ROCKWALL - Granted she lives in a big house, but never before has Jennifer Cordts received such a big utility bill.
"I don't feel I owe it," she said.
Cordts, 38, said her family's electric bills used to average about $400 a month. But, in December he bill surged to $1,845. Then, in January, Oncor didn't read her electric meter, but estimated it according to the bill from her retail provider, Reliant Energy, and charged her $994.
The only thing to change, Cordts said, was Oncor installing her new smart meter.
"I'm frustrated and there's a bit of fear there too because if these bills continue I don't know how we'll pay," she said.
"This is very important," said Ken Anderson, one of Texas' three Public Utility Commissioners.
The PUC oversees utilities like Oncor.
In an exclusive interview with WFAA, he said he is pushing for Oncor and its counterparts in Houston and South Texas to offer free meter examinations for anyone skeptical of the new digital devices. Until now, utilities have charged $10 to $35 to send a technician out to perform the analysis, he said.
"We're going to waive that fee for anybody who wants their advanced meter checked, at least once," Anderson said. "That will be done at the next meeting."
The next meeting is Thursday in Austin.
The PUC is also expected to announce which company or firm will conduct the independent test of smart meters.
"If the testing uncovers significant problems either in the meters themselves or in the software system or in the communication system, then we obviously have to consider whether to suspend the rollout," Anderson said.
To date, Oncor has deployed almost 800,000 smart meters in its service area. But, less than one percent of those with the meters have reported problems or complained to the PUC.
Oncor blames big bills on cold weather. Commissioner Anderson said the complaints he has received have generally coincided with record cold winter that North Texas has experienced over the last couple months.
The company even began side-by-side tests at skeptics' homes in Temple on Monday showing new meters recording usage next to old ones. The utility said it will begin similar tests in north Oak Cliff on Tuesday morning.
Cordts said she isn't convinced and rather concerned about what to expect come summer.
E-mail: jwhitely@wfaa.com
