Is access to utility service without payment a "right"?

[Deleted]

Too bad the water companies can't change the locks to computer controlled (and completely sealed from tampering) valves.

[Deleted]

Jul 10, 2014 18:24:28 GMT -5 @richardintn said:

Too bad the water companies can't change the locks to computer controlled (and completely sealed from tampering) valves.

It's very possible. The economy of scale has to be big enough for a start-up somewhere willing to design and produce the device. There's already computer meter reading in place by us. Water and electric. We also have water shut off if you miss only one month of payment. Kind of eliminates the can't pay the backlog whining.

[Sam_2.0]

Shutoff rules are governed by each state's PUC (except for those lucky city utilities or co-ops that don't have to follow the state rules). So while our meters have remote disconnect capabilities, the PUC won't allow it so we still have to send someone out to physically knock on a door before disconnection. Their reasoning is they don't want us to miss a chance to interact with our customers and they worry about the sick & elderly and want them to have one more chance to pay. Our system does tell us when a meter is pulled illegally and if that meter is showing usage or if we should be concerned about other things (wiring in the meter can with some kind of jumpers, etc). Heck, I had a customer who was disconnected at the pole - we took the whole service line to the house and completely de-energized the meter can including taking the meter. Person stole a live service line off a vacant house and re-wired themselves! Certainly have more balls than brains. Their complaint to the PUC was "Well, I know I stole service, but their tampering fees and deposit are just ridiculous."