ComplaintsforSouthwestern Electric Cooperative Inc

• Initial Complaint

  04/02/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  We currently have a "Smart Meter" that was installed, without notice or request on our home by Southwestern Electric co op, Greenville lL.,my mom a 96 yr. old with dementia and myself a 65 yr. old with mobility problems live here. Since it was installed we have had numerous power problems, I have a list of them on my phone notes. There are numerous, now we have been having individual circuits turned off and on, we have no electrical wiring problems that would cause that, these meters can be easily hacked to accomplish this though, yesterday on 4-1-23 our bedroom circuit was turned off and on to force a re-start on a satellite cable box, just an example of the problem. .We have asked them to replace our new type meter with a "non- smart" meter that would stop the access to the new one. I know this sounds crazy but you can be harassed like this. We are not making this up or delusional, having this going on makes you worry about the power being shut off or interfered with at all times. We are current on our bills and just asked for help but no response. I have called and just get a never ending ringing number,also wrote a message to their Facebook page and the responder didn't seem to care. I hope you can get them to put a meter on our home that can't be accessed from anywhere but the electric company. Thank you for any help you can get us. This didn't have to end up here.

  Business response

  04/17/2023

  The service disruptions Mr. ***** has been experiencing are related to distribution outages or blinks of SWEC's electrical system, not by someone throwing the meter switch on and remotely, as he has stated.  Our staff has been in contact with Mr. ***** regarding his concerns dating back to 2017.  We have sent personnel to his account to review his concerns but have found no issues.  His complaints of his power being interrupted have all been related to outages or blinks on the distribution electrical system, which affected not only Mr. *****, but his neighbors.  

  Our last correspondence with Mr. ***** was through our Facebook page.  Our employee was trying to address his concerns and offered to have our VP of Member Services, Susan File, to contact him but he replied, "Do not have anyone call me.  Have them stop this now."  I have attached the screenshots sent by our media specialist who manages the page.  

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