Directly from a long time friend in Cincinnati who experienced this treatment from Duke Energy, which was DEMANDING AND THREATENING, so this story goes, to be able to install their Smart Meter in this resident's house.
The obvious question and concern is whether other "public utilities" will adopt this same policy and approach and what consumers can do about it... and when we have to begin.
From our friend; email July 18, 2013:
I want to tell you about a situation that happened last Friday.
We were out, and when we got home we had a notice on our door from Duke Power that said they needed to gain entry to our house to put in a smart meter to control the thermostat.
If we did not do this, then they would turn off our electricity.
If this is accurate, it's pretty foreboding, because a policy and action such as this by a corporation the size and prominence of Duke Power MUST have gone through legal review, unless the Duke rep posting the "notice" was a rouge warrior.
Chilling... would SECO behave like this? (Rhetorical question?)