Regulators to Oncor: "Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests"

Customers charged $25 for test will have fee refunded, utility says

By LITA BECK

Updated 10:30 PM CST, Thu, Mar 11, 2010

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NBCDFW.com

The Public Utility Commission told Oncor Electric Delivery not to charge customers who want their smart meter tested.

Customers across North and Central Texas are blaming the digital meters for high power bills. But Oncor says higher bills are the result of this winter's unusually cold weather.

Customers can request a free meter test once every four years. Additional tests cost $25.

Oncor says it has so far conducted more than 2,000 tests of smart meters for customers who have asked, the Dallas Morning News reported. About half of those customers have been billed for the test, according to the newspaper.

The PUC said Thursday the four-year period should reset when a home gets a new meter. Oncor said people who have paid for a meter test will be refunded the $25 fee.

The cost of the one "free" test every four years is built into a customer's rate.

The PUC has ordered independent testing of the controversial smart meters. Oncor also launched its own tests this week in hopes of demonstrating the meters' accuracy.

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First Published: Mar 11, 2010 10:23 PM CST

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OLDEST | RECENT

{"totSize":10,"payload_type":"json","status":"1","results":[{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 11:10:14 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1962493","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Those meters were installed without the PUCs permission to start with. The only thing is, in my opinion, Oncor will find a way to rig the tests. To say its only a minute difference. They are no different than any other crook."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":9307903,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 11:19:59 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"independent","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1962517","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Oncor is totally out of control. Hopefully this will become a major item in the race for governor. The strong arm tatics of this group has got to be curtailed."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 11:20:03 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1962519","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"The method they are using for testing has already been deemed unreliable."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 13:51:57 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1963153","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"To date, none of their "rationalizations" hold ANY water. Why don't they just go ahead and admit their malfeseance, cut rates to fall in line w/national averages for electric and EVERYONE will be happy! All that needs to happen is for them to fire one of the smart meter installers and that person goes to the press to blow the whistle on what they were told to do!"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":12542635,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 14:49:53 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"TexRep","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1963645","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Oncor is obviuosly involved in fraudulent practices. They will get caught and I hope they are fined heavily. What a joke!"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 15:10:54 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1963830","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"If a group on the streets makes you pay for a 'service' without you wanted said service, "strong arming" if you will, that is called extortion. However these guys, Oncor, replaced meters without a choice, and then began charging more for their usage... Giving the Gambini Family a run for their money are they?"},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 17:58:42 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1965539","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Most people call charging money to get bent over prostitution ONCOR! You are crooked, you are beyond moronic, and you have been caught screwing the citizens yet AGAIN. <br /><br />Hope more people do what I am going to do which is take a bat to my smart meter and take care of the problem."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 18:00:28 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1965558","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"So the same morons who cannot read the meters correctly in the first place are going to come out and test the meters? What a stupid dips**t idea ONCOR came up with again. Hope they get what's coming to them. Up yours ONCOR."},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":7918844,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 19:26:44 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"anonymous_user","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1966302","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"Blame The Public Utility Commission. They let oncor and all other so called providers rape us for our electricity. Tell your local representative to change deregulation in Texas. "},{"anonName":null,"pathToMedia":"396489_87424142","adminTags":null,"views":9,"createdBy":10125233,"createdByPathToPhoto":"116995/icons/defaultMember_116995_portrait.jpg","assocMediaId":null,"mediaName":"Regulators to Oncor: \"Quit Charging for Smart Meter Tests\"","parentThreadId":null,"mediaId":3985135,"tags":null,"anonSiteUrl":null,"assocMediaType":null,"createdAt":"12 Mar 2010 19:31:27 GMT","anonEmail":null,"isVisible":true,"approved":true,"numComments":10,"reviewed":true,"createdByUsername":"arontyler","pathToPreview":"","mediaType":"EXTERNALMEDIA","commentId":"1966346","subject":"","averageRating":0,"body":"To every on the P.U.C is under what Texas calls a sunset review. http://www.puc.state.tx.us/about/sunset/SunsetRevNotice_09.pdf "}],"error":"","totPages":1}

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