Firm that worked for PG&E named to investigate SmartMeters

[The Straight Story]

Firm that worked for PG&E named to investigate SmartMeters

(CA)
State officials have selected a Houston-based energy consultancy -- one that has been paid by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. for past work -- to investigate the company's SmartMeter system, blamed by some local customers for spiking power bills last summer.

The Structure Group is to perform an independent evaluation of the meter system's accuracy, customer complaints about high bills, and how PG&E's SmartMeter rollout compares with the industry's best practices. The $1.4 million inquiry is expected to take four months -- maybe more, maybe less, depending what turns up.

Structure was named the winner Tuesday, more than four months after the state Public Utilities Commission approved an expedited process to assign the contract.

The delay, which the commission attributed to cumbersome official procedures, stoked the suspicion of one of PG&E's biggest local critics, state Sen. Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter). Earlier this month he accused the commission of dragging its feet on hiring an investigator so that the utility could install more of its SmartMeters.

http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x2143248443/Firm-that-worked-for-PG-E-named-to-investigate-SmartMeters

[msongs]

1. smart meters are a corporate whore scam and should be dumped..

PG&E in its eternal search for new ways to screw customers says people can't determine for themselves that they use more gas when it's colder and less when it's hotter.

Unfortunately the state of CA Prostitutes on the Utilities Commission (PUC - a collection of corporate stooges) will not act as a regulator rather than a wholly owned subsidiary of PG&E, ATT, etc

Msongs

[The Straight Story]

2. I had one installed when I lived there, big jump in my bill

Similar thing happened to me in Laurelville, Ohio. They put some new meter on and then sent me a $900+ bill. Said my old meter was not transmitting the data properly to their substation (bills were 40-50 before IIRC) so they had to make up for all the previous months - I had only lived there 4 months at the time.

[Supersedeas]

3. interesting choice for investigating the matters--instead of a consumer group, an energy industry

insider group

[nc4bo]

4. The BSing is neverending.

Same thing car manufacturers investigating their own flaws, etc. etc.

[malaise]

5. I am convinced that capitalism is one big scam against

ordinary people. Every single business is trying to rip you off.

[tammywammy]

6. They've put the smart meters on hold in Texas while they investigate them

I'm glad they hadn't gotten to my neighborhood yet with them.