BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter), is questioning the wisdom of PG&E’s “smart meters,” and will hold a news conference Thursday afternoon in Bakersfield with concerned consumers who have seen a dramatic increase in energy costs even, many feel, as their consumption has dropped.

Florez's office said that since 2006, PG&E has been replacing traditional meters which are read manually with so-called SmartMeters -- (Read More), which can be read remotely. All PG&E customers will have the newer devices by 2012, even though they only work optimally if the residents have new or retrofitted appliances and expensive communications devices.

PG&E has reportedly said the new meters are accurate and that higher bills are due to increased summer usage pushing consumers into the upper tiers of a new rate schedule. Many of those who have complained say they have decreased their energy consumption and have still seen their bills rise, Florez's office said.

Florez said that he has invited PG&E, Southern California Edison, the California Public Utilities Commission and concerned consumers to participate in a Senate hearing on the SmartMeter program and how it may relate to dramatic rate hikes on the evening of October 5 at the Kern County Board of Supervisors’ chambers.

Information provided by sen.ca.gov