Did a smart meter cause a higher electricity/gas bill for you? (Bakersfield: how much, month to)

[chinamen]

I heard horror stories in the internet and in the news that the smartmeter caused about maybe a $300-$400 increase in their electrity/gas bill. Please tell me that the smartmeter does not overcharge like this.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Edison just installed one about a month ago and my bill didn't vary any more than it normally does month to month. Just wait until they jack up the rates during the day time to make people sweat to death in the summer w/o AC. That's when the real fun will start.

[Ceece]

I've had mine for about a year and no, it didn't do anything.

[Rhenzanite]

Originally Posted by EscapeCalifornia

Edison just installed one about a month ago and my bill didn't vary any more than it normally does month to month. Just wait until they jack up the rates during the day time to make people sweat to death in the summer w/o AC. That's when the real fun will start.

Thank goodness I've never needed AC or a heater

[Roaddog]

My first bill after they installed it was lower, then WOW my bill went way up, I have filed many complaints with PG&E.

[chinamen]

Originally Posted by Roaddog

My first bill after they installed it was lower, then WOW my bill went way up, I have filed many complaints with PG&E.

How much did it go up to compared to your normal amount that you pay?

[Roaddog]

I'll tell ya, my bill had been in 100 degree plus temps $300.00 after the meter change my bill was $700.00 for a month, I was sick, my bill before in the winter was less than $100.00 now $160.00 is normal, I have installed a swamp cooler to help with the bill because it is so out of control, I also bought a newA/C unit but it didn't help the high cost, solar panels seem the next move.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by Roaddog

I'll tell ya, my bill had been in 100 degree plus temps $300.00 after the meter change my bill was $700.00 for a month, I was sick, my bill before in the winter was less than $100.00 now $160.00 is normal, I have installed a swamp cooler to help with the bill because it is so out of control, I also bought a newA/C unit but it didn't help the high cost, solar panels seem the next move.

Welcome to the state where they haven't built a new power plant in decades despite the constantly rising population. They're just going to keep raising the rates to discourage consumption. This is going to hit people in inland cities hardest due to the need for AC in the summer.

[TimC2462]

Originally Posted by chinamen

I heard horror stories in the internet and in the news that the smartmeter caused about maybe a $300-$400 increase in their electrity/gas bill. Please tell me that the smartmeter does not overcharge like this.

They do. And PG&E kept denying it for nearly a year until they admitted that the new SmartMeters could be contributing to the overcharge. Supposedly, an independent company is studying the SmartMeters and results should be out later this summer.

Meanwhile, read this article:

PG&E apologizes for customer service failings in SmartMeter ... - Bakersfield.com (http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x173373683/PG-E-apologizes-for-customer-service-failings-in-SmartMeter-rollout - broken link)

And many more by Lois Henry, who is diligent as ever to get to the bottom of this controversy:

Smartmeter on News Search - Bakersfield.com

[chinamen]

Originally Posted by TimC2462

They do. And PG&E kept denying it for nearly a year until they admitted that the new SmartMeters could be contributing to the overcharge. Supposedly, an independent company is studying the SmartMeters and results should be out later this summer.

Meanwhile, read this article:

PG&E apologizes for customer service failings in SmartMeter ... - Bakersfield.com (http://www.bakersfield.com/news/business/economy/x173373683/PG-E-apologizes-for-customer-service-failings-in-SmartMeter-rollout - broken link)

And many more by Lois Henry, who is diligent as ever to get to the bottom of this controversy:

Smartmeter on News Search - Bakersfield.com

I had a smartmeter installed the other day. The installer told me that the old 40 year old mechanical meter that he replaced ran slower and would result in a lower electricity bill.

What gets me is that PG and E is testing smart meters side by side with mechanical meters but they are not testing the old 40 year old meters that were used for years side by side with smart meters. They are just putting brand new mechanical meters in and testing it side by side with smart meters.