Itron Digital Power Model CL200 Meter Failure

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- RFI-EMI-GUY
  
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posted
15 years ago

Tue, Apr 7, 2009 6:40 PM

I have Progress Energy here in Florida. About a year ago they installed a new digital power meter made by Itron (model CL200 *1647852*) which is read remotely via RF. We have been getting screwy bills the last couple of months which prompted us to go out and read the display. It turns out the display is totally blank. It used to flash "8888s" and then the accrued reading. Now there is nothing reading on the display.

Questions

1) Do these meters retain the data even if the display fails? I assume there is a lithium battery powering the entire works, hopefully they were bright enough to maintain the memory in flash.

3) Can they install a battery in the field and show me the reading without "doing magic" back at the shop?

3) What recourse do I have if the utility has no accurate reading of the meter? I have been using the average billing method and we have been making improvements to reduce consumption, yet the past bills seem high and erroneous?

When the installer came out to first install the digital meters in my neighborhood a year ago, he somehow "lost" my meter when I asked him to show it to me for the final reading. I had to convince the utility that the last reading was wrong impossible. (digits were transposed by the reader)

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Joe Leikhim K4SAT
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- Joerg
  
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posted
15 years ago

Wed, Apr 8, 2009 1:13 AM

Flash probably yes, Li-battery probably no. At least I didn't see one in ours when it went blank.

Doubtful. Once the LCD has croaked it won't come back to life anymore, usually.

Most likely one helluva fight, involving the public utilities commission etc. They've got the monopoly and thus can have you over the barrel with ease. What people out here do is call a TV newscaster who specializes in consumer protection. Once the dirty laundry is on channel 13, suddenly an immense boost in courtesy occurs ...

Log all this. Date, time, who you spoke to. Can prove invaluable should the big duke-out have to happen.

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- JosephKK
  
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posted
15 years ago

Sat, Apr 11, 2009 11:41 PM

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All excellent advice.

Also, if you wish to have a relatively private confrontation consider small claims court. If you go splashy, use a Federal court instead of a State court, the difference in the Court's employer has interesting consequences. .