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PG&E sued over SmartMeters
A lawsuit was filed this week in Kern County on behalf of everyone in California who believes they’ve been ripped off by PG&E’s SmartMeter program. The suit, filed by El Segundo firm Kirtland & Packard, is seeking class action status and lists eleven charges against the utility. Among other things, PG&E is accused of knowingly installing meters that overcharge for actual electricity use, lying about the meters’ accuracy and the overall program’s benefit to consumers, ignoring customers’ complaints and misrepresenting rate hikes tied to the SmartMeter program to both consumers and the Public Utilities Commission. State Senator Dean Florez, who held a hearing on the issue in Bakersfield and Fresno, agreed. “PG&E’s case to the PUC for smart meters was so shot with bias against consumers that it doesn’t surprise me that PG&E is being taken to court,” he said, though he felt PUC commissioners are to blame as well. Bakersfield was ground zero for the SmartMeter program, with more than 250,000 new meters installed in starting in 2007. By early 2008, reports began bubbling up about soaring bills. Then in March of this year, a steep rate hike went into effect and by summer some local residents saw their bills go into the stratosphere with 200 percent to 400 percent increases over the same months for the previous year and no apparent increase in usage. Complaints flooded in and more than 200 people came Florez’ hearing to vent and try to find answers. Florez followed up with several demands to PG&E and the PUC, which were answered in lukewarm fashion. The lawsuit references the hearing and notes that even then, PG&E representatives didn’t take action. “PG&E has refused to acknowledge to (customers) that there is even a problem, so a lawsuit may be the only way to get at the truth here,” attorney Michael Kelly said in an email statement. PG&E maintains its SmartMeters aren’t the problem. “PG&E stands behind its SmartMeter program,” said Denny Boyles, the utility’s local spokesman. “The allegations in the lawsuit are untrue and have no merit.” One of the demands sent by Florez was for an independent party to test meter accuracy, which the PUC and PG&E have both agreed to. IF YOU WANT TO JOIN THE& nbsp;SUIT Kirtland and Packard would still like to hear from other PG&E customers having problems with the SmartMeters. And you can read the lawsuit here 8 comments from 7 users
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posted by
BakoBeachBumm
on Nov 5, 2009 at 05:33 PM
It would seem that the best way to test these new smart meters would be to install dual meters one the old style first in the line then then news smart meter the second in the series. That way everyone could see the usage which should show the same but many of us don't believe that it would. They should be required to offer this to anyone who questioned their usage.I am sure that they still have many of the older style NON-smart meters laying around to do this with and we know that they should be accurate since they used them for decades. posted by
midterm2
on Nov 5, 2009 at 05:49 PM
SHYSTERS! posted by
Infowar
on Nov 5, 2009 at 10:32 PM
PG&E used a company called Wellington Energies to install the smart meters. I personally talked to a few of the folks installing the meters in my neighborhood a few years ago. They all told me they were convicted felons.
posted by
DogGone
on Nov 5, 2009 at 10:40 PM
BakoBeachBumm, what the fresno? you trying to stir the pot? don't you know how much time and money it would take for PG&E to test and prove that these smart a$$ meters worked properly? sheesh! posted by
learnem
on Nov 6, 2009 at 02:41 AM
i just had a Terot reading (Mis Cleo lol) here is what she told me..... 1. PG and E will donate millions of dollars to some political cause 2. PG and E will hand out HUGE bonuses to its execs and, after the class action lawsuit has been won by the consumers........ 3. PG and E will file for Bankruptcy....just like they did back in 2002...when customers were fed up with their overcharging crap. posted by
NancyII
on Nov 6, 2009 at 06:20 AM
" BakoBeachBumm, what the fresno? " Heh..looks like the profanity cops busted ya.... LOL posted by
rwestfall
on Nov 6, 2009 at 06:41 AM
Beings how we (my work) have to calibrate all of our custody transfer meters monthly per federal law (MMS) I'm amazed these gas and electric meters don't have to ever be calibrated or checked. We use some of the best gas meters available and we still have to calibrate monthly. I've never seen any instrument stay in calibration forever. I bet the companies that sell electricity and gas to PG&E have to keep their meters in perfect shape. Isn't it funny PG&E never has to calibrate the meters that charge us? posted by
BakoBeachBumm
on Nov 6, 2009 at 10:44 AM
You are so very correct rwestfall. I also at one point in my life calibrated meters in the oilfields that controlled and maintained the emissions from some of the equipment out there. Sometimes there were meters that would come back after a short time because one or more of the electronics inside had failed. We would pull equipment on a regular basis to make sure that they stayed in calibration. It would seem that what happens is that if an inaccuracy is in your favor financially then you don't check them, but if it will cost you financially then you check their accuracy frequently. Do we trust that PG&E has managed to defy what the rest of the world deals with? that electronics fail!
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