California’s big southern utilities, San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison, haven’t had as much trouble with anti-smart meter activists as has their northern neighbor Pacific Gas & Electric.
They’ve also got a different flavor of customer to deal with than PG&E’s Marin County types. In fact, for Southern California Edison, its smart meter opponents include several local Tea Party groups.
Now we’ll see what happens when smart meter opponents learn they’ll have to pay to stay smart-meter-free. The California Public Utility Commission ruled Thursday that SDG&E (PDF) and SCE (PDF) must offer customers an opt-out to smart meters — but that they can charge up to $75 per person, plus $10 a month, for the privilege.
That’s essentially the same deal CPUC offered PG&E last month, in a ruling meant to stave off a growing customer backlash against the Northern California utility’s multi-million smart meter deployment. PG&E has agreed to leave old analog meters at the homes of such opt-out customers, but says it needs to charge extra for the costs of sending meter readers to those homes and other costs, adding up to an estimated $113.4 million over the next two years.
The ruling hasn’t pleased PG&E’s opponents, however. The most vocal critics charge that the radios inside the smart meters create a health risk for entire neighborhoods, despite data that shows the typical smart meter emits far less radiation than do cell phones and other devices permitted by law. Similar complaints have emerged in other states across the country.
While PG&E’s opponents are of a decidedly left-wing bent, it appears that Southern California has brought out their right-wing counterparts. CPUC’s proposed decision on SCE’s opt-out notes that initial opposition to smart included several local Tea Party groups: the Santa Barbara Tea Party, the Palm Springs Patriots Coalition, the Desert Valley Tea Party and Menifee Tea Party/Hemet Tea Party/Temecula Tea Party, to be exact.
nice photo 😀
sometimes i open your posts (from Google Reader) just to see what image you’ve chosen 😀
We installed enough solar panels, and batteries to live off the grid. We remain connected to it as a backup system though for about $10.00 a month.
here’s a picture of one of three panels: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/2268163/SolarShade.JPG
Once we got the system up and running we told PG&E they can install their smart meter someplace the sun doesn’t shine.
for those that will be on the grid, smart meters will offer a number of benefits, including saving money, greater security, and a more resilient system.
the paranoia is the energy equivalent of birther-ism.
At the Monckton talk in Sacramento yesterday (PG&E and SMUD country), some lady was handing out anti-smart meter flyers. So we’ve got the crazy Tea Party people up here too, but probably not as many as in Southern California.
If we could equip human beings with “dumb meters” that would light up and just indicate the stupidity level, we could save a lot of time having to listen to them.
monckton talk.
speaks volumes.
Smart Meters are anything but smart. Their a ‘reporting, monitoring and control device’ that will monitor ANY motorized or electronic device in your home, ANY TIME, ALLTHE TIME. Your Privacy doesn’t concern ‘them’. Your safety doesn’t concern them either. These meters and the new ‘smart’ appliances will communicate with each other using combined frequencies known to be hazardous to humans. The areas of concern extend through your walls and affect the nature of human brain frequency and DNA cell activity. Experts in these areas have proved that Smart Meters coupled with ‘ Smart Appliances’ have serious concerns that can impact human health….let alone the wallets of those who have them installed, on their places of residence. Do the homework . Millions of Canadians, millions of Americans, in many cities have OPTED-OUT or REFUSED Smart Meters due to Privacy, safety and health concerns. They should consider one more issue, and that is… They are ‘geared’ to cost you more, as well. Substantial evidence from Smart Meter recipients have complained about rising electric bills, up to 40% above what they had, with their analog meters. Take a Stand. This technology is NOT in OUR best interests. It only serves to benefit the Utility Companies and Marketing firms that want to know, what your using, how often your using it, and other privacy encroaching data. Keep BIG BROTHER OUT OF YOUR HOMES. He’s already in your faces everywhere else.
uh huh