Independent tests of SmartMeters needed

[Commentary] Pacific Gas and Electric Co. announced last week that it would test its new SmartMeters side by side with the old-style meters to allay customers' fears that the new meters overstate electricity use. Right idea, wrong tester. The idea of a field test is a standard engineering practice. But at this point in the controversy, only an independent test conducted by a third party would restore consumer confidence. State energy regulators have hired an independent firm to audit the SmartMeter rollout but it is unknown if that will include side-by-side tests.