Dear Editor,
Please allow me to use your distinguished medium to make an appeal to DOMLEC to fix their so-called ‘smart meter’ system.
That system susposedly allows you to buy elecricity at various outlets and the credit is sent to the meter. Then DOMLEC alerts you of the electricity you bought via text to your telephone and the balance on the meter. The system is supposed to alert you when your elecriticity is low and your meter is liable for disconnection.
However, that system has proven to be inconsistent (at least for me) for a company like DOMLEC and for a person like me who depends on the information from the company.
Recently I arrived home to realize I had no elecricity. I never recieved any alert from DOMLEC that my elecricity was running low.
On March 16, I recharged the account with $80.
Fearing disconnection, couple of days later I texted the DOMLEC system for my balance. I never received response. I continued for couple more days with no response.
On March 23, I received a text from DOMLEC saying that due to technical difficulties my meter has not been read for four days and I should add credit to prevent disconnection.
That very same day (March 23) I texted the system for my balance and recieved a response saying I had $44.78 on the account. Breathing a sigh of relief, I went my merry way.
However, on March 24 (the very next day), I was shocked to recieve a text from DOMLEC which said my balance is now -$9.07, meaning I was owing DOMELC nine bucks, and I was about to be disconnected.
Surprised I texted the system and got a response that I had $0.00 on the account.
I cannot understand how within one day I went from $44.78 to $0.00.
I am extremely disappointed in that system and I hope that DOMLEC does something to make it more efficient.
I don’t usually promote utility companies but I must say I’ve never had any problems with my AMI meter.
Probably because I purchase all my light in one transaction instead of topping up every week like it’s a cell phone…lol. That’s what I heard some people do.
But something’s not right about that at all. Because $80 light can take me through an entire month. I live alone, however. Your situation may be different.
$80 a month is nuts! Do you have a solar powered refrigerator?
Nope just an LG fridge…
DOMLEC ….we need some competition in D/ca or else our hard earn paycheck will go straight to DOMLEC…
Who has the time and patience to be texting and checking how much balance is left on your electricity account?
Why don’t you get a post paid meter where you get a bill at the end of the month telling you how much you actually consumed?
My biggest problem with Domlec is with the way the accounts are set up for rental property. The account is set-up against the house, not the person who actually uses the service. Therefore if someone skips out on the landlord, Domlec comes after the landlord and not the tenant.
Of course they shift the burden on the landlord (which is easy for them) as opposed to going after the consumer of the service (the tenant). That is wrong.
I’m referring to your 3rd paragraph: that is EXACTLY why you should have a pre-paid meter.
So tenants cannot skip out on de bill. Once the money is in the meter they cannot take it back…so the few dollars that may be on the meter can even stay for the next renter…that’s why it’s a ‘smart meter’
Not in the least bit surprised. What do you expect from a company that discontinued the use of credit cards for cash only. A complete step backwards in this day and age.
am experiencing the same nonsense readings.