Installer Calling to Schedule an Appointment on the Day of the Appointment

I received a call from my partner indicating that an installer from ComEd was "in the neighborhood" to install a meter down the block and wanted to know if they could "stop by and replace our meter." 

When Ben called me to relay the message and ask what he should do, I told him to inform the installer that a case was pending with Customer Service at ComEd and the installer should contact them and ask them to call to schedule an appointment to swap out the meter.  Please keep in mind that we live on the west side of Chicago, have a decent back yard, locked gate and I have equipment that is always on which cannot just be shut off when a ComEd installer decides to pull a meter to "swap it out." for a smart meter. 

Even if it weren't for the fact that the equipment requires a proper shut-down sequence, we would never leave the back gate unlocked as the typical Chicago hoodlums - you know the gang-bangers who control the Chicago police department and contribute the re-election of the Daley administration so they are guaranteed that nothing will ever change in City Corruption - would come into the yard and steal the yard furniture and garden ornaments - not to mention the aluminum gutters and downspouts - anything that can be sold for drug money . . .

The installer called back a few minutes later and Ben gave him my cell phone number so he could call, but he never did.  Once again, this is in the hands of the inept manglement at ComEd who, incidentally, have just requested another $207 Million rate increase - even before the one they filed for two years ago, in 2008, has yet to be approved. 

How about teaching their employees some common sense?  You don't just tell people you are going to be in a neighborhood to disconnect their power for 10 to 15 minutes when there are hundreds of those who, like us, lock their gates - providing alternative means for the meters to be read when required.

Both the letters announcing the meter change-out to smart meters, and the very persistent automated phone calls, repeatedly stated that the "installers will make two attempts to change your your meter and, if unable to change your meter after two attempts, we will contact you to make an appointment."

How about saving us all some money and allowing us to make those appointments right off the bat?  ComEd employees are union employees who make an average of $72,000 per year. 

With 3 employees on a truck and taking an average work-week of 40 hours, with 50 weeks per year worked, that's $36.00 an hour, times 3 employees per house.  Make that two wasted visits, taking 30 minutes while they attempt to gain access, and you have wasted $108.00 per house when an advance appointment could have saved 3/4 of that by making an appointment with the homeowner in advance.

Now ComEd wants another 208 million dollar a year rate increase?  I think NOT!  Not until they clean up the waste within their own company.