Lakewood homeowner's Xcel bill increases 1,500% after smart meters installed

More Xcel customers are reaching out to Contact Denver7 concerned about skyrocketing bills after their smart meters were installed.

[@cire06.]

everyone need to sue xcell thats the only way they will listen

[@yannip2083]

Class action. Let's go!

[@lextacy2008]

He can actually file a criminal charge with the States attorney since the Company is ignoring his complaint.

[@yannip2083]

Can I go back to my old meter? This smart meter is a complete scam!

[@kenneth9874]

Doesn't matter the supplier of electric, the problem is the supposedly "smart" meters, my bill tripled but fortunately I have a long residence and had a long history of usage that enabled me to fight the numbers, it took quite a few phone calls and explaining some basic math to get the bill in line with the previous usage, of course I didn't get reimbursed for the overcharge though

[@lunatik9696]

#1 rule of a scammer - never give the money back. I wonder where this "windfall" tax lands?

[@gerggerggy7757]

I have my usage history as well prior to my spike. How did you get them to listen to you?

[@kenneth9874]

@@gerggerggy7757 repeated calls and getting them to examine my usage history

[@XVa-uj8m]

Sue them for the money back. They stole it from you.

[@tsteel80]

I just got notified by Xcel today that they are installing smart meters in my apartment next month. Don't know what I can do.

[@ralphmalph6824]

Colorado Springs has a fake opt out. They offered it only after shutting my water off. Their "opt out" meters are called non-transmitting. That's obviously because these meters still receive communications aka commands remotely, which allow for remote shut off, directed power surges, outages, rationing, etc.

[@Isaacrl67]

Our bill has gone up nearly double since the smart meter, and they installed it just after we stopped using our AC for the year.. I am terrified what the costs next summer will be.

[@yannip2083]

Same with mine. Went up 100% soon after the smart meter was installed. What can I do about it? I am nervous of the next bill.

[@psychologicalsigma9917]

These smart meters are nit safe either. They start fires.

[@SeanPGribbons]

My excel bill for a 4 bed 3 bath house 1800 sqft in Lakewood is $350 a month. I have a strong feeling excel is blatantly screwing people.

[@yannip2083]

The same with mine. Can we all bring a Class Action against Xcel?

[@SeanPGribbons]

@@yannip2083 would love to see it

[@Godknowsvita]

I use portable solar lights inside at night, leave my ac off as much as possible, start washing and hanging clothes outside, basically barely using energy, and yet, they still send me over $100 bill. I was receiving $80 bill, so they sent me a letter saying they're changing the way they calculate the bill, to whenever time of day I use the most, that will be my peak use, and that's how they now determine my usage. Incredible. I have Coast Electric, MS.

[@HappyHarryHardon]

SOLAR WORKS. Use it. Get off grid.

[@astudentpilotlife]

My neighbor house bill is $800 alone just for electricity. Good thing i have solar panel and not close to that bill

[@ChakatNightspark]

@@HappyHarryHardon Problem with that. To many Counties/cities/towns Regulate it heavily. Where if you go Off Grid, They will Condemn the Home until it is Rehooked up to the Power Grid. Might even get Fined Steeply for going off grid.

[@GeorgeVCohea-dw7ou]

@@ChakatNightspark This is easy, just don't go completely off-grid. Have the power go to a single specific device though. There are sensors which utilise less than 1 watt of power these days.

[@David-xg8lg]

EXCEL is the worst. Once, years ago, the house i was living in our average electric bill was $90 a month, all of a sudden got a bill (for one month) of $700. I fought with EXCEL for 2 years on that bill, energy audits, meter testing, and every time they said "you must have used the electricity, pay the bill" in the end I had to pay the bill cause what choose did I have, but it was wrong!

[@EaRebel]

My bill has been $50 to $90 a month. I actually used less electric recently cause I haven’t used the ac and my space heater broke. I also stopped using the second lamp in my bedroom, and took three different lightbulbs out of places to save electric. I just got my new bill for my 1 bedroom apt and it’s $600. I guess I added a wing onto my place and a whole family. These ppl do whatever they want and you can’t do ish about it. I’m livid. If that’s the price now then what happens when I get a new space heater or the ac in the summer. I cannot afford this.

[@obiwan2112]

Looks like that meter was smart for Xcel

[@vanpearsall]

The only thing smart about the meter It makes money for the company

[@gerggerggy7757]

I live in NYand this happened to me. My old rotary meter was replaced with a smart meter. My usage went from 300-450 kwh per month to 900-1000 per month. Of course I got the run around from the company and that it couldn’t possibly be their fault. Our lifestyle did not change at all and our usage at the house from 2020-2022 was always the same. No new appliances, nothing. Then as soon as the smart meter was installed my usage went up double and sometimes triple. Company says my old meter was slow or something is drawing. I dont doubt my meter could be slow, but not that much. What do you do though? You can argue all you want and they couldn’t care less. They refuse to consider something in the meter is the problem.

[@keithterry2169]

I used to work as a meter technician. A retired guy whom I visited told me that a meter he had went faster as it got older. The electric company didn't believe him so he got a friend (ex RAF electician) who put test gear on his system. The meter WAS going faster which resulted in him getting compensation from hie electricity supplier.

[@ritalaird6819]

this is also happening to me. I'm praying $100 this month and I didn't even use the ac but one single time, no lights on during peak, ever day costs me about $3 don't the most bare minimum of use.

[@mary-ellensheehy5564]

The same thing happened in Maine with Central Maine Power. Lawsuits are still going on .

[@yannip2083]

Is that a class action?

[@mary-ellensheehy5564]

@@yannip2083 I believe so.

[@fauxque5057]

My bill went from between $8-$15 a month to $25. a month. I believe it's time to add some more panels and then cancel my electric service

[@WXSEDY]

I DON'T have a "smart meter" (yet) and I'm paying less than $50 a month for a 2-bed condo which is exposed to outside weather on 3 walls! How the hell can a simple unheated garage use more? XCel is full of crap! They might not know what they're doing too! I fear I might also be in for a world of financial hurt when XCel finally gets to me. (It already happened when they changed out an old meter in my previous home.)

[@curtchase3730]

That guy and others with questionable electric bills should install a 3rd party power consumption monitor system. U can then watch real time usage and it keeps a record of your total Kwh too! They start around $100.00 for an Eyedro unit. I have two units here and compare to my real power bills!

[@kw8295]

"We investigated ourselves and found no wrong doing."

[@ClintEstadt-es9so]

Bullshit

[@PureBlood777]

A guy was just at my door wanting to install the smart meter I opt out he said it’ll cost me an extra $12 a month for opting out

[@buk6708]

lol, $12 is worth it just to spite that cock sucker

[@chippants]

Did you end up opting out? Our opt-out program in washington state just means they install a non-communicating meter. Whether we opt in or out, they will be removing our meter and replacing with some new digital crap.

[@michaelwerbick]

Yeah... well in New England, National Grid just did a 65% increase Nov1st. and Eversource is going 65% Jan 1...... we had a 35% in March this year too with Eversource.

[@craiggerber3740]

dte / would like mine ckecked to.. distribution charge was 60$. so 120$ bill normal +60$ for their pocketequals 180$.?

[@lolitabonita08]

yes, that is something I noticed....living with tight income, one learn how to control the usage of AC or the heater....but the bill still coming high...even when u have days u do not use the ac or the heater...

[@irishamerican4558]

I've been hearing the words Safe & smart a lot lately, but I have my doubts.

[@Eric_Tennant]

Meter your own power to check them.

[@PraxZimmerman]

You guys are only paying $100?? My sumer power bill for a single bedroom apartment is $350 in Sacramento 😭😭😭

[@Marie-qt1fb]

Damn my bill in nj is 375 n summer aint start😊

[@dougadams9419]

Here in South Carolina I have "semi-smart" meter. It does transmit the reading to the passing Company truck, but it still has the rotating disk and dials. The electric rate is constant, no difference between peak and off hour usage. Although a bit higher in Winter at 14.4¢ a kWh. Summer is 13.9¢ a kWh. And the more you use, the lower the rate, but they don't publish that information.

[@cecoya]

They replaced our meter and the LED bulbs they gave everyone is confusing the new meter also light switches that dim confuse it too. Our bill doubled and when we contacted them to give us back the other meter we had they said they don't have any replacements. They can't supposedly make the new meters dumb either. We have tried to contact other energy companies and we get the excuse of Xcel already has their equipment there and they can't rewire it to theirs.

[@KatrinaAltmann22]

Having the same problem with Ameren

[@leon-fz4cd]

They changed refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, light bulbs, etc. because they said that modern equipment would consume less energy and it turns out that we are paying more than many years ago because the equipment was old and high consumption, everything is a lie for their convenience.

[@tinajbooth365]

I've had an incredible increase since the beginning of this year I was told it's due to their prices going up? But like everyone else they received a COVID-19 payment to cover those that needed help, so things are obviously misappropriated as of a few days ago my bill is $56.00 more? I live in a small apartment.

[@booblla]

I wonder if the metres are measuring Apparent Power instead of Real Power?

[@jasonharrison25]

they are likely now accounting for power factor of the energy used. they are probably measuring volt amps instead of watts like before. of course VA measurements will be higher then watts if the power factor is less then 1

[@syproful]

Apparent power is something which can’t be charged because it is not consumed. This is just an extra load which travels back and forth on the lines. The actual generators don’t have to create more energy.

[@Marie-qt1fb]

Im getting a smart meter installed tomorow! This comments are freaking me out! My bill had been 375 n i aint even hse the ac but 4 times

[@mireederrick1977]

This is great news! 🤔🤔🤔🤔

[@ferrel303]

same :(

[@whymewhynot2002]

Having this problem near chicago with a legacy meter. This guy nailed it 'they're a monopoly, so they don't care". Filed a complaint today with the ICC.

[@user-pe8rm7jw9q]

Same thing here in upstate NY ,BIG SCAM !!!

[@juliakathryn2582]

Happened to us in MD when they installed "smart" meters. The meters are only as smart as the humans programming them. Therefore, huge room for error.

[@colleendougherty4475]

f them when they installed my meter i went totaly of grid no regrets here .

[@YesICanHearIt]

Anyone suing yet?

[@jizmoglass4202]

why I moved away. the $ went straight to their hedz

[@jizmoglass4202]

very sad. born in Gunnison. Lived in Leadville, Worked at Copper and Breck.

[@MrIan3333]

the well pipe could be leaking and over running the pump.

[@lextacy2008]

THats irrelevant because he installed a 3rd party meter that required usage way less than the smart meter did.

[@MrIan3333]

@@lextacy2008 how is what you are saying factual? it didn't say that in the story.

[@lextacy2008]

@@MrIan3333 re read the story. Then read it again.

[@MrIan3333]

@@lextacy2008 it's a video. are you ok?

[@usaintltrade]

FREE ENERGY 🇺🇲🗽⚖️🧬🛡️📜🥇💪

[@cinemaipswich4636]

If you unplug everything from the wall socket, and flip the Mains Switch, and the meter is still running, then it is broken. Demand a new meter. Electronic meters that read thing remotely (via the power cables) without someone actually being on site to read it (Reading meters is most of the Supply Charge) then you know its a scam.

[@meyatetana2973]

Get what you deserve, people tried to warn public but they refused to listen so whatever

[@gardenlifelove9815]

It's called racketeering, and engineered theft. The algorithm that runs is double or tripling the amount used and is forcing them to pay more. Not ok

[@nickripley1604]

Thats nothing ive been paying 160ish a month and i still owed 1200 so i paid it down to 400 and now i owe over 1000 dollars 600 just added for no reason its like im forced to pay like 2 or 3 years of electronic for no reason at all

[@rosemaryjones5550]

I’m in the UK it’s same here my company illegally changed mine (right to refuse) wouldn’t change back with out me paying £150 lol 27 different faults in 3 months later they changed it back for free

[@testos2701]

Smart foking meters, yeah the good old story applies. Is all about profits, this is what smart meters will do for your country. Increase unemployment, have you thought about that part? Lot's of people will be looking for jobs, increase profits for the electric company, increase your electric bills, expose you to more RF signals, and allows them to know exactly when you are home or not. Last but not least, they will know how much electricity it takes to generate the electricity you use to include wire losses, and they will charge you for it, this is on top of the additional monthly fee for the smart meter they put in your house and if you "opt out" they will charge you even more. Have fun folks, welcome to the united states of corporate america! HEY?

[@laurierockwell-ik3fo]

Maybe channel 7 should evaluate the meter safety. Electric customers are paying more than just dollars. People’s health is suffering and there is increased fire hazard.

[@JohnSmith-ux3tt]

Gotta charge those electric cars. And, just think, more of them are turning up each day. How long before the electric grid fails completely?

[@Rasia-lu2ib]

We need another energy source not xcel.

[@louniece1650]

Exactly!

[@climateactionhomes]

The sun ☀️

[@ChakatNightspark]

Smart meters are just bad overall. Basically the Smart meter were installed cause it just made the Job Lazier for the Power Company to come check meters and perhaps at some point make it automatic. They are Pointless and Not needed period. Smart Meters Need to go.

[@jasonkorring2533]

Everyone call BBB

[@zeke5491]

Wait until everyone is driving electric cars. It’s all about control

[@DB-bw5fz]

People need to look at their consumption rather than just looking at the cost, and also learn their patterns. It paints a much more accurate picture in the long run. If your average cost per KW/h doubles by moving to a smart meter, but your consumption remains the same, your cost will double. Consumption skyrocketing immediately after a meter replacement sounds more like someone incorrectly reporting the reading in the old meter prior to replacement. Multiple months of consumption skyrocketing is a metering problem, plain and simple. I had my power company replace my analog meter with a digital non-smart meter, and I insisted on verifying the reading on the old meter prior to replacement. Power co. had no issues about that, and there were no billing surprises either. Consumption averages remained relatively unchanged as well, so that tells me my meter was functioning correctly.

[@janesimmons1861]

they as a monopoly get paid off to do the job for the big guys

[@Mr.Mopar.23-7]

Should we expect anything less from big business. The only difference between them and a common criminal is an education.

[@andreic21]

Smart meters are good as long as they are calibrated correctly and proper wiring. The only reason I see for incorrect measurement are out of calibration or the older meter was registering incorrectly.

[@nahbruv3621]

This is the Era of The Theif

[@9Crow]

if it say's smart it is usually the opposite

[@privateprivate5302]

Same with Ameren!!!! 🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@HappyHarryHardon]

Keep voting Republican. They like this capitalism thing.

[@u.s.militia7682]

I can’t stand it anymore. I do not want this on my home. I will become energy independent somehow.

[@Crismodin]

The new scam meters, nice.

[@fentonb9520]

Are you better off now than you were 2 years ago

[@JohnSmith-ux3tt]

No more mweany tweets.

[@SurfFender]

The great California energy rip off - remember ENRON?

[@jamestroy9625]

Smart meters are just what they are, smart. It’s a legalized scam.

[@mylesbrooks9149]

Sound like more corruption. Where’s the regulators that are supposed to be looking out for the people?

[@yodaddy82daddy70]

They are in the pockets of the ones they are supposed to protect us from. I just had a Xcel guy come to my door telling me that if I want to opt out I need to pay $50 service fee for the old meter and I'll be charged a monthly fee of $15 from here on out. Sounds like entrapment to me. Scam artists

[@americanliberty4898]

Liberalism at it's finest, you asked for it!

[@kym1988]

Shut the f*ck up. Both parties are greedy as f*ck dummy!

[@americanliberty4898]

@@kym1988 Triggered liberal!

[@BigDogRidgeback]

I farted while watching this.

[@villagecpa]

Let’s Go Brandon!

[@johnscott2849]

hi little stub

[@teliawendell3965]

This is so crooked

[@god-tx4xz]

I got two bills one day apart for one meter this month. Criminals.

[@jimscofield6857]

Take a "sledgehammer", to that smart-meter, & make it a dumb-meter!!!!

[@matthewmcneill301]

Tee hee