Several stories have been surfacing recently about higher than normal electric bills, especially related to the new SMART METERS being installed in North Texas. The meters digitally record electrical usage instead of using the older spinning wheel method. T
he new meters held the promise of allowing electric companies to know when to put more power on the grid and to allow customers to have a better understanding of their usage. However it seems the meters are simply overcharging customers excessive amounts of usage.
See attached video
Thankfully, the Public Utility Commission and some state legislators are catching wind of this and are having the meters independently checked.
If the meters are right, we can all know that we're really using more electricity. If the meters are wrong, then someone owes us a big big refund.
Baker Residential and Commercial Properties Inspections - Springfield, VT
Home and Commercial Properties Inspections Vermont
Howdy once again there Bob
The ones they are usen here now, meter reader does not even have to get out of theit truck. They just point a beam at a little 4" black box on the front of the home, and they have their reading.
Mar 06, 2010 08:00 PM
Eastern Iowa Inspection Services LLC - Walker, IA
I haven't heard anything good about these. I have family in CA and they are installing smart water meters. I can only imagine what those folks are in for. I heard a story of one guy's meter malfunctioning and the city accused him of having water trucks pulling up to his house and selling the water. Took him like six months and attorney fees to get them to back off. Yikes!
Mar 06, 2010 11:15 PM
Viroqua, WI
One time I had a not so smart meter. It run up billing on our meter to the tune of $6000 in over charges. After contacting the local consumer utilities advocates and other wrangling we finally got a refund check. The city wanted us to sign a paper saying we would not discuss it with anyone, that was weird. It made me think they knew all about the over charges. Maybe your town should run both meters at the same time to see how accurate they are?
Mar 07, 2010 01:48 AM
RE/MAX Capital City - Austin, TX
ABR, CRS, CDPE, ePRO, MBA
The testing in Texas that I have read about seems to indicate that the smart meters are accurate. Does that mean that electric customers have been getting a huge bargain forever? Shouldn't we assume that testing showed the old meters to be accurate too? "Independent" testing is the key. I look forward to more on this story. Thanks for posting, Bob.
Mar 08, 2010 03:55 AM
Rainmaker
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