By BJ Austin, KERA News
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-855143.mp3
Dallas, TX –
Oncor electric bills are going up. The Public Utility Commission has granted a 115 million dollar annual rate hike. That's less than half of what Oncor requested.
Terry Hadley, with the P-U-C, says customers will see an increase of $2.50 to $3.00 a month in their bills this fall.
Hadley: Part of that 115 million dollars, about 7.8 million - less than 10% -- involved recovery for advanced meters that ultimately have or will be replaced by the company.
Oncor spent 93 million dollars for "smart meters" that didn't meet standards later adopted by the P-U-C.
Fort Worth State Representative Lon Burnam says the Governor's appointees to the commission shielded Oncor's bottom line at the expense of North Texas customers.
Oncor says the meter part of the rate hike is 35 cents a month.