Florez Takes On PG&E Smart Meters in Fresno Town Hall

Posted: Oct 21, 2009 11:36 PM PDT
By Clint Olivier

FRESNO - Hundreds pack the auditorium in the state building in Downtown Fresno.

At issue, do Pacific Gas and Electric Smart Meters installed so far on 1.7 million valley homes and businesses, have any benefit to the customer?

Everyone on a panel answered with a resounding "no."

"They're smart as far as PG&E is concerned, as far as the consumer is concerned, they suck for lack of a better term," Joe Rojas said.

Rojas own a vacant home.

He says a four dollar power bill became nearly 20 bucks once the meter went in.

Customers also told Florez when they talked to customer service, they were sometimes told their meters were accurate and they had no reason to complain.

"I'm somewhat dismayed by the faultless attitude displayed by PG&E that they are always right and the consumer is always wrong," Kelly Bray said.

Smart Meters are supposed to record electricity usage, and radio back the amount the customer used.

Florez says he believes the meters should be relied on, not feared.

"We have no assurance that when they are bolted to our home that they are actually working, that the radio waves aren't being interfered with, and ultimately if we're getting good information," Florez said.

PG&E has devoted more than 20 million dollars to educating customers about how the meters can be of benefit.

Spokesman Jeff Smith says the meters work citing the results of hundreds that have been re-tested.

"In all 1700 of those cases we have not found an instance thus far of the smart meter transmitting inaccurate information or incorrect usage information," Smith said.

http://www.kmph.com/Global/story.asp?S=11362704