BAKERSFIELD, Calif. -- A class action lawsuit has been filed against Pacific Gas and Electric Co. over its SmartMeter program.

In October, dozens of PG&E customers showed up to a public hearing to voice their concern over SmartMeters. Many of the customers claimed that the SmartMeters don't work properly and are responsible for their sky-high energy bills.

But PG&E representatives maintained that the SmartMeters are not the cause of the increase.

Because of all the complaints about SmartMeters, PG&E decided to open up an answer center in its downtown Bakersfield office for customers to get their SmartMeter questions answered face-to-face.

PG&E says when the Center first opened many customers came by, but shortly after that the number of customers coming in dropped off and now the center is almost always empty.

But did the customers just go somewhere else?

Attorney Michael Louis Kelly with El Segundo-based law firm Kirtland & Packard LLP says they were contacted by a number of customers who were concerned about their bills.

After that, the law firm decided to file a class action lawsuit against PG&E for the SmartMeter program.

"PG&E's taken the position that there's nothing wrong at all," said Kelly. "Clearly there are a lot of people who allege there is."

PG&E maintains that the SmartMeters are accurate and issued this statement about the lawsuit: "PG&E stands behind its SmartMeter program. The allegations in the lawsuit are untrue and have no merit."

Meanwhile, the California Public Utilities Commission is working to get an independent group to inspect the accuracy of SmartMeters. There's no word yet on when that will happen.

But Kelly says the lawsuit would accomplish the same task.

"If we're able to substantiate not only that there's a problem, but the nature of the problem, I expect there will be a lot of pressure on PG&E to make right on this thing," he said.

Currently, the only defendants in the lawsuit are PG&E and Wellington Energy, which installed the SmartMeters, but Kelly says there could be more.

For more information about the lawsuit, call (310) 536-1000 or send an e-mail to mlk@courtroomwarrior.com.