Oncor has said for the first time it knows how many customers have been overcharged on their electric bills after receiving smart meters.
The utility has said 1,827 North Texans received inflated electric bills following the installation of smart meters and that the mistakes were the result of "human error."
Oncor says this happened after installers misread the electricity usage recorded on the old mechanical meter dials, after installing the new smart meters.
As a result, some customers were charged anywhere from $12 to as much as an additional $660, on their electric bills.
Oncor says they have made changes to prevent this from happening again.
"We've created a double-check mechanism, including taking pictures of the meters, as they are taken out. That way, if there is any question in future, we will be able to go reference that picture to make sure that there was not a mistake," said Oncor spokesman, Chris Schein.
Oncor insists the smart meters themselves are accurate and that test after test keeps proving that. They also say the software systems and billing systems that go with them are also accurate.
As for how customers will know if they have been overcharged, Oncor says it will be working with the utilities companies between now and Monday, to contact them. Oncor will be offering a refund or credit.
E-mail: cvega@wfaa.com
