'Smart Meter' hatred still out there

TYLER — Many Texans still hate "Smart Meters."

Oncor tells KETK, they expect to be completely done installing them by the first of the year.

The end of a three year transition process.

Oncor's Charles Hill says the negative hoopla has died down across the state.

Many East Texans tell KETK, they're still frustrated with the meters.

Paul writes "Smart Meters equal less work for employees.  So where does our savings apply?  No decrease in rates!  One glitch in the system and you may owe big time!  Mechanical is better!"

Many of the opponents are scared of RF radiation from the meters.

Hill says that's a myth -- It gives off much less than your typical cell phone or baby monitor and it doesn't even transmit 24 hours a day.

But what about making the Smart Meters optional?  Something many appear to favor.

"We're okay with an optional program.  The only issue is, we have to have recoverability of our cost.  If the P.U.C. and the legislature can figure out a way so that we can recover our cost of sending a meter reader by once a month and hand inputting those readings," Hill said.

 Apparently, that's still a possibility, but they just haven't heard anything about the stages of those plans lately.

Even though many do hate the meters from a liberty standpoint, others like them just fine.

Jerry writes  "I'm with Wood County Co-Op.  I'm on average monthly billing, and I get a dividend check every year, and my meter works just fine," Hill said.