Hi Anne, We got a heat pump dryer last year and are very happy with it. Our laundry room does not get cold - it warms up slightly. I love how much quieter the dryer is in comparison to our old gas dryer. Ursula
On Tue, Nov 19, 2024 at 6:43 AM Anne Sobol <[email protected]> wrote: > National Grid supplies natural gas at my house. They have already come and > changed meter. I wasn’t given a choice, told that they change meters every > six years, wasn’t told of any possible health effects. > > I have greatly reduced The amount of gas I use by getting solar panels & > using heat pumps for heat and cooling. (These heat pumps located outside > the back of house.) And getting an electric induction stove. Bills from > National Grid way down, basically don’t pay anything to Eversource for > electricity. Of course I did pay lots for solar panels. > > When I bought house 3+ years ago, it was heated by a boiler powered by > natural gas (“furnace “ blows air over hot water, warm air goes through > ducts). Same Boiler also heats hot water for washing, etc. > > Have looked into hot water heat pump, but house is on slab and boiler and > hot water tank are in small utility closet in middle of house. Hot water > heat pump would take heat from air in utility closet to warm water making > air in closet in middle of house cold, not a good result in my particular > situation. > > Am getting battery to store electricity from panels instead of opting for > fossil fuel powered generator. (There are other reasons for storing some of > power from panels in battery.) In addition to lights & refrigerator etc, > during an outage, Power from battery can run furnace mechanism and would be > relying on natural gas to heat house for duration of power outage. > > I wonder if National Grid rushed replacing my meter because of my drop in > use of gas? A coincidence is that at about same time as meter was changed > one of the two heat pumps that came with house (10 years old, warranty no > longer available to second owner) stopped working and in that part of house > have fallen back on using “furnace.” Just got first National Grid bill > since that heat pump broke and am now highly motivated to move along with > replacing busted heat pump! > > Will look into replacing my current natural gas-powered dryer with heat > pump dryer but laundry is also in middle of house and same issue of > generating cold in middle of house probably means it wouldn’t be a good > choice. What I really want is a clothesline outside! > > Each step along the way takes time, thought and money although the zero > percent 7 year heat loans and rebates help. > > I have been greatly helped In thinking this through by Lincoln’s CFREE, > Belinda Gingrich and Scott Rodman. > > Protect our planet and all its people. > > On Nov 18, 2024, at 9:56 PM, ROY HARVEY via Lincoln < > [email protected]> wrote: > > > Dear Forest, > > Lincoln’s electricity is provided by Eversource, not National Grid. > > All investor-owned utilities in Massachusetts were required to file > Electric Sector Modernization Plans (ESMPs) with the Department of Public > Utilities earlier this year. Eversource’s ESMP gives details on their plan > to roll out Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), which includes modern > "smart meters". The ESMP includes the schedule for the rollout, which ends > in 2027-8. Eversource is starting in the western part of the state and > moving east, so Lincoln will be among the later communities to receive > AMI. The full text of Eversource’s ESMP is *here* > <https://www.eversource.com/content/residential/about/sustainability/renewable-generation/electric-sector-modernization-plan>. > > > According to Eversource’s ESMP, consumer benefits of Advanced Metering > Infrastructure (AMI) will include: > > - Lower bills, if customers choose to reduce consumption during peak > times > - Lower CO2 emissions, if customers choose to reduce consumption > during peak times, when inefficient oil- and gas-fired peaker plants would > otherwise provide power. > - Faster notification of power outages (and earlier restoration from > outages). > > The excerpt below from the ESMP outlines some of these benefits. > > Best regards, > Roy Harvey > (not affiliated with Eversource) > > *6.3.1.9 AMI and Data Sharing * > > The Company is implementing a comprehensive near real-time AMI system that > includes state of the art meters, communications infrastructure, head-end > system, meter data management system (MDMS), customer information system, > analytics capabilities, customer portal and data sharing abilities, > integrations with other key systems including the outage management system > (OMS), and all with comprehensive, end-to-end, cybersecurity protocols. > > Whereas early AMI deployments focused primarily on basic functions such as > remote meter reading and interval usage data collection, utilities are > increasingly taking advantage of systems integration, data analytics, and > grid-edge computation to provide incremental benefits without adding > significantly to the overall project cost. > > A modern AMI deployment reflects the imperative to consider AMI as more > than meters and communications infrastructure but rather as a complete > system, inclusive of systems and integrations that together will optimize > the full utilization of this technology. A comprehensive approach to AMI > deployment for Eversource customers will maximize benefits and minimize > costs to customers. > > The Company’s AMI deployment between 2022 and 2028 will deliver on the > potential of AMI to provide value-added outcomes for customers. The current > implementation timeline provides for customers to begin receiving a new > meter in the first half of 2025, starting in the Company’s western service > territory, and moving east, with all customers installed by the end of > 2027. In advance of the first meter deployment the Company plans for > outreach initiatives to all customers. The plan for customer engagement > includes: initial awareness for all customers well before any meters are > installed; pre-deployment communications at 90 days, 60 days, and 30 days > prior to install; on-going engagement related to new information and > products/services available; and specific time-varying rate communications > when they become available. Customer communications will be tailored to the > type of customer and the information that is most relevant to them. > > Many of the benefits enabled by AMI accrue directly to customers. Access > to usage information, insights, alerts, and availability of optional > time-varying rates, for instance, will provide customers with new > opportunities to manage energy consumption and lower bills. Many of the > benefits unlocked by AMI will accrue indirectly to customers. Expenses such > as theft and other losses are socialized to all customers can be reduced > through initiatives made possible with an AMI deployment. Some benefits, > such as reduced truck rolls, are focused on improving the Company’s > operational efficiency when providing service to customers. For customers, > AMI will enable increased access to more granular usage information, > improving the customer’s understanding of energy savings opportunities. > This information has the potential to be powerful for the customer when > combined with new rate designs and participation in energy efficiency and > demand-response programs. AMI may also improve the efficacy of optional > customer information tools such as load disaggregation applications. > Customers will benefit from more timely updates from the Company, such as > mid-cycle high bill alerts and customer-directed bill alerts, which are > service offerings that are proven to be of value to customers. In addition, > call center representatives would have access to more granular data putting > them in a better position to help customers understand how changes in their > usage impact changes in bill amounts and recommend participation in energy > efficiency programs. Another customer benefit of AMI technology is improved > frequency and precision of communications during outages and storm > restoration, as well as reduced time for meter transactions, including > service turn-on’s, which can be conducted quickly and efficiently. > > AMI implementation will advance the ongoing energy affordability dialogue > in the Commonwealth, particularly in underserved communities. Full > deployment of AMI to all Massachusetts customers will provide several > opportunities to leverage access to information that will help customers to > better manage their energy usage. The Company and the other EDCs convened > an AMI working group to discuss the sharing of information and other new > opportunities that AMI will offer for customers.178 Unlocking customers’ > ability to lower bills with AMI data will have multiple components: > > - *Detailed Usage Insights*: Access to detailed billing data is > expected to provide value to multiple different customer segments. > Residential customers will benefit from targeted information on how > different rates or programs will impact bills based on their specific usage > patterns. All customer segments have the potential to benefit from > visibility of near real time usage data. In the same way people can glance > at a gas gauge on their vehicle or the battery life of their smartphone, > visibility to this data will enable customers to rapidly modify behavior > and better manage their usage. Access to more timely and detailed usage > information is expected to support improved insight and reduce customer > surprises with high bills. With access to this information, customer > service representatives will also be able to provide more targeted > recommendations to callers for participation in time-varying rates or > energy efficiency or demand response programs. > - *Detailed Usage Sharing with Third Parties: *Via the Eversource > website, customers will be able to access their data and applications that > allow them to share their usage data easily and securely with third > parties. AMI data will be made available via those existing methods and > additional data sharing mechanisms that may be made available in future > years (e.g., Green Button Connect). For example, customers may authorize > their Competitive Electric Power Supplier (CEPS) or other service provider > to access their monthly, daily, and 15-minute interval data. Approved CEPSs > can download current customer usage, demand data, and interval data along > with 12 months of historical information. > - *Customized High Bill Alerts: *Eversource will also allow customers > the option to receive relevant energy insights and notifications based on > detailed data out to customers via outbound channels, namely email, text, > and mobile application notifications. Customers will be able to set > thresholds to receive alerts when the amount of their bill for a defined > period exceeds a certain amount. > - *Time-Varying Rates: *Once all AMI meters have been deployed and the > Customer Information System has developed the Time-Varying-Rates design > (determined through a separate process conducted by DPU with stakeholder > input), Eversource will be building awareness and educating customers on > Time-Varying Rates. Eversource will accomplish this by using existing > communications tools such as customer emails, on-bill messaging and > inserts, free social media, online videos, press releases and earned media, > direct mail, print collateral, town halls, and paid social media campaigns. > > In addition to the use of AMI data sharing to enable customers to lower > bills and take advantage of opportunities to deploy clean energy solutions, > the Company will use the more granular and accurate data generated by AMI > to improve outage communications in storm events. With complete situational > awareness of customer outages in storm events enabled by AMI data, the > Company will provide more timely and targeted restoration time estimates. > > > > > On 11/18/2024 5:39 PM EST Forest Brown <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > Dear Neighbors, > > I wanted to bring to your attention some important information about > upcoming changes to our utility meters, specifically the transition to *smart > meters*, which National Grid is beginning to roll out in our area. Many > of us will soon be contacted by National Grid as they move forward with > this transition, and I wanted to make sure you're informed about your > options. > > *What’s happening?* > National Grid is in the process of replacing traditional meters with smart > meters in homes throughout our area. Smart meters are designed to > automatically transmit your energy usage data to the company, which, in > theory, eliminates the need for meter readers to visit homes. > > *Why opt out?* > While National Grid has promoted smart meters as a convenient upgrade, > there are several important considerations to be aware of: > > 1. > > *Health and Safety Concerns*: Smart meters emit electromagnetic fields > (EMFs) to transmit data, which some studies suggest could have health > impacts, particularly for vulnerable individuals. There are also ongoing > concerns about the cumulative exposure to EMFs in our homes from multiple > devices. > 2. > > *Privacy Issues*: Smart meters collect detailed data on your energy > usage patterns, which raises concerns about privacy. This data could > potentially be shared with third parties or used to track behavior in ways > we may not be comfortable with. > 3. > > *Impact on Your Neighbors*: Even if you're not personally concerned > about the health risks of smart meters, it's important to consider the > potential impact on your neighbors. Smart meters transmit radiation up to > 500 feet from the meter itself, meaning the signals can affect nearby > homes. For those who are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, this could > be a significant concern, especially in densely populated neighborhoods. > 4. > > *Cost and Customer Benefits*: When I spoke with a National Grid > technician recently, I asked what benefits customers would miss out on by > opting out of the smart meter program. He confirmed that there is no direct > benefit to the customer — it only benefits National Grid, as they no longer > need to send technicians out to read meters. > 5. > > *The Safe Option*: The technician also agreed that opting out is the > safest choice to minimize potential risks from the technology. If you are > not comfortable with having a smart meter installed, it’s your right to opt > out. > > *How to Opt Out* > National Grid should be contacting us about the install. If you wish to > decline the installation of a smart meter in your home, you can communicate > to your National Grid account manager that you would like formally request > to opt-out. They will be able to assist you in preserving your traditional > meter. > > *Bottom Line*: > While National Grid is pushing forward with smart meters, it is important > to remember that you *do not have to accept one *if you feel > uncomfortable. The choice is yours. I encourage you to consider the > information, weigh the potential health, privacy, and safety concerns, and > make the decision that is best for you, your family, and your community. > > Stay safe and informed, > Forest > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. > > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
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