Searching for a solution on smart meters

[From Star-Telegram Watchdog columnist Dave Lieber:]

OK, I admit this question of smart meters and their accuracy does keep me up at night. North Texans are watching as their old meters are replaced with digital meters. Then some say their electric bills soar after the changeover.

I can't figure out if the meters are bad or if the customers are paying too much on their bills or suffering because of poorly insulated homes. Possibly, the new meters are catching up with them.

(These devices will soon be in most people's home to help show consumers how much electricity they are truly using.)

In three months, we'll probably the know the answer after a company hired by the Public Utility Commission of Texas completes its investigation.

In the meantime, I'm open to ideas from anyone about what is really going on. That's why I appreciate the letter from Brad Walsh of Grapevine, who tosses out some good ideas in this debate. He gave me permission to publish his letter in full. It will get you thinking:

"Mr. Lieber, Thanks for the Sunday piece about Oncor smart meters.  We have yet to get one installed, but I was (and mostly still am) eager to see this step taken, as part of modernizing the nation's power grid.

"I suspect (with admittedly no evidence so far) that what's going on is this.  Oncor for years was probably charging average household rates, rarely checking meters (it's too costly in manpower to do more than spot-check, I suspect--I haven't seen an actual meter reader in our neighborhood in a couple of years, and I suspect Oncor isn't eager to admit it).  Once smart meters hit, Oncor can remotely check meters, and people are now seeing a truer picture of what they're using.  The people who are getting hit with high bills are likely just one end of the distribution of bills.  Who would picket and sign petitions and join websites after finding out they're paying significantly LESS post-smart meter installation? 

"I would hope that people with hefty bills post-smart meter would look more closely at their utilization.  I've heard from some pro-grid reform writers that devices like certain chargers are what are called "vampires," continually sucking small amounts of energy 24-7 just to keep whatever they're charging at 100% full charge, and can sneak power utilization way up.  A combination of having vampires, an older air conditioner, two fridges and a tv that's left on all the time would put you in that top 10% of household utilization bills that would send people protesting. 

"I wish I had more hard data, maybe that's something you can facilitate, with research with Oncor or a call for a broader range of stories from your readers with smart meters.  But until we get more information, I suspect it's an instance of supply-and-demand being brought to bear for the first time on people who haven't been aware of their own utilization.  There will be winners and losers.  Bottom line, the smart meter sticker shock debate may just be the first painful wakeup call that we can't keep doing business as usual, because we're all paying for the power wasters' consumption. Brad Walsh"

Gets you thinking about your own household, doesn't it?

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Read Dave Lieber's latest report on smart meters from the Star-Telegram here