California Senator Questions Value of PG&E Smart Meters
Sep 29, 2009
California State Senator Dean Florez (D-Shafter), in response to numerous complaints from consumers regarding high utility bills, has scheduled a hearing in early October to bring together consumers and representatives from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) and the state's Public Utilities Commission. The senator has asked for proof from PG&E that a single utility customer has saved money with a smart meter.
In a statement issued last week, a PG&E spokesperson said smart meters do not affect utility rates, but do give customers more detailed information about their electricity use that can help them manage their energy costs. The spokesperson contended that 87% of customers who enrolled in PG&E's SmartRate program have saved money on their bills.
While smart meters are widely considered to have proven their cost effectiveness, Florez noted that the sheer number of complaints he received encouraged him to question if they are truly worthwhile. Apparently, some consumers complained that their electric bills are three times higher than they were last summer.
While the utility has not applied for Smart Grid stimulus funds to help pay for its $2.2 billion project to install about 10 million smart electric and gas meters for its customers by 2011, it has asked for a $42.5 million stimulus grant to deploy installers and controllers for roughly 75,000 commercial and industrial customers.
The senator said he also wants to find out how much of the $2.2 billion meter rollout project cost is passed along to consumers, and added that he hopes the hearing will clear the air surroundingfinger pointing between PG&E and the PUC regarding high energy costs. The PUC authorized a rate increase for the utility in March 2009.The PUC has declined to comment on the issues Florez raised.
Quick Take: With so many of the requests for stimulus money targeting smart meters, these issues will likely be repeated many times in the months ahead. Energy customers and PUCs around the country are going to want answers – and getting everyone in the same room to talk it out sounds like a smart approach.
While I am certain there are extenuating circumstances at play in this case, I don't know that whether customers are saving money should be the criteria for moving forward with smart meter deployments.
At the end of the day, if we can get people educated on and actively engaged in reducing their energy usage, a smart meter implementation will have been successful. Saving money is a bonus.
Jessica Lorti - 09/29/2009 - 16:58
Smart Meters - help consumers in what way?
Question: Smart Meters are helping consumers in what way? I understand they help the utility by real time usage and demand information, and allow utilities to use the data to make real time trades of energy needs, potentially reducing costs. But where is the direct benefit to the consumer?
Steve Dixon - 09/30/2009 - 02:11
You can lead a horse...
You can lead a horse to a smart meter but you can't make him save. This whole thing is about giving consumers more choice and control. A consumer may actually choose to use more green power and it may be much more expensive. However this may suit his environmental goals and make him very happy. Senator Florez is missing the point. There are many more salient discussions to be had in the world of smart metering and energy source choices.
Jeff Wilson - 09/30/2009 - 08:23
Utilities cannot do it alone
The Senator is missing some important facts about smart meters and the smart grid:
1)Smart meters in isolation do not save consumers money or even tell consumers anything about thier energy use.
2) In order for consumers to monitor their energy consumption habits, they must have a monitoring device (e.g. web portal or in-home-display) that is linked to the data from their smart meters. This interactive monitoring device is the key to consumer education and realization of the benefits of the Smart Grid.
3) Utilities typically charge consumers who have smart meters based on dynamic or "real-time" energy pricing, which makes electricity use more expensive during "peak" price times.
4) consumers must take the initiative to review their energy use data and CHANGE their energy use habits to avoid "peak" prices if they hope to save money.
If consumers don't change their use habits, they will not use less electricity, they will not save money and the Smart Grid will be a waste of time and resources. Bottom line: consumers need monitoring tools and an education on changing energy use habits.
Tim - 10/01/2009 - 16:52
Smart Grid technologies reduce bills, not rates
Smart meters are just one component of an overall Smart Grid for the USA. Smart Grid technologies will increase grid reliability and give consumers the tools to reduce their electricity bills. Any expectations that Smart Grid technologies will reduce electricity rates should be addressed with education.
Christine Hertzog - 10/02/2009 - 11:23
Smart meter can't save money
Smart meters are just digital meters with time stamping capacity and remote communication. In order to save money usage display or usage management system is needed and that's not part of the smart meter therefore all claims that smart meter by itself can save money is not accurate; consumer must watch a display or go to a web site to see the peak time prices in effect and reduce their consumptions accordingly and people don't have that extra time to watch a display screen 24/7 There are automatic computerized systems that can act instead of smart meters and produce real results without engaging the consumers and deliver real savings smartly. See www.sdrt.net
Ray - 10/04/2009 - 22:22
Smart Meters Will Save Money...For PG&E That Is.
The smart grid and I think we can include smart meters, are being called by several people smarter than me, THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY. Man, that's scary coming through and seeing the last 12 months or so.
I can't wait till PG&E can just cut off my energy by remote control, and I have to swipe a green dot credit card to get them to turn it back on...
A few years ago, I paid by snail mail, my PG&E bill and it was late, since late on a Friday evening they shut off my electricity. I guess they figured a weekend of my freezer food thawing and no TV,
heat, or cooking, would teach me a lesson.
I went down to their office and paid the bill again cash, and sit down in their little waiting room, thik it's gone now. When they asked me what I was doing, I told them I was waiting for them to tell me if my power was back on.
I said, "When you call the police on me please let me know, so I can call the newspaper."
My power was back on within the hour. Green Earl
Earl Allen Boek, aka Green Earl - 10/06/2009 - 12:33
NEW SMART METER
I don't have a problem with the new smart meter as of yet I have a problem with the old "smart meter" my last bill before they replaced the old "smart meter" read that I averaged 68 kwh a day but as soon as they put the new one on I only used about 48 kwh a day. My ac was set @ 84 even when I was @ home. You can imagine how hot my house was inside in Bakersfield when its 104 outside but when it started showing that I was using less kwh I then turned my ac down to 79 & some how only used about 56 kwh I love the new digital smart meter
PAUL FOSTER - 10/07/2009 - 16:01
Smart Meters = Consumer Rip Off
Since having the Smart Meter installed, our PG&E bills have doubled! We are very energy conscience and our home is energy efficient. We checked our previous years power usage against the outrageous bills... we are using the same amount of power...in come cases...less! What is the deal?? Contacted PG&E and was told that higher bill was because of a hotter summer this year... C'mon, really??? We live in Fresno ...all our summers are HOT. What a LAME answer. Also were told that fee hikes have also been added, but they failed to tell us what they are for and why?? PG&E... YOU NEED TO REFUND THE PEOPLE YOU'VE RIPPED OFF....PLUS INTEREST!!! I say we all file a class action law suit.
Lydia - 10/14/2009 - 09:03
PG&E Smart meters
We had a problem with the smart meters not being read correctly. Apparently when they drive out to read the meter, they do it remotely from their trucks so if it is not reading they guess at what your bill should be. 2 months later we recieved a 700$ bill which when contacted PG&E said reflected what are true bill is since they were estimating are bill because of the meter not reading correctly.
Michael Hays - 10/17/2009 - 12:09
if its not broke dont fix it!
i think this is a bad idea due to the fact this is taking away more jobs, my husband is a meter reader and has been for several years he currently has no job security and being new parents leaves us to worry about our future. this did not work in bakersfield the town kicked it out due to outstading differnce in their bill, there is a time and place for everything and i dont think now or next year or the next are good, more and more people are losing their job we wont be able to pay a, p g and e bill..
stopsmartmeters - 11/13/2009 - 20:12
Tripled
My bill just tripled a month after having it installed. I know for a fact that I didn't triple my usage. At this rate it's probably going to force me to move out of the area.
Joe - 12/20/2009 - 18:18
3 times as higher than my neighbors?
We are living in a single wide trailer to save money to build our house. Before the smart meter our bill was always under $100.00 and my neighbor (1,600 sq. ft. house) was always around $250.00. I think that they mixed up our address. We have the same usage as the previous years and we understand the price increase, but not to $400.00. Yep a single wide trailer $400.00 a month. We don't even have a dishwasher. And to top it off my neighbors bill has now dropped to $150.00. They say that this has been the cheapest bills ever. If anyone has the same problem and wants to start a class A lawsuit e-mail me.
auly xayapheth - 03/11/2010 - 17:12
Dumb idea without realtime feedback
For those who don't have internet, they have know wat to view real time consumption. (This is how PG&E meters are supposed to work.)
This means you need to always be connected to the net for realtime info and the cost to do this comes out of your pocket.
In years past you could get a meter that recorded on and off peak consumption.
For those in rural areas that have a well for water there is no way around using peak power even with a storage tank unless it's located on a hill to provide pressure during peak time.
I have seen only one of these meters so far and it had no display to tell the consumer the time so they could tell if they were on or off peak time and no read out of power consumed like the older peak meters did.
This to me is like trying to recount an E-voting machine which will can be compromised by hackers.
So far no idiot meter here.
T Froeschner - 04/01/2010 - 14:56
Increase in bills
The last 2 months, since our new meter was added, our eletricity bill increased by 30 percent. It shows we are using more than we previous months and previous years which is odd. We have 3 less people living in my house and the two of us who are left do most everything in the dark. We have 3 less computers going, doing half the laundry, never had air conditioning and have a gas furnace that we used only 8 times this year, bundling up instead.
So, what do I do? Do I report this to my Congressman?
I've been on hold with PG & E for over a half hour. I'm giving up until tomorrow.
Rochelle Stockman.
Rochelle Stockman - 04/15/2010 - 18:39
hidden truths
This is a state of the art digital meter...very acurate and software driven includeing calibration to make it simple the meter can be told at any time of day to record more electical flow with no increase usage.It can be told t turn off flow or how much/less flow to deliver as well as what time of day.provides control of power useage at peak periods the meter will allow them to apply the 4 tiered charge for power thats currently based on how much is used per month and apply it to power when its used in a 24hour period with the highest cost charged to high end users during peak time of day The low end ussers will pay more high end pay less
Brian Keating - 05/14/2010 - 21:29
Smart Reader
The smart reader is not so smart. My bill for June was over $600. My girlfriends was over $900 last month. This is crazy. In June here in California it was cool. I never once turned on the air conditioner. Nothing has changed. There is something truly wrong with the smart reader and it is ripping off consumers. I can't afford it. I am going to have to turn my breakers off every day. Please DO SOMETHING.
Linda Pillard - 09/01/2010 - 19:02
Smart Meter Costs/Profits
How much does a Smart Meter Cost? Who is paying for the meters and their installation? How many meter readers (jobs) are being fired/laid off? I assume each meter has its own radio to wirelessly transmit data, and therefore produces EMI, what is the frequency and strength of this interference and have any studies been conducted to evaluate any health hazard effects. What is so "smart"about the meter. What increase in profits does PG&E expect to realize with smart meters installed.
KC Rock - 09/14/2010 - 22:06
Smartmeters
We had no choice in getting a smartmeter.We did not want one.PG&E went over our gate to install it without our permission.How is that legal?We really have no alternative or voice in the matter.Is this democratic?It sounds more like a monopoly to me.
Frank
Frances Frank - 10/15/2010 - 20:33
PG & E Rip Off
I would guess that the smart meters are calibrated to read electrical flow at a higher/different rate than the old meters, This way PG&E can get a big increase in the money coming in to their company and blame it on the consumer. I have yet to receive mine but have heard from numerous people who's usage supposedly went up after the new meter was installed. A big lawsuit is needed to put a stop to this rip off!
Raymond Smith - 02/12/2011 - 09:29
double utility bills
I just moved to a smaller home on propane heat, and my average bill went from $148 for electric to $297. We moved from a 2 story 2100 sq foot home w/o a smart meter and now are living in a 1600 square foot manufactured home. I went out and clamped my usage tonight it was averaged at .8kwh, and our daily usage is averaging over 40kwh. This is double from our usage from last year and our home is smaller w/ less lights. This is wrong and the PUC needs to get more involved. It would not surprize me if the manufacturer intentionally screwed up the meters for the sake of ripping people off, because many would never catch it or even attempt to challenge PG&E.
I don't care what PG&E says, they are ripping people off on time based usage now as well, and the total per KWH in my case. Calling them monday to change out my meter.
Brock - 02/20/2011 - 20:04
pathetic
It is the big money grab by pgne
mike - 04/06/2011 - 01:05
Smart Meter Lies
PG&E's Rippoff is taking place daily as these so called smart Meters are being put into place. I actually moved out of State because of all the money grabbers in Calif. My Bill also doubled and there were no extenuating circumstances as one person on here that sounded just like the person at PG&E tried to claim, to justify this crap. It's realatively simple that it is a Rippoff and Im done contributing to the greed.
For years we've been expecting smart meter hardware prices to decline sharply. A California company we told you about earlier this year is promising a smart meter for as little as $20. Do you think it will happen? Will we see dramatic price drops in smart meters this year - or anytime soon? That's our Tuesday Topic this week. We hope you'll join the discussion.
Twitter
Facebook
Linkedin
RSS
