The rollout of smart meters in the US is losing momentum as it encounters resistance from consumers and utility commissions.

 

Bloomberg reports that nearly a dozen California cities and counties have halted installations, complaining that the meters are sending faulty data to utilities. 

 

Residents in Bakersfield, southern California, have filed a class action against utility PG&E, accusing it of overcharging since the meters were installed. Hawaiian regulators have reject plans by Hawaiian Electric to install smart meters.

 

“The meters don't benefit the consumer; they cost a lot of money, and we can't opt out,” Joshua Hart, an anti-meters campaigner told Bloomberg.

 

In response, utilities and smart meter manufacturers have combined to tackle the growing opposition. GE, IBM and others formed the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative in March this year.

 

Public utility commissions are also skeptical, with the Indiana regulator blocking a plan by Duke Energy to roll out 800,000 meters because it believed the costs would outweigh the consumer benefits.