If they want an electronic one. Fine. they can install it. However, when that meter takes over how I want to use MY electricity that I pay for.. well.. we have a problem.
As it is. My electric company has no intention of replacing meters with “smart” ones.
They are in the business of selling electricity, not limiting ones ability to use it.
my gas company however charges more per unit the more you use.
Which is exactly why they should be going to electronic meters.
I know you don't understand the electric biz, so I will explain. AC electricity can't be efficiently stored like gas or water can. So, when demand gets high (e.g., middle of the day), additional generating capacity must be brought on-line, OR loads must be reduced ("shed" we call it) to balance supply and demand. If neither is done, line voltage and/or frequency will sag; both stress out transformers.
Electric utilities use smart meters to know the onset of peak demand, so they can decide to shed loads with companies and people who have agreed to have that equipment (e.g., aluminum foundries), or bring on-line natural-gas generators (very expensive per kWH).
Electronic meters reduce the overall cost of electricity to the consumer. Analog meters cannot report peak demand, and therefore do not help the utility decide when to load-shed or bring additional capacity on-line. If I was an electric utility, I would charge an extra fee for every analog meter. But then I understand what electronic meters can do for my customer.