The Public Utility Commission is overseeing efforts to make sure Oncor's new “smart meters” live up to their claims of accuracy.

Last week, electric delivery provider Oncor went before the commission to present the "Oncor Smart Meter Verification Plan."

As part of the plan, Oncor is conducting side-by-side testing of the smart meter and the traditional meter at the homes of 24 volunteers in the Killeen-Temple area.

Killeen resident Bobby Grant is one of the volunteers who had the traditional electromechanical meter installed next to his smart meter.

"I started reading all of the horror stories in the paper and thought maybe something is wrong," Grant said. "I thought, if they want to test, they're welcome to do so."

This effort comes after concerns were raised over a jump in electricity bills by some of the 760,000 customers who’ve had the smart meters installed.

Grant said he is among those who are skeptical of the new meters accuracy.

"All of the years I've been out here. It was much higher than all the bills I've gotten before," he said.

For the side-by-side test, both meters will be read weekly for four weeks.

Oncor said the results of the usage will be photographed and available for the media and the Public Utility Commission.

From the start, Oncor officials have claimed the below average temperatures this winter have caused the rise in electricity bills.

"In North Texas and Central Texas, we've had a very cold winter." Oncor Senior Vice President of Asset Management and Engineering Jim Greer said. "And it's causing usage that many people have not seen in many, many years."

With the rise in electricity bills, Greer said the number of requests for meter tests have also gone up.

"Typically we'll have requests for meter tests for 400 a month, and we're running about 4,000 a month," Greer said.

However, he said, 75 percent of those requests are coming from customers who still have the old electromechanical meters.

Despite the fact that Oncor has said they have yet to find one smart meter not accurately measuring electric usage, Greer said these efforts are important.

"We believe that as soon as we can get the consumer confidence built, regained in this technology, the sooner these consumers can start taking the benefit from this system," he said.

The smart meters have been installed throughout north and Central Texas, as part of a larger plan to replace 3.4 million electromechanical meters by the end of 2012.

According to Oncor officials, the smart meters allow consumers to gather real-time data on their energy usage.

It also allows Oncor to receive instant notification of power outages.

Under the verification plan, Oncor will also review customer records to make sure the last usage recorded from the traditional meter was correctly entered during the switch.

"We have found that technician, when he's replacing the meter could record a digit wrong or a number wrong," Greer said. "And in less than 1 percent of the cases we found that to be true."

In those cases, Oncor said they will contact the customer and electric retail provider to fix the error.

"If they run all of the tests and find that there is not a problem, I'll just accept it and go on my merry way," Grant said.

An independent review of the meters and the software is among the other things that will be conducted under the plan.

The independent review will be overseen by the Public Utility Commission.

For those who still have questions about the accuracy of the meters, Oncor is offering free independent meter test for anyone who has not had their meter tested in last four years.

The tests will be offered for both the traditional or smart meters.

Residents in the Killeen and Temple area may also be chosen to participate in an independent test.

Those interested in the independent tests can call (888) 875-6279 by close of business on March 19.