HOUSTON — A Houston homeowner said he may have paid another customer’s electricity bill for years after discovering that the meter number on his home did not match the one listed on his monthly electric bill, prompting an investigation and a response from CenterPoint Energy.
Peter Yang, a retired engineer and pastor, said he noticed his electric bills remained high despite reducing his electricity use. He said he raised his thermostat to between 79 and 80 degrees, monitored his energy consumption and regularly checked his electric meter.
Yang said his monthly bills typically ranged from $200 to $300 before one bill reached about $400.
After comparing his meter with his billing statement, Yang said he discovered the meter number on his home differed by one digit from the meter number listed on his account.
Yang said he contacted CenterPoint Energy and his electricity provider several times but was unable to resolve the issue. He documented his communications and filed a complaint with the Public Utility Commission on June 29.
According to Yang, a CenterPoint technician replaced the meter the following day. He said the company later told him the problem involved an incorrect meter number associated with his account rather than the meter itself.
Yang said he was informed he would receive a credit after the company determined he had overpaid for electricity.
CenterPoint Energy said it took immediate action after learning about the issue and is working with Yang to resolve it.
“Every day, our highest priority is providing the safe, reliable and affordable electric service our customers expect and deserve,” the company said in a statement. “As soon as we learned about this issue, we immediately took action to resolve it and are in contact with the customer to work together on a solution. We apologize for the inconvenience this issue has caused and remain committed to working with the customer until it is fully resolved.”
CenterPoint also encouraged customers experiencing billing concerns to contact the company directly.
Yang urged other customers to verify that the meter number on their electric bill matches the meter installed at their home, monitor their monthly electricity usage for unusual changes, keep records of communications with their utility provider and file a complaint with the Public Utility Commission if concerns remain unresolved.
