POSTED: Monday, January 30, 2012 - 11:28pm
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - 2:53pm
TYLER — After a public outcry over high bills, Oncor held an "Ask Oncor" open house in Tyler where East tTexans could bring their bills and ask questions about smart meters.
"Dennis" -- that's what he prefers to go by -- is from across the pond, but lives here in East Texas.
He says the Smart Meters would be fine if the company allowed customers even more access to how they work than they already do.
"Until that transparency's there, there's no way that I can put 100% trust in the meter reads and the bills," Dennis said.
But Oncor stands by the meters -- saying they're more transparent than ever . You can use the internet to monitor how much electricity you're using.
And spokesperson Megan Wright says you can even buy a device that shows you in real time how much energy you're using.
"Currently we're testing meters in Nacogdoches and Lufkin -- where we have an advanced meter set up next to an old meter and are comparing the two just to make sure that they're still working and they're finding again and again that they're accurate," Wright said.
Wright says often it's the electric retailers that provide inaccurate information about Smart Meters -- and if you're bill is too high, she says it may be your retailer
East Texan Mike Wallace agrees. He says after investigating his high energy bills, he switched to Ambit Energy -- which he now sells because he's such a believer in the company.
"The public is not aware that we're a "Right to Choose" state, so they're pointing their fingers at Oncor saying that it's the meters fault...most likely if you look at your bill and see that you're paying a real high kilowatt hour price," Wallace said.