SMECO came out this past spring and installed the CoolSentry DCU without our permission on the outside of our house.

We can't tell if it has been on (cycling) the past 2 days or if we have an A/C problem, or if its just that hot outside. Our inside temp does not go below 79 degrees during the day. It doesn't matter what temp we put it on. I checked the DCU and all i see on the screen are six black dots.

SMECOs website said it would only cycle on weekdays, not weekends but I'm beginning to get suspicious. :eyebrow:

A green light goes on for ours and I cannot adjust the temp.

Is the green light on the DCU or are you referring to the CoolSenty thermostat, see below for pic? I don't have the thermostat.

thermostat:
SMECO CoolSentry Programmable Thermostat and Installation (http://www.smecocoolsentry.com/)

DCU is just a grey rectangular box on the outside of the house. Kind of reminds me of your outside telephone box.

If your house is hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter, it's working. This is why you don't let them install it. This is tyranny in it's beginning stages. I can't believe everyone hasn't sued Smeco yet...

I called them to make sure they wouldn't be installing that crap. I manage my electricity much better than they can. I have 2800 sq feet to cool and my average bill is $130 a month and never over $180.

Get that thing removed!

Since it's easier to spout opinion rather than research, try this. (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=smeco+cool+sentry+faq)

I called them to make sure they wouldn't be installing that crap. I manage my electricity much better than they can. I have 2800 sq feet to cool and my average bill is $130 a month and never over $180.

Get that thing removed!

I also call telling them not to install that crap. Heard they have gone in people yards and put it up without them knowning it. Told them if I ever see it outside my house guess what you will remove it. I don't need anyone telling me how to save on my Semco bill. My average bill is around $130 a month , no more then $165. Doing the winter months it less . Used wood stove to heat house.

If your house is hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter, it's working. This is why you don't let them install it. ...

Boy, that's for sure. We lived on base in Florida where they controlled the AC - the house was hot all summer long. You could stand in your driveway and listen to the air conditioning units turn off in unison block by block.

So when Smeco installed it on my house here, based on some legacy energy saver the last owner had had, I called to have it removed. Had to listen to the whole spiel about how I'd never notice it, because it would happen during the day, while I wasn't at home. Well, I am at home during the day, and once the house heats up, it doesn't cool off.

No way I'd have Cool Sentry on my house, unless it was required by law (which might not be far off.)

Glad I made them take it off (http://forums.somd.com/life-southern-maryland/233648-damn-you-smeco.html) mine when I got the note on my door.

My house was a nice comfortable 76 degrees all weekend btw. :cartwheel:cartwheel:cartwheel:cartwheel:cartwheel

Since it's easier to spout opinion rather than research, try this. (http://lmgtfy.com/?q=smeco+cool+sentry+faq)

Well genius, Prior to installation, our technician will ask you to sign a service order authorizing the installation of your new equipment and guaranteeing your satisfaction with the work.


Is a lie, I came home from work and the thing was installed without my permission.

Well genius,

Is a lie, I came home from work and the thing was installed without my permission.

:yeahthat:

I came home one afternoon last year to find the card on my door that it was installed on my house. I called the number on the card and they said that I should have mailed in the card to prevent it from being installed. I mailed the refusal card in 3 times. After explaining my situation they came out the next day and removed it. My neighbor says that she notices the savings but does not have any A/C on in her house from 1500-1800 and spends the rest of the evening trying to cool the house off.

So if we're all saving money with this thing, doesn't that mean SMECO will subsequently raise our rates to compensate?

Just asking.

SMECO came out this past spring and installed the CoolSentry DCU without our permission on the outside of our house.

We can't tell if it has been on (cycling) the past 2 days or if we have an A/C problem, or if its just that hot outside. Our inside temp does not go below 79 degrees during the day. It doesn't matter what temp we put it on. I checked the DCU and all i see on the screen are six black dots.

SMECOs website said it would only cycle on weekdays, not weekends but I'm beginning to get suspicious. :eyebrow:

If your A/C is cycling on and off during the heat of the day, the Cool Sentry is not controlling it. Cool Sentry shuts down the system and allows your house to warm up three degrees above your normal setting. Since you don't have a Cool Sentry thermostat, the system doesn't know what your normal setting is and will probably wait for the peak electricity demand to slack off around 11:30 PM. THEN it would let your A/C start working.

If I had your problem, I'd ask the A/C guy to come out and check your system out. Next I'd hijack a SMECO crew in the area repairing power lines and drag them to my house and make them take the damn thing off the A/C.

For what it's worth, I have Cool Sentry and it works as advertised. Allowed temperature to rise three degrees above where my thermostat was set, prevented me from adjusting the temperature, and came back to normal about 8 PM that night. It's only happened one day since this temporary (non-global warming) heat wave came through.

So if your house warms up due to the Cool Sentry doesn't it stand to reason that you may be turning on electric fans to keep cool until the A/C bumps back on? And, if they bump my temp up by three degrees, I just might turn my thermostat down three degrees more than usual. How is that saving electricity? :confused:

I work for a HVAC company. MANY people have called us about problems with A/C that turn out to be COOLSENTRY. Most don't even know that they have the DSU installed outside. They either have it since a previous owner/tenant or it was installed without their knowledge. At a minimum charge from us of $132.50 they are not happy with SMECO.

You will know it's on when you feel good about doing your part to save the planet :yay:

If your house is hot in the Summer and cold in the Winter, it's working. This is why you don't let them install it. This is tyranny in it's beginning stages. I can't believe everyone hasn't sued Smeco yet...

That's what this sounds like.

...I called to have it removed. Had to listen to the whole spiel about how I'd never notice it, because it would happen during the day, while I wasn't at home. Well, I am at home during the day, and once the house heats up, it doesn't cool off.
Isn't it nice how they ASSume that we're all not home during the day?

No way I'd have Cool Sentry on my house, unless it was required by law (which might not be far off.)
I have a Glock that says they won't install it while I'm home and if they try it while I'm not home, there will be a major law suit for siding damage and trespassing. Their meter is on the front side of the house and the A/C unit is in the back yard so there's no need for them to enter my back yard ever :yay:
I work for a HVAC company. MANY people have called us about problems with A/C that turn out to be COOLSENTRY. Most don't even know that they have the DSU installed outside. They either have it since a previous owner/tenant or it was installed without their knowledge. At a minimum charge from us of $132.50 they are not happy with SMECO.
Being a former electrician, I will take the necessary pictures, then remove it. Of course that's after an attorney sees it...
So if we're all saving money with this thing, doesn't that mean SMECO will subsequently raise our rates to compensate? Just asking.
Probably. There are already fees in our electric bills that most folks don't even know about. It's call their "Bill Stabilization Adjustment". This fee goes up to keep Smeco's income more constant. Gotta love that luxury!! Then there's the "Universal Service Charge" where we pay for other people's electric bill. I've never gotten assistance on mine though...

I used to have one on the ac and water heater, was saving five bucks a month, but then the friggin ac would turn off and it would get warm i8n the house so I had them come take that off. Tat left the water heater at 2.50 savings. I never noticed any change in the water temp. Recently had the thermostat installed and the last few says it would cycle from around 3pm till 6. but I learned to just set the therm. 3% lower. I forget what they said I am supposed to save with this. Hey I,m saving the planet.

Wow, the internet badasses around here! Sheesh, don't need no damn revenoors snoopin' around our still, Jed.

Cool Sentry works, only cycles the AC in the evenings on weekdays during a peak electrical demand situation, typically heat waves and high demand. And you can call and opt out of any single event. For example, you have a party or guests over or someone is sick and at home.

Yeah, too hard to contact SMECO or google answers, easier to ##### on the interwebs.

Wow, the internet badasses around here! Sheesh, don't need no damn revenoors snoopin' around our still, Jed.
Cool Sentry works, only cycles the AC in the evenings on weekdays during a peak electrical demand situation, typically heat waves and high demand. And you can call and opt out of any single event. For example, you have a party or guests over or someone is sick and at home.
Yeah, too hard to contact SMECO or google answers, easier to ##### on the interwebs.
Must be a schmucko employee...:shrug:

Wow, the internet badasses around here! Sheesh, don't need no damn revenoors snoopin' around our still, Jed.

Cool Sentry works, only cycles the AC in the evenings on weekdays during a peak electrical demand situation, typically heat waves and high demand. And you can call and opt out of any single event. For example, you have a party or guests over or someone is sick and at home.

Yeah, too hard to contact SMECO or google answers, easier to ##### on the interwebs.
Poor johnny is sick today. Don't forget to call THE UTILITY COMPANY to let them know we will be home.

Seriously! !!!!:killingme

For what its worth, When I heard Smeco was going around installing these things I called and made sure they knew I didn't want it. I was told they were placed on the homes that were on or previously on their bill budget plans (something to that effect)

I don't see where where anyone is saving money. If I adjust my T-stat to let the house warm up or a power outage occurs and the house warms up, my A/C has to work that much harder to cool things down.

Under normal operating conditions when my T-stat is set at one temp and left alone the A/C keeps up and cycles on and off normally unless its like hot weather we've been having. But let the house warm up and the A/C runs longer and doesn't stay off as long as it would other wise. Can't be saving any money this way. Its their way of saving electricity and thats it.

For what its worth, When I heard Smeco was going around installing these things I called and made sure they knew I didn't want it. I was told they were placed on the homes that were on or previously on their bill budget plans (something to that effect)

I don't see where where anyone is saving money. If I adjust my T-stat to let the house warm up or a power outage occurs and the house warms up, my A/C has to work that much harder to cool things down.

Under normal operating conditions when my T-stat is set at one temp and left alone the A/C keeps up and cycles on and off normally unless its like hot weather we've been having. But let the house warm up and the A/C runs longer and doesn't stay off as long as it would other wise. Can't be saving any money this way. Its their way of saving electricity and thats it.

As stated earlier I'm not a fan of it but the goal isn't to save money it is to reduce stress on the grid. During the peak hours is when they need to reduce consumption so they want to shut it down during this time. This is better for everyone because it reduces the threat of rolling brownouts. The incentive they give customers for participating is a coupon to say thank you.

I'm against the program for myself because I already do a lot to reduce my consumption. I've added insulation, replaced my AC unit with a more efficient model, added zoning, and have a program on my thermostat.

The whole opt out thing was shady. For over a year I kept getting postcards telling me how great it was and call if I wanted it. Guess enough people didn't sign up so they sent out another one saying unless you tell us not to install it we're going to install it. After receiving so many of the post cards they just started immediately going into the trash without being read.

What really irks me is they just drilled through my siding into the side of my house (ie did it as cheaply and easily as possible).

As stated earlier I'm not a fan of it but the goal isn't to save money it is to reduce stress on the grid. During the peak hours is when they need to reduce consumption so they want to shut it down during this time. This is better for everyone because it reduces the threat of rolling brownouts. The incentive they give customers for participating is a coupon to say thank you.

I'm against the program for myself because I already do a lot to reduce my consumption. I've added insulation, replaced my AC unit with a more efficient model, added zoning, and have a program on my thermostat.

This program was designed for families who left their homes vacant during normal working hours, no? What about the folks who work out of their homes; or the retired folks who are in their homes most of the day? Those are the folks that really have a problem with it, right?

I'm against the program for myself because I already do a lot to reduce my consumption. I've added insulation, replaced my AC unit with a more efficient model, added zoning, and have a program on my thermostat.
:yay: Their "sentry" is (as usual) for those loons who are too selfish or stupid to not be wasteful. We really cannot count on everyone doing their part today.

They leave most of the lights on in their homes, they leave TV's, computers & battery chargers on, their doors and windows aren't properly sealed and their temperature is set unrealistically high or low. For me, 66 in the Winter and 79 in the Summer is all I need...

:yay: Their "sentry" is (as usual) for those loons who are too selfish or stupid to not be wasteful. We really cannot count on everyone doing their part today.

They leave most of the lights on in their homes, they leave TV's, computers & battery chargers on, their doors and windows aren't properly sealed and their temperature is set unrealistically high or low. For me, 66 in the Winter and 79 in the Summer is all I need...

ASSume much, do we?

I'm not a SMECO employee, just an intelligent enough person to do the research and accept a yearly $50 credit for participating in a voluntary program that doesn't even effect me.

And for the ASSumers out there, Stallion :killingme: I keep my thermostat set at the same settings as you, have led bulbs throughout my newly built, well insulated home.

But you guys go on and wear those tin foil hats, you may be right. Obama is watching you through the cool sentry program. :duh:

ASSume much, do we? I'm not a SMECO employee, just an intelligent enough person to do the research and accept a yearly $50 credit for participating in a voluntary program that doesn't even effect me. And for the ASSumers out there, Stallion :killingme: I keep my thermostat set at the same settings as you, have led bulbs throughout my newly built, well insulated home.:duh:
But you come in here with your 50 posts and act like you've been in here for years. A Mr Know It All from cyberspace...

We post this kind of stuff on here for A LOT of people to see. If one person calls up about this, only one person will know about it. This is a great venue to get a lot of information out to a lot of people in a very short time. Now, don't you have some people to save with your Beany Copter Cap?

P.S. Watch those LED bulbs; I hear that Obama has tiny listening devices in them...:howdy:

Wow, the internet badasses around here! Sheesh, don't need no damn revenoors snoopin' around our still, Jed.

Cool Sentry works, only cycles the AC in the evenings on weekdays during a peak electrical demand situation, typically heat waves and high demand. And you can call and opt out of any single event. For example, you have a party or guests over or someone is sick and at home.

Yeah, too hard to contact SMECO or google answers, easier to ##### on the interwebs.

Funny, the FAQ on the SMECO page specifically says it will cycle during peak hours between 1pm and 8pm on weekdays during the months June - September.

CoolSentry will trigger an "event" whenever it's hot - along with everyone in else with CoolSentry in your neighborhood. So that means it overrides your thermostat settings.

And you're right - I don't want government intrusions into my life in any form - not CoolSentry, not mandated Healthcare, not mandatory soft drink sizes, etc.

The more we become a country of sheep, the sooner we have a government of wolves. (er murrow)

No way I'd have Cool Sentry on my house, unless it was required by law (which might not be far off.)

you mean like this?

BGE begins Smart Meter installations in Maryland service area | AtisSun Daily Newsletter (http://www.atissun.com/blog/7399/bge-begins-smart-meter-installations-in-maryland/)

you mean like this?

BGE begins Smart Meter installations in Maryland service area | AtisSun Daily Newsletter (http://www.atissun.com/blog/7399/bge-begins-smart-meter-installations-in-maryland/)

This is all part of the Obama 'Smart Grid' initiative to monitor and manage energy use anywhere in the nation. Electric service to whole areas can be managed and limited when required. Obama can push a button and turn off the electric service to Pete or Mike any time he likes. United States Secret Service has the locations of all conservative "You might be a terrorist" candidates already programmed into the button.

This is all part of the Obama 'Smart Grid' initiative to monitor and manage energy use anywhere in the nation. Electric service to whole areas can be managed and limited when required. Obama can push a button and turn off the electric service to Pete or Mike any time he likes. United States Secret Service has the locations of all conservative "You might be a terrorist" candidates already programmed into the button.

and it is rumored that appliances will be able to link to the meter in the near future, they will be able to tell if you are cooking, or taking a long shower, maybe you left the tv on. Wait, your alarm system is set every day between 7am and 6 pm?? nobody home? well, lets cut the power to the alarm and go on in and clean you out.

lol, smart grid was around long before Obama

But you come in here with your 50 posts and act like you've been in here for years. A Mr Know It All from cyberspace...

We post this kind of stuff on here for A LOT of people to see. If one person calls up about this, only one person will know about it. This is a great venue to get a lot of information out to a lot of people in a very short time. Now, don't you have some people to save with your Beany Copter Cap?

P.S. Watch those LED bulbs; I hear that Obama has tiny listening devices in them...:howdy:

So because I'm not a "lifer" that lives on SOMD.com, I don't have a valid point? So is it the fact that I only have 50 post or the fact I have an opposing view to you that bothers you?

And you're right - I don't want government intrusions into my life in any form - not CoolSentry, not mandated Healthcare, not mandatory soft drink sizes, etc.

The more we become a country of sheep, the sooner we have a government of wolves. (er murrow)

Please call the Social Security office, Medicare, etc and tell them that you want no more of their monetary "intrusions" in your life. That goes without saying that you would forfeit food stamps, welfare, etc if needed. Oh, and don't call 911 for any emergencies, wouldn't want those government subsidized first responders intruding into your life.

People that complain about government intrusion are usually the first ones lining up wanting the government to fix things for them.

Wait, your alarm system is set every day between 7am and 6 pm?? nobody home? well, lets cut the power to the alarm and go on in and clean you out.


You wouldnt be able to do that to any of my systems.. back up battery power...usually install enough battery power to last a week if needed..so go ahead and try to clean any of my customers out :killingme

lol, smart grid was around long before Obama

But the official national energy policy was never, Do nothing, "Use Less".
That is the official policy, USE LESS.
We need to be good citizens of the world and recognize our consumption is "NOT FAIR" to the rest of the world, particularly to those developing third world countries like India and China.
We use far to much energy per capita than the other countries.

I don't like their coolsentry feature. When it turns on, it's a red LED that reminds me of the light that the robots from "I Robot" had when they were being controlled.

What ticks me off is that I usually am a good citizen that keeps the AC on at a reasonable temperature, typically between 78-80, and run my ceiling fans. However, when the temperature spikes, sometimes running the AC at 80 doesn't cut it. Of course, it typically seems like that's when SMECO has decided to enable their auto control feature and lock my AC. While they advertised that they'd bump up everyone's temperatures by 1-2 degrees, they don't do that for mine (thankfully), but I can't put mine to a reasonable temperature either! Meanwhile, someone else who had their AC set to 70 has it locked at 72 and is probably still very comfortable.

They should make it where I can't go BELOW a certain temperature (say 77ish), but can still adjust down if my AC isn't at a reasonable temperature. It's also a problem when I want to go out and make it warmer while I'm gone, yet it's locked at some stupid temperature that I don't want. I've had to resort to either leaving it so it'll kill my electric bill or turning on my heat so nothing runs other than my ceiling fans.

So because I'm not a "lifer" that lives on SOMD.com, I don't have a valid point? So is it the fact that I only have 50 post or the fact I have an opposing view to you that bothers you?
Actually it's the beany copter that worries me. I've explained what my beef is with you: It's your ignorant attitude in saying that we should make a phone call or internet search instead of posting here.
Please call the Social Security office, Medicare, etc and tell them that you want no more of their monetary "intrusions" in your life. That goes without saying that you would forfeit food stamps, welfare, etc if needed. Oh, and don't call 911 for any emergencies, wouldn't want those government subsidized first responders intruding into your life.
People that complain about government intrusion are usually the first ones lining up wanting the government to fix things for them.
Are you & Gerald MPD's? Maybe an Obama "brown shirt" guy? Can't you or Gerald follow a logical line of thinking w/o adding some of the stupidest things I've read on here lately? I mean really; it's like we're speaking different languages. :duh:

Little by little, the government & big money wants to know what each of us are doing so they can invade our private lives more but you & Gerald are too ignorant to see how that is a problem...

So because I'm not a "lifer" that lives on SOMD.com, I don't have a valid point? So is it the fact that I only have 50 post or the fact I have an opposing view to you that bothers you?

Actually the point being stupid is what makes it invalid.

Im no lifer either and when I retire Im leaving SOMD, in 30 years or so.

Actually the point being stupid is what makes it invalid.

Im no lifer either and when I retire Im leaving SOMD, in 30 years or so.

when I retire Im going to stop supporting my daughter, Im going to keep posting and rubbing in the fact that others work to pay my SS, and I might run for a public office,, after painting it.

Actually it's the beany copter that worries me. I've explained what my beef is with you: It's your ignorant attitude in saying that we should make a phone call or internet search instead of posting here.

Are you & Gerald MPD's? Maybe an Obama "brown shirt" guy? Can't you or Gerald follow a logical line of thinking w/o adding some of the stupidest things I've read on here lately? I mean really; it's like we're speaking different languages. :duh:

Little by little, the government & big money wants to know what each of us are doing so they can invade our private lives more but you & Gerald are too ignorant to see how that is a problem...

Do you know what seperates a liberal from a conservative?
20 years.
20 years of watching the government stick it's hand in your pocket, deeper and deeper while telling you it knows what's best for you.
20 years of watching grand schemes fail to return on their promise but not on the ever increasing cost for doing nothing but screwing things up.

It's called life experience and it's the one thing that most liberals lack.

Look guys, I've hijacked this thread enough. Cool Sentry (the original topic) you either don't mind it or you don't like it. No one is watching you from the NSA or CIA, so take off the tin foil hats. I'm far from a liberal, just a guy who has some common sense that can think for himself, not what Fox News or CNN tell me to think. I work for neither SMECO or the White House.

Experience? Yeah, got that too, spent 24 years serving to defend the rights of internet idiots everywhere.

The best advice I can follow is ageless. If I can't say something nice, then I won't say anything at all.