ComEd sued for delays installing 'smart' meters

CHICAGO (AP) -- Chicago attorneys have filed a class-action lawsuit against a northern Illinois utility for delaying its installation of so called "smart" meters.

Commonwealth Edison put off starting the installation until 2015. It's said a lower-than-expected rate increase left it short on cash to install nearly 4 million of the high-tech, energy-saving meters.

The lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court this week accuses ComEd of violating an Illinois Commerce Commission order by not starting in 2012.

Plaintiffs' attorney Paul Neilan says the suit seeks at least $182 million from ComEd. He alleges that's what consumers would have saved had installation started last year as originally planned.

In a statement, ComEd says the suit is "completely without merit." The company says it's committed to completing the smart-grid program over the set ten-year period.