CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - The Public Utilities Commission has approved lower fees for NV Energy customers opposed to new smart meters.

In a 2-1 decision, commissioners Wednesday also gave the utility more discretion to choose an alternative for people opposed to the devices that transmit energy use data remotely.

The Las Vegas Sun reports that could allow homeowners to keep existing analog meters.

Commissioners in November approved a plan to charge customers a $107 installation cost for an alternate meter. That fee was lowered to $52 under an agreement between NV Energy and the state Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Additionally, the monthly charge for an alternate meter was reduced 18 cents to $8.82.

The PUC estimates 4,500 consumers in Clark County and 3,000 in northern Nevada objected to smart meters.

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