So Cal Edison Customers To Get New Energy Meters

Starting November, Southern California Edison customers 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. S.C.E. 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,” said Kathy DeRosa, spokeswoman for Southern California Edison.

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,” said S.C.E. customer Fred Bass

Customers will be pay an extra 1.6 percent every month through 2012. That’s a $1.60 every $100 spent on electricity bill.

Some think it’s reasonable 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 to spend on these fancy things,” said Sinclair.

“We have no choice over the matter so I assume it would not do any good to complain about it,” said Palm Desert resident Kathy Paxton.

Installations begin in November and will be in full swing by January, with crews installing roughly 4,000 to 5,000 meters a day.

Power companies around the country already installed the new meters. Judy Armstrong is visiting her mother from Idaho and thinks the transition in the valley will go smooth.

“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.