ONG = Morons

[Hoss]

OK bear with me here.

Alot of you know my current situation.  I live in my childhood home in East Tulsa while helping care for my Mother (doesn't need much, but she can't get around real well save for around the house).

I come home for lunch today and notice a green hang tag on my door.  It's an ONG tag that says something to the effect of 'your gas services has been turned off', and the reason being 'scheduled maint'.  I figured that meant something along the lines of maybe a bad line needed to be replaced, so no biggy.  We use gas for hot water, our heater (not needed yet), and stove cooking (which we do some of, but not exclusively).

My mother, bless her heart, is so incredibly nice to people that in some instances I have to tell her she needs to be a little more forceful when it comes to getting answers from people in the service industry.

So, after I call on her behalf, it turns out they've changed the damn meter, but say they can't turn the gas back on without being able to come into our house and check our gas appliances to make sure they're safe.  That's fine.  I can understand that.

What I don't understand is why they did it WITH ABSOLUTELY NO ADVANCE NOTICE WHATSOEVER!  I called ONG and asked this, and the rep on the phone told me that they'd been sending out fliers since earlier in the summer (not likely).  We've gone paperless for the ONG bill (auto bill-pay through the bank).  After doing some stammering and such, she apologized.  I know the position these people are in (customer service) I worked it for about 2 years.

I just don't understand why the hangtag couldn't have been placed yesterday stating they were going to do the work today.  No wonder they keep asking for rate hikes.  They have to be one of the most inefficient companies EVER.

OK, I feel better now.

[Red Arrow]

If you had been using more gas like a good wasteful consumer, they wouldn't have felt the need to change the meter.

PSO changed the meter on my hangar at Riverside/Jones Airport (Jenks).  I suspect it was because I use so little electricity and they were only getting their $37/mo for the privilege of having them send me a bill.

[sgrizzle]

Meters get changed regularly for a variety of reasons. ONG is putting in RF meters citywide so if you haven't been changed, you will.

The need to check inside the house is because they don't want an unlit pilot filling your house with gas while you're away and unaware.

The inserts are generally also available as part of paperless billing. You're actually supposed to go to the site and read everything like you have a paper bill, not just the amount. My guess is that their notice was somewhere on page 7 or in one of those colorful feelgood inserts.

[nathanm]

The need to check inside the house is because they don't want an unlit pilot filling your house with gas while you're away and unaware.

Standing pilot? What's that? (other than a waste of gas)

[TeeDub]

You do realize that you can turn your gas meter on and off yourself?

It just takes a crescent wrench.

Oh, right, then you would have to find something else to grumble about.

[Conan71]

There's a sewer manhole in the back corner of my back yard.  The city has been coming and going off and on for a few weeks and I did not happen to notice anything amiss until after I'd let my dog out last night.  This was the third or fourth time they left my gate open.  Fortunately this time, Butch had only gone around the front of the house and came back when I called him. 

They've trampled my nice ground cover in that bed to nothing, broken a branch off my plum tree, and can't see fit to take a few seconds to close my damn gate.  Anyone know what the number for the complaint line is at Public Works?  The ground cover will come back, I'm mainly irritated they can't be bothered with leaving my property secure and ensuring any pets I may have won't run out of the yard after they've left.  I shouldn't have to check my damn gates every night.  I guess I may just have to put a lock on my gates and leave a number they can call for access from now on.  Assclowns.

[Hoss]

Meters get changed regularly for a variety of reasons. ONG is putting in RF meters citywide so if you haven't been changed, you will.

The need to check inside the house is because they don't want an unlit pilot filling your house with gas while you're away and unaware.

The inserts are generally also available as part of paperless billing. You're actually supposed to go to the site and read everything like you have a paper bill, not just the amount. My guess is that their notice was somewhere on page 7 or in one of those colorful feelgood inserts.

Nope, checked em all for this year.  ONG doesn't use a type of ebill that is an attachment, like so many others do.  Evidently there have been a LOT of complaints along this same line as mine (replacing the meter without notification).

Oh, and TeeDumb; I know how to turn a gas meter off and on.  My complaint is that these assclowns couldn't be bothered with notifying me, either by a hangtag the day before, or a simple phone call that they were going to be replacing the meter.  And in this case, if they were worried so much about a standing pilot filling up a house with gas, why would they have NOT notified the customer more than 5 minutes in advance regarding this replacment?  You likely work for them, since you have such intricate knowledge of how to turn off a gas meter.  I bet you can chew gum and walk simultaneously.

[TeeDub]

  And in this case, if they were worried so much about a standing pilot filling up a house with gas, why would they have NOT notified the customer more than 5 minutes in advance regarding this replacement?

Um, they didn't worry about it because they didn't turn it back on.   Duh. 

Why should they have to notify you anyway?   What are you going to do about it?   Whine.   Oh right.   Good luck finding another provider.  Seems like they have a monopoly and aren't afraid to use it.

[custosnox]

Um, they didn't worry about it because they didn't turn it back on.   Duh. 

Why should they have to notify you anyway?   What are you going to do about it?   Whine.   Oh right.   Good luck finding another provider.  Seems like they have a monopoly and aren't afraid to use it.

One can always setup a propane tank in the back yard. 

[patric]

One can always setup a propane tank in the back yard. 

...and then buy all new LPG appliances, which are not interchangeable with NG in most cases.

[nathanm]

...and then buy all new LPG appliances, which are not interchangeable with NG in most cases.

Nah, it's usually just a matter of changing a small part. $20-$30 per if you can do it yourself. Getting a permit for a tank might be difficult in town, though.

[DolfanBob]

So not to start another thread but along the same lines. Anyone else have PSO contact them(Again)about tree trimming in your yard ?
They contacted us with a phone call about four Months ago, letting us know that they would soon be in our area to do the tree trimming. This first took place about 2005 and they tore up the back part of our property. Of course the day they came the yard was soaked and whatever equipment they used left deep ruts out front and in the back yard. We have 1&1/4 acre.
They left gates open with no regard to the dogs that we have in the yard and now we get to go thru the whole process again.
I had forgot about this taking place after all this time between the phone call and the door hanger left about two weeks ago. I still have no idea when this will happen, and so I guess I will just come home to open gates, tore up yard and my dogs roaming free. It's just about courtesy and respect. Of which utility companies employees have none.

[sgrizzle]

So not to start another thread but along the same lines. Anyone else have PSO contact them(Again)about tree trimming in your yard ?
They contacted us with a phone call about four Months ago, letting us know that they would soon be in our area to do the tree trimming. This first took place about 2005 and they tore up the back part of our property. Of course the day they came the yard was soaked and whatever equipment they used left deep ruts out front and in the back yard. We have 1&1/4 acre.
They left gates open with no regard to the dogs that we have in the yard and now we get to go thru the whole process again.
I had forgot about this taking place after all this time between the phone call and the door hanger left about two weeks ago. I still have no idea when this will happen, and so I guess I will just come home to open gates, tore up yard and my dogs roaming free. It's just about courtesy and respect. Of which utility companies employees have none.

877-367-6815

If that doesn't work, PM me.

[Red Arrow]

Standing pilot? What's that? (other than a waste of gas)

Night light?

Our oven and hot water heater still have pilots. Everything else has been replaced with pilotless equipment.

[custosnox]

Night light?

Our oven and hot water heater still have pilots. Everything else has been replaced with pilotless equipment.

Now that would be nice. I've always had older appliances, so those pilot lights have always given me problems.