SmartMeter: So much for PG&E's credibility
Times-Herald (Vallejo, CA) - Thursday, May 13, 2010
Author: Published By Times Herald

 

 

After months of denial that there were any significant problems with its SmartMeter program, PG&E belatedly admits tens of thousands of the new digital meters were involved in some kind of problem.

The utility said 23,000 meters were installed improperly, 11,376 failed to retain consumer usage data, and 9,000 had trouble connecting with the wireless network.

Just how accurate these latest figures are is anyone's guess. These shortcomings might be just the tip of the iceberg of a more widespread problem with the SmartMeter program.

But even if PG&E has found all of the problems with its new meters, the utility's damaged credibility with its customers is likely to remain for some time.

PG&E still can't say how many of its customers were overcharged, undercharged or the total number of inaccuracies.

Finally, PG&E is conceding it has done a poor job responding to consumer complaints about the SmartMeters. But even as information on meter problems mounted, the utility appeared reluctant to release information about the problems.

State Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez , D-Shafter, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on the Smart Grid, is understandably upset with PG&E's slow response.

He said it took a directive from the California Public Utilities Commission to force the utility to release basic information.

Just how long would it have taken PG&E to admit to the tens of thousands of problems with its SmartMeters if the PUC had not demanded the information on meter malfunction be made public?

PG&E officials insisted last year there were few if any problems with the SmartMeters. They blamed huge spikes in bills on unusually hot weather and rate increases. Now we all know better.

The giant utility is trying to rebuild consumer credibility and is adding 165 customer representatives to its SmartMeter call center and is holding additional community meetings.

Perhaps PG&E would have a better chance of improving its credibility had it not been spending tens of millions of ratepayer and investor dollars on a self-serving ballot initiative. The utility is the main backer of Proposition 16, which is designed for the sole purpose of constraining competition from municipal-owned electricity providers.

Ads financed by PG&E for Prop. 16 continue to flood the airwaves with disingenuous propaganda, presenting the measure as a pro-voter campaign. It decidedly is not.

We have supported the SmartMeter program and would like to see it work, but PG&E needs to place a moratorium on the program until problems with the meters are resolved. Unfortunately, the utility says the moratorium is unnecessary.

PG&E denied problems with the SmartMeters, was forced to reveal basic information about them, insists on not delaying installation of the meters and continues to promote an anti-consumer ballot initiative. So much for credibility.