- Report: #394988
Complaint Review: Centerpoint Energy - Houston Texas
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Centerpoint Energy
1111 Louisiana St. Houston, 77002 Texas, U.S.A.
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713-207-1111
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Centerpoint Energy Faulty Meter and Connections, Refusing to Fix or Address, Resulting in Overcharges by Energy Companies Houston Texas
SHORT SUMMARY
I am having similar problems with Centerpoint Energy as Joanna from Dallas, TX is (report #365095).
I have had an ongoing problem with Centerpoint Energy in Houston, Texas concerning my faulty meter and connections, not having my meter tested or calibrated in as many as 28 years despite being told by that it had been tested and found accurate upon enrolling with 2 different energy companies, and my energy bills more than doubling from a range of $35 - $100 monthly to $180 - $320 monthly in a 1 month period for a 792 square foot condominium.
I had an independent electrician check my the balance of my home's electrical load from my fuse box and found it to be balanced within 2 amps of each phase and concluded that I have either a faulty meter and/or faulty main connections of my meter. I am now without power and have outstanding balances due to 2 energy companies while attempting to resolve this.
I filed a complaint with the Public Utility Commission of Texas who found no fault of Centerpoint Energy. I have exhausted all options (including the ones proposed in Joanna's posting) except legal or a class action suit (which I am willing to participate in). What are my options?
FULL SUMMARY
In June 2004, I enrolled for services from Reliant Energy. Upon enrolling, I was told by Reliant that my meter was tested and reading accurately. After one year, I decided to switch to services offered by Direct Energy for their better rate costs. When I enrolled with Direct, I was told that my meter was tested and was still reading accurately.
For my 792 square foot home, my monthly bill amounts have ranged from approximately: $100 in the summer of 2005 to $35 in fall of 2005 increasing to $150 in the summer of 2006 to $70 in fall of 2006 increasing to $180 in the summer of 2007 to $95 in the fall of 2007, cost per kilowatt and varying weather notwithstanding. In September of 2007, I had repairs done to my air conditioning and heating unit to improve their efficiency and lower my consumption. Since then, my monthly consumption charges have ranged from $180 to $320. My electricity usage has not increased in these months and has in fact decreased due to my not being present at my residence for at least 3 days per week due to my current work schedule.
I called Direct Energy regarding these increases on March 12, 2008 and requested a meter test. I was referred to CenterPoint Energy who conducts meter tests on behalf of Direct. I spoke to a CenterPoint representative who informed me that although I was told by both Reliant and Direct Energy that my meter was tested upon enrolling for their services, according to Texas utility records my meter had not been tested since 1986. She then told me that my meter would be tested within 15 days and I would be called as soon as the results were available. She also informed me that if there was a discrepancy in my meter reading then I would be reimbursed by Direct Energy for previous charges.
Fifteen days later on March 26th, I called CenterPoint to check the status of the meter test since I had not yet received a call. I was told that my meter was tested on March 14th and read accurately. The representative then told me that the meter had not been tested since January of 1980, not 1986 as I was originally informed.
On April 23rd, 2008 I was without electricity as it was disconnected the week of March 10th. I chose not to pay any further bills to Direct Energy until I had this matter looked into. I then received a monthly bill from Direct for consumption charges of $68.27 from March 6th through the day of disconnection (5 days). Fifteen of these days were without any electricity usage whatsoever. My overall bill accumulated to $1,244.94 as of April 23rd after paying Direct amounts up to $500 in recent months to prevent disconnection.
I enrolled with National Power Company on April 28th, after which my energy provider was deferred to Amigo Energy upon National Power Company's going out of business. I accumulated a bill of $858.87 in a 4 month period with very little use of electricity as I chose to stay with friends and relatives to minimize my energy consumption.
On October 17th, 2008 I hired an independent electrician to assess my meter operation and check the electrical load to my home from the fuse box of my residence. He found the load to be balanced within 2 amps of each phase (A Phase reading approximately 2.8 amps, B Phase reading approximately 3.7 - 3.8 amps) with all appliances on and air conditioner off. His conclusion was the meter and its main connections were probably faulty, as the bill amount did not reflect my energy usage or the balanced electrical load of my fuse box. He recommended I call Centerpoint Energy to ask how my bills could have increased so substantially if my meter was indeed calibrated and accurate.
On the week of November 15th, 2008 my energy was disconnected due to the outstanding balance of $858.87 that accumulated during my effort to have my meter either calibrated or replaced. This is in addition to the $1,244.94 balance due to Direct Energy. On November 25th I spoke to Centerpoint Energy about this entire issue which was forwarded to their revenue department for further consideration.
I would like my meter to be replaced after it has been analyzed for discrepancy and would like my balances due to be adjusted according to the difference of consumption reading on my faulty meter and connections and, if applicable, reimbursed for my over payments to Direct Energy dating back to summer of 2007 when my energy charges took a substantial rise.
Anthony
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.
I am having similar problems with Centerpoint Energy as Joanna from Dallas, TX is (report #365095).
I have had an ongoing problem with Centerpoint Energy in Houston, Texas concerning my faulty meter and connections, not having my meter tested or calibrated in as many as 28 years despite being told by that it had been tested and found accurate upon enrolling with 2 different energy companies, and my energy bills more than doubling from a range of $35 - $100 monthly to $180 - $320 monthly in a 1 month period for a 792 square foot condominium.
I had an independent electrician check my the balance of my home's electrical load from my fuse box and found it to be balanced within 2 amps of each phase and concluded that I have either a faulty meter and/or faulty main connections of my meter. I am now without power and have outstanding balances due to 2 energy companies while attempting to resolve this.
I filed a complaint with the Public Utility Commission of Texas who found no fault of Centerpoint Energy. I have exhausted all options (including the ones proposed in Joanna's posting) except legal or a class action suit (which I am willing to participate in). What are my options?
FULL SUMMARY
In June 2004, I enrolled for services from Reliant Energy. Upon enrolling, I was told by Reliant that my meter was tested and reading accurately. After one year, I decided to switch to services offered by Direct Energy for their better rate costs. When I enrolled with Direct, I was told that my meter was tested and was still reading accurately.
For my 792 square foot home, my monthly bill amounts have ranged from approximately: $100 in the summer of 2005 to $35 in fall of 2005 increasing to $150 in the summer of 2006 to $70 in fall of 2006 increasing to $180 in the summer of 2007 to $95 in the fall of 2007, cost per kilowatt and varying weather notwithstanding. In September of 2007, I had repairs done to my air conditioning and heating unit to improve their efficiency and lower my consumption. Since then, my monthly consumption charges have ranged from $180 to $320. My electricity usage has not increased in these months and has in fact decreased due to my not being present at my residence for at least 3 days per week due to my current work schedule.
I called Direct Energy regarding these increases on March 12, 2008 and requested a meter test. I was referred to CenterPoint Energy who conducts meter tests on behalf of Direct. I spoke to a CenterPoint representative who informed me that although I was told by both Reliant and Direct Energy that my meter was tested upon enrolling for their services, according to Texas utility records my meter had not been tested since 1986. She then told me that my meter would be tested within 15 days and I would be called as soon as the results were available. She also informed me that if there was a discrepancy in my meter reading then I would be reimbursed by Direct Energy for previous charges.
Fifteen days later on March 26th, I called CenterPoint to check the status of the meter test since I had not yet received a call. I was told that my meter was tested on March 14th and read accurately. The representative then told me that the meter had not been tested since January of 1980, not 1986 as I was originally informed.
On April 23rd, 2008 I was without electricity as it was disconnected the week of March 10th. I chose not to pay any further bills to Direct Energy until I had this matter looked into. I then received a monthly bill from Direct for consumption charges of $68.27 from March 6th through the day of disconnection (5 days). Fifteen of these days were without any electricity usage whatsoever. My overall bill accumulated to $1,244.94 as of April 23rd after paying Direct amounts up to $500 in recent months to prevent disconnection.
I enrolled with National Power Company on April 28th, after which my energy provider was deferred to Amigo Energy upon National Power Company's going out of business. I accumulated a bill of $858.87 in a 4 month period with very little use of electricity as I chose to stay with friends and relatives to minimize my energy consumption.
On October 17th, 2008 I hired an independent electrician to assess my meter operation and check the electrical load to my home from the fuse box of my residence. He found the load to be balanced within 2 amps of each phase (A Phase reading approximately 2.8 amps, B Phase reading approximately 3.7 - 3.8 amps) with all appliances on and air conditioner off. His conclusion was the meter and its main connections were probably faulty, as the bill amount did not reflect my energy usage or the balanced electrical load of my fuse box. He recommended I call Centerpoint Energy to ask how my bills could have increased so substantially if my meter was indeed calibrated and accurate.
On the week of November 15th, 2008 my energy was disconnected due to the outstanding balance of $858.87 that accumulated during my effort to have my meter either calibrated or replaced. This is in addition to the $1,244.94 balance due to Direct Energy. On November 25th I spoke to Centerpoint Energy about this entire issue which was forwarded to their revenue department for further consideration.
I would like my meter to be replaced after it has been analyzed for discrepancy and would like my balances due to be adjusted according to the difference of consumption reading on my faulty meter and connections and, if applicable, reimbursed for my over payments to Direct Energy dating back to summer of 2007 when my energy charges took a substantial rise.
Anthony
Houston, Texas
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Meters Off
Dallas,Texas,
Meters Off - Mass Action
#2General Comment
Fri, July 12, 2013
Meters Off
Hello everyone,
Are you fed up with bailouts, corporate subsidies and tax evasion, elitism, foreclosures, fracking and environmental poisoning, hidden fees, overbilling and overcharging, rate hikes?
Well now is the time to take action. The corporate elites
have robbed us long enough. It is time for them to pay us back.
When we put gas in our tank, they rob us.
When we turn up the heat at night, they rob us.
When we use our debit and credit cards, they rob us.
When we pay our mortgage, they rob us.
When we fly in a plane, they rob us.
They are government subsidized criminals with governmental protection.
What all of these elites have in common is energy investments.
These elites are invested in energy via Wall Street. OIL.
Congressional governmental backing has emburdened the taxpayers by bailing out these elites while at the same time they rob us.
Well now we have a way to break them. They will now bail us out.
Here is the solution. Take the meters off. Yes, take the meters off.
METERS OFF
The energy corporate elites are the utility companies.
The taxpayer's house and everything on the land above and below ground inside the property line belongs solely to the residential owner, including all pipes, wires, anything connected to the house.
The meters are owned by the utility companies.
Tell the utility companies to remove the meters and to take the meters off the private property. Otherwise have an expert take the meters off. The remaining pipes and wires above and below ground inside the property line belong solely to the residential owner.
No, the utility companies do not own the above ground or underground pipes or wires inside the property line.
The utility companies or the police cannot step on the property
to search for tampering of pipes or wires not connected to the meters.
No meter means no outside owner. That undergrond gas pipe can now
be connected directly to the house's gas pipe withot any meter.
Those electrical box wires can now be connected directly to the
house's electrical grid without any meter. That underground water pipe can now be connected directly to the house's water pipe without any meter.
All these connections can be done legally and safely.
Here's How
The American Dream is not fulfilled by one person alone.
The American Dream is fulfilled by Americans working together.
The American people outnumber the corporate elites by 99 percent.
It is impossible for the 1 percent corporate elite energy companies to impede or withhold resources from the almighty 99 percent taxpayers. Everyone, take the meters off.
Stop paying. Tell the utility companies to take the meters off.
When all the meters are gone, everyone will then safely connect these utilities to the houses without meters. This is the only solution.
Smart Meters are designed and programmed to cheat the customer.
Analog meters are inacurate and misread. Take the meters off.
The energy corporate elite utility companies use congress, judges
and fraud to bilk the taxpayers out of billions of dollars.
Remember, all government agents also pay for utilities. They too
are being bilked out of money by their employer. All government agents work for the corporate elites. The corporate elites eat their own.
The American people hold the power to economically take down the
energy corporate elites, by not paying the utility companies.
The corporate elites took the taxpayers money as bailouts enriching themselves while robbing the same taxpayers. By taking the meters off, the taxpayers will in return collect the money back that the corporate elites are constantly stealing from the taxpayers.
The corporate elites owe the taxpayers billions of dollars right now.
The energy corporate elite's utility companies cannot turn off all the American people's utilities and the police cannot arrest all the American people. Everyone in mass nationwide take the meters off.
The energy corporate elites will panic after going broke overnight.
The utility companies will be out of business and wrecked the same way they wrecked the taxpayers.
American taxpayers will be acting in self defense, defense of others and defending family and property.
The energy corporate elites will come to the taxpayers for forgiveness and be ignored the same way they ignore the taxpayers everyday.
Everyone take action now. Take the meters off. All together now.
Working Together
Eveyone with technical skills join together now and take the meters off.
Safely connect all utilites to the houses without meters. METERS OFF.
Everyone stand your ground and defend your family, property and your neighbor. The government has no ability or authority to intervene.
The American people are in control now telling the government what to do.
Every American man, woman and child are now free from the stranglehold of the corporate elites. From this day on,
people talk and money walks.
Peaceful revolution in mass at home. Take the meters off.
Let's Act Now
Another day another bailout, corporate subsidies and tax evasion, elitism, foreclosures, fracking and environmental poisoning, hidden fees, overbilling and overcharging, rate hikes.
Let's work together in mass at home to change the situation by turning the tables on the corporate elites and their associates.
Take the meters off in mass at home by the 99 percent American taxpayers.
Defending each other and recouping the billions of dollars that the corporate elites stole from the American taxpayers.
Ending the class warfare imposed on the American taxpayers by the
corporate elites. The American taxpayers will now end the financial burden imposed on them by the corporate elites.
Take the meters off.
What We Will Contribute
The American taxpayer will now be able to buy the products and services of American manufacturers and providers. The profits and taxes will end the recession causing the economy to soar to new heights. The middle class will experience an economic boom like never before. Savings will be secure.
The American Dream will once again be shared by the taxpayers.
Americans working together to freely control their lives and their money.
Americans paying for honest goods and services.
Americans unmetered.
Americans, take the meters off.
METERS OFF
Meters Off at Facebook
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