Smart Meters - Public Service Commission

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New Safety Concerns Over PECO Meter
Installations
Posted: Aug 22, 2012 9:19 AM EDTUpdated: Sep 13, 2012 1:41 PM EDT
PECO'S multi-million dollar smart meter program shut down last week following fire and
safety concerns.
Now, as the energy giant re-evaluates the program, a new safety issue is being raised -
are some workers required to meet installation quotas?
"This is shocking to me."
PECO spokesperson Cathy Engel Menendez was taken aback when Fox 29 showed
her a notice that seems to indicate that smart meter installers for a PECO subcontractor
must meet a performance quota, or be disciplined.
A so-called "Constructive Counseling Notice" was given to Fox 29 Investigates Jeff Cole
last week by a worker who claims he was suspended for not installing enough meters.
The employee works for Grid One Solutions, a company sub-contracting with PECO to
install thousands of the new meters.
The notice, written about two weeks ago, states that the employee will be "required to
meet and exceed his 30 meter quota," and "failure to do so will result in further
disciplinary action."
Last week, following a Fox 29 investigation and two recent fires in Buck's County,
PECO suspended the federally funded program over growing concerns that the
installation of the digital meters could spark fires.
PECO says there have been 15 overheating incidents since they began installing the
meters last year. To date, 186,000 meters have been installed. PECO says nine of the
incidents were the result of existing electrical conditions. Six are still under investigation.
Engel Menendez says Grid One has told PECO that it does not impose a quota system.
Menendez believes if installers must meet performance goals, safety could be an issue.
"It's just frankly against the paramount focus of safety," Menendez says. "It is
unequivocally not the way PECO conducts itself."
"The guys are driven pretty hard."