Bye Mr Meter Reader!

[Angelina]

I just had a guy turn up to change my meter over. Something that has been instigated right accross the country for some time.
I'm not sure how Americans have their power read but we in NZ have a meter reader who comes to read off the numbers in a meter box attached to the house and then you get a bill in the mail or sent via email. This has been the norm in our counrty since I can remember.

Apparently this newly introduced system is more efficient as it works very much like a smart phone which means that companies do not need to send a meter reader to the house anymore...
This also means that there is gonna be a lot of meter readers accross the country without a job...

I recently read an article in the local paper about post offices in some areas which may also shut it's doors due to lack of usage. We have already experienced the loss of door to door milk deliveries in most areas, so what will be next?

I think that modern technology is awesome and recognise that some business's are no-longer viable in today's competitvie market but >>> what a major loss in terms of your friendly meter reader, postie guy and that young man trying to make some extra money after school on the milk run.....saaadddd....

 

[RANDOR]

Ahhhhhhhhh maybe.......maybe ya ought to do a little study on them....and see why most Americans are against them .

 

[Angelina]

...against what???? I am lamenting the fact that some hands on [human contact] delivery services in NZ are slowly being replaced by technology and in some cases, I guess, more astute business practices....

 

[RANDOR]

Well.........I just suggested you do a study on these meters...that's all.....seems they are more against us than for us.
Go easy on me....i'm very sensitive

 

[Angelina]

let me muse without studying please >>> :unsure: it's a great loss for my country I think... in terms of nostalgia rather than practicality h34r:

 

[lforrest]

At least they can't cut off the power without sending someone out.

 

[Angelina]

RFLOL! true dat!

 

[RANDOR]

Yes mam.......i agree totaly......it's like the CEO of Mcdonalds said 2 months ago...if you people think we are going to pay you 15.00 an hour to make hamburgers...then we have no choice to send out the robots...thus more workers loosing their jobs....I understand completely...ok...let me go get the info on the meters...which would make you more upset. :)

 

[Angelina]

grrrr.....

 

[RANDOR]

http://stopsmartmeters.org/why-stop-smart-meters/
We have had one now for 2 years....still think we have a meter reader....see him occasionally.

 

[Angelina]

It seems that the new smart meter has had issues with over billing and customers have noticed huge increases in their bill after a ‘smart’ meter is installed. Some customers have had hundreds of dollars increase to their bill >>>>

Randor, this article is not a positive thing and it hasn't helped toward ensuring that modern technology is the better alternative - which I thought you were trying to steer me towards... <still smiling!

Oh, I read your comments again and I see that you were saying "these smart meters are more against us rather than for us" > totally!

It would also be interesting to find out what kind of paper delivery system you have. I know you probably have the good ole' paper boy... but I have noticed that there are hardly any paper boys delivering in my area nowadays but rather an increase of paper women, paper old people [some in wheelchairs] and paper men who are in the 60 yo + bracket... :blink:

Signs of the times I guess! :huh:

 

[HammerStone]

They converted over here approximately 3-4 years ago. Haven't had any overbilling issues, but there's a part of me that says it makes sense for progress, but then there is the other part that feels bad for the folks losing the jobs. Unfortunately, "low skill" jobs like this will be going out the door as connectivity increases. I am not sure that many jobs are safe, be they blue collar or white collar.

It brings to mind an article about McDonald's using remote people to handle orders.

One has to wonder about the psychology of losing more human connection. Sometimes its hard enough to get the person at the drive-thru window to care, much less someone who may be 50, 100 or more miles away!

 

[This Vale Of Tears]

The robots are already stealing people's jobs! We need to Will Smith these infernal things before they completely take over.