DALLAS - The Texas Public Utility Commission has agreed with a state senator that independent testing is needed on smart meters, a move Oncor welcomes. However, commissioners stopped short of a moratorium on the meter installations.
Many people have complained of expensive electric bills with the new meters. Like many, Joe Platt can't believe the amount of his last three electric bills.
"They're continuously apologizing for it, but basically say, 'Just wait until the next month and hopefully it will adjust itself,'" he said.
However, after he got a new digital smart meter, his bills didn't surge. Instead, they clocked in ridiculously low. He was billed $5.92 for December usage. A month later, he got a second bill for $5.30. Normally, his electric bills range from $130 to $160 a month, Platt said.
Despite calls to TXU and Oncor, he said he can't get answers.
"My main concern is that one day I'm going to get this huge bill and what are they going to base that off of?" Platt said.
North Texans have complained for weeks about expensive electric bills after Oncor installed smart meters.
In a letter to the Public Utility Commission this week, Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Killeen) asked commissioners to suspend installation of the advanced digital meters until an independent third party can analyze them.
"In regard to his recommendation of independent testing of the advanced meters, I am completely in agreement with this course of action," wrote Barry Smitherman, the P.U.C. chairman.
The P.U.C staff is currently looking for an independent contractor to conduct an analysis of the meters and their software. A company is expected to be identified within ten days.
But, commissioners rejected Fraser's moratorium request.
"Based on the presentation today, there are no systemic problems with the smart meter," said Terry Hadley, P.U.C. spokesman. "There are concerns about the public confidence level."
Still blaming big bills on the colder than normal winter not fault meters, Oncor welcomes the tests and said it will conduct its own as well - of the 760,000 advanced meters Oncor has installed, the utility said less than ten have been found with problems.
Oncor offered to take a number of steps to help build public confidence in the meters including side-by-side tests of the new meters and the old meters which could begin as early as Friday.
E-mail jwhitely@wfaa.com
