The issue of overruns to the smart meter program was front and center for Medicine Hat city council. At last nights meeting, energy division head Gerry Labas was asked to explain a report appearing recently in the Medicine Hat News that nearly $4 million more could be needed to complete the approved $15 million project. Labas said that it was partly the original budgeting process, partly the timeline between a pilot project and the launch of the main project and the overall scope of the swapping out of 76,000 meters in the area. Labas also explained that 2 extra communications towers in Redcliff and Cypress County added more than $400,000 to the tab.