Oncor selects Grand Prairie home for side-by-side meter test
Wednesday, Oncor installed a new “smart meter” along side the current electromechanical meter at the Westchester area home of Steve and Carol Ann Adams to conduct a side-by-side comparison of the two meters. The test will last at least four weeks and provide weekly data to Oncor.
Oncor Senior Vice President Jim Greer explained the side-by-side comparison is one part of the company’s multi-step Smart Meter Verification Plan to restore consumer confidence in the reliability of the new meters so people will take advantage of the meter’s many features to ultimately save money. He added that the Public Utilities Commission of Texas is also conducting independent tests on meters and its computer system.
The utility company maintains the recent high electric bills can be blamed on one of the coldest winters in twenty-five years, not the new meters.
“The weather patterns over this winter have been very dramatic,” Greer said. “Most consumers haven’t seen usage of this magnitude in a number of years.”
He added that Oncor began installation of the new meters in the last quarter of 2008. That winter, North Texas experienced a normal mild weather pattern and the company did not receive complaints of faulty meters.
Carol Ann Adams, who generally takes care of the family’s finances, said their electric bills have been much higher this winter than last and “I feel my bill is too high.” She added that the many features with the new meter maybe nice, she is really only interested in the “bottom line,” her bill.
