOT POWER?

THANK A LINEMAN!!

I agree 100%, Mother


I guess neither of you got a chance to read my explanation. I'm quite sure if you'd been in my shoes you'd be a mite bit suspicious, too.
Our pole is inside a fence and we do have a big dog but she is in the house. The meter reader comes inside our fence to read our meter. Before my mom moved in with me she lived next door and her yard was fenced in but her pole was OUTSIDE of the fence. Our dog happen to be outside in the fence one day when the meter reader came to read the meter. Our dog loved to run the inside of the fence when cars went by (now you have to know where we live there is only my house, was my mom's and one more on this dirt road) on the outside of the fence. This meter reader pulled into the driveway, pulled up to the mom's pole read her meter, pulled down the driveway to my pole read it and backed out and when our dog started running and barking INSIDE the fence he stopped his truck got out and maced our baby. My mother saw this and heard our dog screech out and come running to the porch. We called the electricity dept. and the supervisor came out and looked to see where my mom's pole was located and listened to my mom's report and we've never seen that meter reader again. This new man gets out and walks inside the fence and always closes the gate. We've never had a problem. By the way, also my bill was actually a little lower this month...we heat with propane gas logs and another gas heater in back part of house but on cold nights like tonight and tomorrow night turn on central unit which is also propane which I prepay in the summer.
quote:
Originally posted by TheFox:
I understand Lexington also had one where he would sit in the truck and send his 10 year-old son to read the water meter.


Can you tell me more about that? How reliable is that information? I have family out that way who have had problems with their readings. What you said may explain it.
quote:
Originally posted by Mrs. Carl Brutananadilewski:
quote:
Originally posted by UNA LIONS FAN:
I think I have found the solution to my high rates!!!

The rates were being discussed at work the other day and a lady spoke up and said that she CALLS the readings from her meter in to the electricity dept every month! She said she bought the house from a lady that worked at the gas dept about a year ago, and she told my co-worker at that time that since she had a big dog inside the fence where the meter was, she could call them in. My co-worker has done that ever since with no problems or questions.

BTW- She was the only one standing there that was able to say that her utility bill did not go up this past month!

I think I may be putting up a fence this weekend.......


Interesting you should mention that, because I've been wondering; when we moved in to this house Nov. 1st I was concerned because we have a fenced in yard and a big dog! He is a sweetie, but cannot be let out of the gate w/o a leash, it's illegal, plus, he'll run off! He always will try to escape if the gate is opened. Our meter is back there, so I've wondered, how are they reading it? My parent's meter reader will not read their meter if their dog is out, and they will receive an estimated bill. Is there some other way they read the meter? Is there another meter? I hope no one is going back there and risking our dog running off.


If you live in Florence...and you have a dog or a locked gate where the meter reader cannot get in read the meter, you can request an "Extended Dial Meter". That extends and turns the meter to an angle so the reader can read it over the fence. Of course, that would only work if the meter is at the corner of the house. Generally, if they cannot read the meter, the first month they will estimate the reading...if the customer continues to not make the meter accessible, each month the estimate will be highter, until the customer calls to complain and work something out. The readers have thousands of meters to read within the month, and they can't take lots of time at each house trying to read something that is not accessible.

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