SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif- If you are a Southern California Gas Company Customer you'll get a shiny new advanced wireless meter but you're footing the bill for it.
Almost every one has one has a meter from their gas company to read how much energy is being used but recently all major utility companies in California made the switch to wireless transmitters. "I know there have been a lot of incorrect rates, that people have been getting outrageous bills and jumps in their bills just from going to a wireless system," says Lacey Cliffton, a community member.
Now SoCalGas is making the change as well. It will cost customers up to 2-dollars more a month and if you want out, it will cost you up to 100-dollars plus an extra 10-dollar charge a month to stay with analog.
"It would probably be a lot more fair if the company paid for it because otherwise I would think I would have the option to say yes I want it, I'll pay for it because I want it, but if people don't want it why are they being forced to pay for it," says Clifton. SoCalGas says customers electing to move away from the new meters should be responsible for the costs.
Troy Scrivner says he uses PG&E's smart meter, a similar type of monitoring system and says it is much more efficient. "Since they installed the wireless it has been simple and the guy doesn't have to go through the backyard."
SoCalGas says the new advanced meters will give customers more detailed information on how to save on their bills and that it will help the environment by reducing 140-thousand tons of CO2 emissions each year.
The installation's will begin in Santa Barbara County mid 2015, and they will work their way up to the North County of San Luis Obispo by 2017.
