Smart Meters - Public Service Commission

Fire Concerns Lead PECO To Halt Smart Meter
Installations
Posted: Aug 15, 2012 6:58 PM EDTUpdated: Sep 13, 2012 1:41 PM EDT
By Jeff Cole, Reporter
PHILADELPHIA -
After at least two fires and over a dozen incidents of overheating, PECO is
halting its controversial smart meter installation program.
The stunning announcement came Wednesday morning as FOX 29
Investigates pressed the company over a spate of recent incidents,
including fires in Bucks County.
PECO had plans to install 1.6 million of the so-called smart meters.
The digital units are designed to conserve energy and help customers
monitor their usage.
But over the past few months, concerns and complaints have grown that
the installation of these new meters have sparked fires, including two
recently in Bucks County.
Now, PECO is stopping installations as it takes a hard look at the meters
and prepares to put safety measures in place
"Is PECO concerned that it has 186,000 meters in people's homes here
that may represent a danger to them and their families?" FOX 29's Jeff
Cole asked.
"This situation is obviously being taken very seriously," PECO
spokeswoman Cathy Engle Menendez answered. "We have 186,000
meters, the vast majority of which are performingwell., but we've had 15
cases where there have been issues."
Of the 15 incidents, PECO says it is still investigating nine. Six, they claim,
were not caused by the smart meters.
Along with the abrupt halt of the meter installations, PECO says it will install
warning and shutdown components on those already in place.
In his video report for Wednesday's FOX 29 News at 10, Cole spoke to
some of the property owners who were impacted by the fires.