HOUSTON – Note: The following story is a verbatim transcript of an Investigators story that aired on Monday, Sept. 24, 2007, on KPRC Local 2 at 10 p.m.
Local 2 Investigates is uncovering changes to your electric bill. In exactly one week, hundreds of Houstonians could lose power. Your electricity could be shut off thanks to a new state rule.
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Investigative reporter Amy Davis is revealing how a rule that was supposed to protect consumers may be costing you more money.
It's for security -- your family's safety.
"It's got to be happening all over. I'm not the only one I know with a locked gate," said Joe Young, an unhappy homeowner.
What's happening? Homeowners all over Houston are receiving warnings. They're getting a note on their front door.
"The first line it said, 'Your power is going to be cut off,'" said Paul Pinell, another unhappy electricity customer.
Your electricity could be disconnected because a new state rule said meter readers must have access to read your electricity meter.
"I think the reason for the rule was we didn't want companies to do as much estimation as they'd done in the past, and try and get real meter reads," said Mike Renfro, who oversees customer service at the Public Utility Commission of Texas.
In May, Local 2 Investigates uncovered widespread estimations by CenterPoint meter readers -- guessing how much electricity consumers used, instead of actually reading their meters.
Homeowners' bills skyrocketed because they were charged for electricity they didn't use. Four months later, we've learned the rule designed to protect consumers from unfair overbilling could now cost you more money.
Pinell said, "My whole thing was it seemed like a strong-arm tactic."
Paul Pinell has lived in the same house in Cy-Fair, with the same fence, for 13 years.
Joe Young has locked his fence for the last seven years.
Neither have ever had a problem with meter readers or electric bills until the new rule took effect July 1.
"I don't think that's fair, because nothing has changed in the last 30 years and all of sudden it looks like they've found a revenue stream," Young said.
"I know my staff has called the wires company and said, 'Boy, something here doesn't ring true because if you've been able to read the meter and the meter reader can go in the back yard and suddenly he decides he can't go in that back yard, what's changed?'" said Renfro.
The rule said if CenterPoint meter readers can't get in to read your meter three months in a row because of dogs, a gate, or any reason, CenterPoint can cut off your power.
Local 2 Investigates discovered in July meter readers couldn't get in to read 11,000 residential meters. In August, they say they were denied access to 16,000 residential meters. In the first two weeks of September, they had to estimate 8,000 meters.
"We're working with those customers to explain the situation and find a solution that works for them," said Floyd LeBlanc, vice president of corporate communications for CenterPoint Energy.
Your options -- keep your gate unlocked or dogs inside. Setting an appointment with the meter reader is next to impossible.
One CenterPoint employee went so far as to tell a homeowner to leave a note on his gate, telling the meter reader and anyone else passing by the gate was unlocked.
Young said, "Are they crazy?"
There is another option. You can pay to have a special radio-read meter installed, one that the meter reader can read from the street. The cost to you -- $69.
"Unless (the electric meter) is mine, why should I be responsible for it? No one should be responsible for it. It's their equipment," Pinell said.
LeBlanc said, "I would use the old adage, there is no free lunch. These meters cost."
CenterPoint contends passing the buck is necessary.
"We don't have an option," LeBlanc said. "We have to make actual meter readings."
"That's CenterPoint's solution," Renfo said. "There are wires companies that go ahead and bear that cost."
That's right. Other companies doing the same job as CenterPoint actually absorb the cost and consider it the cost of doing business. CenterPoint does not.
Since July, about 300 customers have purchased the new meters. Another 500 people could be in the dark come Oct. 1 for having three consecutive estimated meter reads.
"Again, we're mandated by the regulators to get actual readings and this is an effective way, and we believe a low-cost way, to get those actual readings," Leblanc said.
Many homeowners say CenterPoint had no problems reading their meters in the past. It wasn't until the new rule took effect that meter readers are claiming access issues.
In 2008, CenterPoint will start installing new digital meters all over Houston. It's the largest switch ever in the history of Houston power.
Coming up Tuesday night on Local 2 News at 10 -- find out how other cities are faring with the new digital meters and what a huge lawsuit against another Texas utility company may mean for us.
Do you have a question about your electric bill?
Give us a call on our tip line at 713-223-TIPS or send us an e-mail to local2investigates@click2houston.com.
We'll answer some of your questions on the Local 2 News later this week.