LAS VEGAS -- Smart meters may get one step closer to final approval when state officials meet next week. 8 News NOW receives dozens of complaints each month from ratepayers claiming their power bills went up after a smart meter was installed in their home.
After a months-long investigation in whether there are accuracy problems with new power meters, the reason so many people say smart meters are costing more money remain inconclusive.
Right now, there are more than half a million smart meters installed in Nevada homes, soon to be connected to a electronic network. A small number of former meter readers agreed to talk about alleged inconsistencies with the new meters. They wanted their identity shielded to avoid difficulties in getting future employment.
"With the new meters, they were definitely doubling and tripling. They were reading more than the houses in the neighborhood," said one meter reader we'll call Joe.
Meter readers aren't scientists, nor are they experts. They are laid off, and very displeased with how they were let go. But they add their ground-level work gives them a unique perspective on the workings of smart meters.
"It's unfortunate that some of those claims are made because the individuals that go out and read those meters don't have the information or the training to make those types of claims," said NV Energy's Director Of Energy Solutions Gary Smith.
Other former and current employees say they did not witness similar alleged smart meter failures. Still, others corroborated the accounts of those who agreed to be interviewed.
"Homes were all over the board. Some of them were erred after the first month after installing the smart meter. Unfortunately, the consumer would probably have to pay the estimated amount since it wasn't working. Of course, the company was going to estimate on the high side. I came across a lot of erred meters," said another former employee we're calling Mary.
"We had a total of 60 high bill complaints where we were asked to actually test the meter -- pull the meter out and do a physical test. All of those meters turned out to be 100 percent accurate," said Smith.
NV Energy's website states, "In most cases, higher bills can be attributed to changes in weather, timing of rates, older equipment malfunctions and human error."
NV Energy's public application to install smart meters statewide cites a University of Nevada, Reno study that found the meters were 100 percent accurate.
"We tested these meters at zero degree Fahrenheit all the way to 125 degree Fahrenheit," said Dr. Mehdi Etezadi.
UNR tested 18 smart meters, picked not by the scientists, but by the unit's manufacturer. The smart meters were tested using industry standards, but not under simulated sand and weather conditions.
The university was paid more than $100,000 by the utility to conduct the test and it's renewable energy program has received more than $1 million in donations by NV Energy. Dr. Etezadi stands by his team's numbers.
"It's very accurate in terms of what it does. We don't fudge numbers," he said.
California is two years ahead of Nevada when it comes to smart meter installation. Santa Cruz and Marin County leaders issued moratoriums on smart meter installation. An independent review paid not by the utility, but by California's Public Utilities Commission found smart meters scientifically accurate, but ratepayer concerns remained.
Nevada PUC hearings have become packed with dozens of people opposing smart meters. Chairwoman Alaina Burtenshaw says the PUC is limited in what it can do, they are simply following law passed by the legislature.
"We really rely on the other parties to the case in bringing this information to us," she said.
According to Burtenshaw, the commission does not the time necessary to conduct independent studies, and that has not been a problem.
The majority of scientific evidence shows that smart meters are accurate, but there are still ratepayers who say their bills are going up and nobody seems to be certain why.
The Consumer Protection Bureau has set up a hotline for smart meter complaints. You can call (702) 486-3132 and press "5" to receive instructions on how to submit a complaint.
