Kowalko on the Newark Smart Meter Project

The following is a letter to the editor that is being or has been submitted to various news outlets from State Representative and public and progressive champion John Kowalko. He points out where the city of Newark gets it right with their Smart Meter project and where DP&L and others get it wrong. Click through to read the letter. And thanks to Mr. Kowalko for sending this our way.

On Tuesday I attended the City of Newark “Smart Meter Project” public presentation. It is very encouraging to experience a public forum dedicated to enlightening the ratepayers and constituents as to the legitimate benefits of smart meter technology. The presentations, over the span of three and a half hours, hosted by City Manager Houck included a very well attended question and answer segment that allowed for thoughtful and honest answers by the equipment suppliers and the City’s utility managers resulting in an informative and cordial atmosphere of communication that other utilities would do well to emulate. The fact that the City Utility is not raising rates nor imposing a surcharge on its ratepayers for the costs or installation expenses of the equipment upgrades and very specifically advised that the costs would be recovered through anticipated savings accumulated by the new technology speaks volumes for responsible business management and fairness to ratepayers that is woefully lacking in DP&L’s proposal. Newark management also announced that it will not attempt to recover any monies from its ratepayers for the obsolete equipment. Perhaps the Public Service Commissioners, the Public Advocate and DP&L should have attended the presentation and learned the lesson of economic fairness and responsibility.

John Kowalko Jr.
State Representative 25th Dist
14 Kells Ave. Newark De.
302 547 9351
302 737 2396
John.kowalko@state.de.us