Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2012 | 3 p.m.
CARSON CITY - A member of the Public Utilities Commission is arguing that customers not be allowed to opt out of NV Energy's controversial smart meter program.
Commissioner David Noble says NV Energy customers should not be allowed to choose an alternative to the smart meter, providing a dissenting voice as the PUC prepares to take up the issue Wednesday at a special meeting.
This draft order by Noble puts him at odds with a suggested decision written by commission hearing officer Nancy Wenzel, who says customers should have the option of having a digital meter instead of the one being offered by the utility.
Wenzel recommended that if customers choose the alternative digital meter, they should have to pay the extra cost.
Critics of the smart meters, most of them in Clark County, have raised questions about the health impact, safety, privacy and accuracy of the meters.
Smart meters will permit automated meter reading and remote electric service activation and electric service termination. It would mean the reduction of meter readers making the rounds. The estimated cost of the change-over to smart meters is $301 million of which $138 million will come from the federal government.
Noble said the best information shows the benefits of smart meters outweigh allowing customers to opt out of the plans of NV Energy to install 1.35 million smart meters.
Smart meters, Noble said, will reduce the operating costs of NV Energy. And customers, if they want to, will be able to read the meter every 15 minutes.
Noble agreed with the finding of Wenzel that smart meters are safe, secure, accurate and reliable.
"If future problems with smart meters do arise, the commission will investigate them to determine the appropriate courses of action," Noble said.
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