TYLER (KYTX) -- Some East Texans are angry about their electricity bills. Viewers have been telling CBS19 the installation of new smart power meters brought them higher bills.
Responding to confusion on a variety of topics like tree-trimming, power outages and those smart meters, Oncor is holding a 2-day open house at the Tyler Rose Center.
Oncor has rolled out more than one million smart meters in its service area. Now it's East Texas' turn--starting in rural Smith County and moving into Tyler.
"It just makes us all smarter buyers of electricity," Oncor's Charles Hill said.
Hill said the biggest benefit to the smart meter is the fact that it's connected to the home base, getting rid of technicians in your yard, along with the possibility that they could mis-read your usage off the gauge.
"There are in-home monitors that you can buy that will communicate with your meter that will give you literally instant feedback," Hill said.
Those devices use the same connection as your provider uses to bill you, allowing you to figure out your own day-to-day habits by watching the changes.
But some people say the smart meter is best at raising bills.
"Please tell me how my bill doubled for last month and weather was mild," Facebook user Colleen said. "More frustrating is that there's nothing we can do about it."
"[My friend's bill] went up 75-percent," Facebook user Jeremy said. "He complained and the [retail electric provider] said the old meter was just that inaccurate."
Hill said the winter installation time-frame of the first smart meters in the East Texas, which coincides with colder temperatures, has led to mis-understandings. The company still believes smart meters offer a valuable opportunity to educate people about energy usage.
"It's almost like watching the gas mileage on your car," Hill said. "If you're conscious of how you drive, or conscious of how you use electricity, you'll just by default use less electricity or gas."
Oncor will be at the Rose Center from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday.
