Pacific Gas and Electric said some of its smart meters have not worked properly, and it has been estimating some bills. Shafter Senator Dean Florez (D) held a press conference Thursday in Sacramento blasting the utility giant for not releasing this information sooner.
“PG&E has admitted to defects in current smart meter technology,” Florez said, adding that he has been asking for this information for five months. Many, including Florez, have long questioned the meters’ accuracy, since many saw their bills spike when the smart meters were installed.
PG&E admitted to Bloomberg News some of the meters were not transmitting usage data properly. “When you think about this, customers out there, many of which, aren’t aware their bills have been estimated,” Florez said. Florez also wants to know exactly how may smart meters are defective, whose bills were or are being estimated, why the meters still were being installed after defects were known and how long has PG&E has known about this.
PG&G spokesman Denny Boyles told 17 News that they told Florez before that some of the smart meters were not transmitting usage data, and those bills were estimated. Boyles said these are isolated incidents, and there were two in Bakersfield.
“The consumer has the ultimate protection because the meter is attached to the house,” Michael Turnipseed, executive director of the Kern Taxpayers Association, said. He has been challenging the utility giant as well. He recommends people monitor their own power usage by physically checking their own meter each week. “Just write the date, time and what the meter says then you keep a log,” he said, adding that you compare that with the kilowatt hours you are charged with using on your PG&E bill. Boyles said if your bill is being estimated, it will state that on your bill.
Florez is spearheading a senate public hearing in Sacramento regarding the smart meters on April 26. Florez said he invited PG&E president and CEO Peter Darbee, to publicly answer his questions.
