Outdated meters draw focus

SMITHVILLE

SMITHVILLE — Issues and controversy that have surrounded Smithville’s smart electric meters since 2016 resurfaced last week, as officials heard blunt recommendations to abandon the system entirely.

City Council heard an update Jan. 12 on Smithville’s troubled Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) and options moving forward. The city first struck its AMI deal a decade ago with Ameresco, an energy equipment and solutions firm out of Tomball.