Two people came to my front door today. I don't usually answer the door for anyone unless I recognize them. But the man was wearing a yellow reflective vest, so I thought they were from the local FPL electric company in Pensacola. As it turns out (so they claimed) they were trying to recruit me to let Meraki install solar panels on my roof. They both tried to explain how the process works, but it was way over my head. I reasonably asked them if they had any literature or a website where I could slowly read to understand what they were attempting to explain to me. I was very suspicious of them when they said they didn't. That is really bad! They asked me if I'd give them my most recent electric bill. I kindly told them that I had no idea who they were and that for all I know they might be scammers! Hell no I'm not going to give total strangers my electric bill. It was cold outside, only 54 degrees and I regret freezing for the 30 minutes that they kept pressuring me to give them my electric bill. Multiple times they tried to sell me on the scheme, by attempting to scare me that my power bill would skyrocket 65% over the next few years. The woman said that if I allowed Meraki to installed the power panels on my roof (she said I would likely qualify), that my monthly electric bill would likely be about $250 and be locked in for the next 25 years. I explained to her that even though my electric bill was $325 a month in the hot summers months, it was only $80 during the winter months. So on average I am only paying roughly $200 a month, which doesn't justify installing the solar panels. They tried to pressure me again, by scaring me with soaring power bills in the future. There are watchdog citizen's groups to protect the public from price gouging. The power bills can only increase in step with inflation. It's certainly not worth all the trouble to have solar panels installed on my roof, which I told them would add a bunch of additional weight to my roof, which over time could cause problems (and leaks). Also, if I need to have my roof replaced or worked on, I would have to pay the extra cost to have the panels removed and replaced. I kindly told them that I am leery of contracts and anything that involves money, especially when someone else stands to profit at my expense. I told them that I likely wouldn't be interested. They said they'd come back in a month. I then kindly told them that I am not interested, and didn't want to waste their time, so they didn't need to come back. They didn't like that one bit. They said they hoped I didn't feel like they were pressuring me. You're kidding right? They sure as hell did pressure me. I couldn't believe they didn't have any literature to leave with me, so that I could make an informed decision without them putting me on the spot, and trying five times to explain it all to me. I told them the truth, that it sounds too good to be true, and I simply couldn't understand the process they were attempting to explain to me. When they finally thankfully left, I went online and searched for "Meraki net metering scam" and right away a bunch of webpages with warnings appeared. I won't open the door if they return. For all the headaches involved--the legally binding contract that I would have to sign (I absolutely hate contracts), a credit background check, extra weight on my roof, no real savings on my monthly power bill, and being enslaved contractually to some private company for the next 25 years--I'd have to be a fool to sign any contract and go alone with their scam. It is a scam from all that I have read online. With my present situation of paying FPL directly, if money becomes tight I can always use less electricity to lower my monthly bill; but if I sign a stupid contract with Meraki, then I cannot do that and I am enslaved to pay them the contractual amount or else end up sued in court by the company. No thanks Meraki, I'll stick with the electric bill from the power company! read more