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Smart meter questions that need answers


Friday, August 16, 2013


Smart meter questions that need answers

A recent “Point/Counterpoint” about the Western Virginia Water Authority’s new smart metering system (July 28 and Aug. 4) asked about possible benefits and drawbacks for consumers.

It did a good job of pointing out both sides. The pro argument was that it guaranteed savings in operational cost, and the $32 million energy performance-based contract meets the authority’s goals, in part by increasing meter accuracy.

But the counterpoint opinion asked how much the monthly bill will increase in both direct and indirect costs, and how long will it take to pay for the system.

Since this is fairly new technology, it could cause problems in billing, resulting in exorbitant bills. We already have a problem with that. Hopefully, the smart meter will not mean water will be cut off sooner than it is now, resulting in penalty fees and more deposits for someone with bill problems.

How many meter readers will be unemployed because of it?

Given the need to update aging water and sewer lines, is this the best use of our money now? That should be for the authority’s customers to consider and decide.

Thanks for giving both sides of the issue so the public can be more informed.

REED BROOKS McGHEE
GOODVIEW

McAuliffe’s jobs plan turns reader green

Terry McAuliffe claims to have created thousands of jobs. The only things I could find by Google search were five corporations registered at his home address with no employees, and his former nonproducing car company.

He is closely associated with and is the only client of a firm run by Hillary Clinton’s brother. He has attempted to bring in Chinese investors willing to invest $500,000 under the government’s EB-5 program (grants visas and pathway to citizenship after two years).

A top immigration official overruled two rejections of applications done through the normal channel. McAuliffe’s companies are involved in two federal investigations involving this.

His jobs plan consists of more government employees and going all out on green projects.

He appears to be deeply in on a war on coal. He has stated that he never wanted to see another coal plant in Virginia.

His plan for Southwest Virginia is to retrain coal miners for other jobs and export more coal. What jobs?

Could this just be hot air?

KENNETH HERNDON
MONETA

Vote against Cuccinelli

Republican Ken Cuccinelli was elected Virginia attorney general the way all tea partiers were: When most voters don’t like either candidate, they don’t vote.

Tea party “insurgents” get their people out in droves. Like other tea party extremists, Cuccinelli is against abortion, birth control, women’s rights, gun control, immigration reform, climate change, Obamacare, gay rights and, most of all, raising taxes.

He caters to gas and coal companies, who, in turn, finance his campaign, and spends his time on frivolous lawsuits (that are thrown out by the courts).

In 54 years of following politics, I have never seen a politician whom I like, but I have always voted. I vote for the one I dislike the least.

The only way to keep Cuccinelli out of the governor’s office is for every eligible voter to do the same. But vote.

Cuccinelli is the laughingstock of the country because of how silly he acts.

I don’t particularly like Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe, but I don’t want our governor to be a laughingstock.

Cuccinelli would be a disaster as governor.

R.L. WHITE
CHRISTIANSBURG

Saturday, September 14, 2013

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Cold front will have more bark than...

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