DALLAS — Another Texas lawmaker has sent a letter to the state's Public Utility Commission asking it to suspend deployment of the so-called smart meters until an independent test into their accuracy is complete in June.
The latest letter, written by State Rep. Robert Miklos, is the third asking for a meter moratorium. He said his office has received a number of complaints.
"The common thread among them is a uniform and unexplainable rise in usage and charges immediately following the installation of these devices," Rep. Miklos wrote.
State Rep. Barbara Mallory Caraway and State Sen. Tony Fraser have also asked the PUC to suspend deployment of the meters.
Dallas-based Oncor, which has installed more of what it calls "advanced meters" than any other utility in Texas, said multiple tests continue to prove the technology is reliable.
"There's no reason why hard-working Texans should be encumbered by high bills for the next three months while they do their testing," said Ree Wattner, founder of Smart Utility Reform Citizens, last week.
Commissioners from the PUC have already denied Sen. Fraser's moratorium request. They have not considered Rep. Caraway's or Rep. Miklos'.
A lawsuit against Oncor over the matter was filed last month.
E-mail jwhitely@wfaa.com
