New Smart Meters Hit Renters In Pocketbook

customer — you’re going to get a new electric meter. it’s called a smart meter and it’s supposed to save you money. but first — news channel 3’s rodney wardle says — it’s going to cost you. starting next month, your electric meter will be replaced with a new “smart meter.” it’s designed to help keep track of how much power you use, so you can cut back before your bill goes too high. southern california edison customers can check their usage online. “be able to set how much you want to consume for the day you’ll be able to set how much you’ll eventually want to use on a monthly basis and then be able to monitor weather or not your meeting that budget.” but, some people we talked with wonder how much they will save. “i don’t think it’s going to save a lot of money it may save some money but we are so into now trying to save because of the economy.” then, there’s the cost. customers will be pay an extra one-point-six percent every month through 20-12 that’s a dollar- 60 for every 100 dollars on your s-c-e bill. not bad during the winter months. but, violet sinclair worries it’s going to cost seniors on fixed incomes too much during the long, hot desert summer. “they’re all older people and they don’t have a lot of money and they don’t have all that much money to spend on these fancy things.” “we have no choice over the matter so i assume it would not do any good to complain about it.” installations begin in november and will be in full swing by january, with crews installing roughly 4- thousand to 5- thousand meters a day. power companies around the country already installed the new meters. judy armstrong is visiting her mother from idaho. “i think in the end it will be work out really well for people because it is supposed to very accurate.” love them or hate them — the new meters are the future of electricity. rodney wardle, news channel 3 h-d, palm desert. a teenager is in jail —