PG&E acknowledges thousands of inaccurate utility bills

[Newsjock]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

After earlier insisting that only "a few" customers with its new SmartMeters received inaccurate utility bills, PG&E acknowledged Monday that the number may be as high as 23,000.

PG&E couldn't say how many of those customers were overcharged, how many were undercharged or the total sum of the inaccuracies. But the utility conceded it has done a poor job responding to consumer complaints about SmartMeters and announced a major overhaul of its customer service efforts.

"While we have confidence in this technology, some of our customers question whether they can have faith in our SmartMeter program, and frankly in PG&E," said Senior Vice President Helen Burt, the chief customer officer. "Restoring this trust is absolutely critical to us."

But state Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez, D-Shafter, chairman of the Senate Select Committee on the Smart Grid, characterized the utility's latest disclosures "more as slow crawl toward the truth than anything else."

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_15057399

[Newest Reality]

1. I think we should be careful these days ...

When you attach "smart" to a utility meter, it is easy to assume that the smart part is that it is going to use its capabilities to get more money out of you.

So, yeah, smart bill-jacking device ;) In a capitalistic society, that's the epitome of smart.

[dana_b]

2. I rent and pay 1/3 of the utility bill

Since they installed this "Smart Meter" last September, the bill has at least doubled from the previous year - sometimes near tripled. They say its working fine. It makes no sense except to their profits.

[tomm2thumbs]

3. the lady in front of me in line had a sudden 1,200.00 bill error - she did not look all too pleased

either that, or I guess she likes her place reaaaally comfy

[ultracase24]

4. Trust us while we find new and innovative ways to pick your pockets

Where have I heard this song and dance before? hmmmm

[boppers]

5. Out of 5.5 million:

"Last month, PG&E detailed 43,376 cases in which the SmartMeters were involved in some kind of problem. The utility found 23,000 meters that were installed improperly, 11,376 that failed to retain consumer usage information and 9,000 that had trouble connecting with the wireless network.
But it said then that only "a few" customers received inaccurate bills. On Monday, however, Burt disclosed that the 23,000 meters that were installed incorrectly were gas meters, and that the "vast majority" of those customers got inaccurate bills."

That's a pretty low error rate for any wide rollout of a new technology, but not low enough for a utility company.

[PM Martin]

6. "Smart Meter" or Scam Meter?

[truedelphi]

7. So here is a question for the scientific types - how large a magnet would it take

To completely disable your smart meter?

[gtar100]

8. Let me guess before I read this - they were all charged too much.

Reading - yep. Oh gee, what a coincidence.

[cstanleytech]

9. To bad their not required to pay the people extra money back as part of their

making amends.
It would be justice after all when ya consider how utilities sock it to ya with late fees when you screw up and dont pay the bill in full and or on time.

[pattmarty]

10. It's about time we at least start the conversation about nationalizing...........

............ALL utility companies (water, electric, phone and cable/satellite). It won't happen in this reactionary climate today, but we can at least get the "debate" out there. All these private companies are fucking consumers (Enron sound familiar) and it is about time to AGAIN get them under some kind of regulatory control.