CenterPoint Energy has received the results of independent tests that verify the accuracy of its smart electric meters. Earlier this year, the Public Utility Commission of Texas requested the tests be performed on all smart meters being installed by utilities across Texas after consumers in some parts of the state expressed concerns about the accuracy of digital smart meters compared to traditional electromechanical meters.

The tests, conducted by Navigant Consulting LLC, confirm the accuracy of CenterPoint Energy's smart meters, manufactured by Itron, Inc., as well as the effectiveness of the utility's meter data management and data transfer process and controls. All of the thousands of CenterPoint Energy smart meters tested were found to be accurate by American National Standards Institute standards.

"CenterPoint Energy takes the accuracy of all our meters seriously," said Kenny Mercado, senior vice president of Smart Grid Deployment, "so we are extremely pleased with these results. Consumers in Houston can rest assured that their electric consumption is being accurately measured and transmitted to retail electric providers."

These test results come as CenterPoint Energy celebrated the installation of its 500,000th smart meter, a big milestone in its plan to deploy more than 2 million smart meters across the company's entire electric service territory in greater Houston by mid 2012. Additionally, the company is building a self-healing intelligent grid that will us smart meters and other technologies to improve electric reliability and power restoration.