News Video of SAN FRANCISCO: Critics decry CPUC's approval of SmartMeter opt-out fees
The CPUC Commissioners voted to approve for-fee opt-outs to analog meters for PG&E customers. The delay list is ended and within 30 days, customers must sign up for the for-fee opt-out program with PG&E or have a smart meter installed. Details to follow. If you are a PG&E customer, call their smart meter department to request opt-out. SDG&E and SCE (Southern CA Edison) customers are still waiting for a ruling in their opt-out proceedings. It is expected that the decisions will be identical. Interim cost: $75 to install analog (for switch out) and $10 a month for (non-CARE) customers. $10 to switch out to analog and $5 a month extra for CARE customers (low income).
We are deeply indebted to 60 people+, who testified before the vote and objected to the fees and leaving smart meters in our communities. Most described horrific health problems that have developed since the smart meters were installed, including heart problems, cancers, severe dizziness, severe weakness, inability to sleep and so on. They insisted that neighbors’ meters bothered them too and that opting out, even if it could be afforded, would not allow them relief. Commissioners were not impressed, with one (Catherine Sandoval) even eating during their impassioned testimonies. She was chastised for this by an angry math teacher who was presenting. “Commissioner Sandoval, MUST YOU EAT during our presentations???” (reminiscent of Marie Antoinette…)
The Commissioners were oblivious to these pleas and noted that President Obama’s top energy ambassador came to visit them two weeks ago to compliment the CPUC on the smart grid projects. Obviously, Obama is also oblivious to the suffering. He has compared updating the smart grid to landing man on the moon. I would compare it more to the start of the bubonic plague or a nuclear holocaust in slow motion.
So there are numerous big problems still: we may get analogs only if we can afford them, but total relief is not on the horizon, particularly for those with co-located or other meters close to their home or apartment. A second part of the proceeding will continue in coming months, to determine the actual costs and community opt-out issues. Dangerous, sickening, pulsed radiofrequency (rf) microwave radiation still will fill our neighborhoods, homes, and workplaces. This is totally wrong.
Note: next door to the CPUC’s public auditorium, the Smart Grid Deployment Plan Workshops (at the CPUC) were being held this week. Center for Electrosmog Prevention was one of two formal Parties there representing the smart meter concerns of Californians, with our attorney in attendance. Others there were the utilities entourage, including their representatives and suppliers. One item learned was that the smart grid does not operate as they thought it would, the bandwidth is too small to work the way they want it to, and they need $600 million more to fix that. Also that some of the equipment is not even totally understood but being deployed anyhow. Our representative was informally approached by a utility representative who wanted to discuss some of the issues. We need your support to be able to continue in the process. Thanks to our supporting members for your membership donations. We also suggest donations to Stop Smart Meters and EMF Safety Network, for their hard work for the past several years, and today, on the smart meter issue.
For more info on today’s events or to donate to the valiant organizations that organized today’s protests and testimonials, please go to http://www.emfsafetynetwork.org/ and http://www.stopsmartmeters.org/.
Article:
PG&E customers can opt out of SmartMeters — for $75, plus $10 a month
With best regards,
Sue
Susan Brinchman
Director and Founder, Center for Electrosmog Prevention
P.O. Box 655
La Mesa, CA
91944
director@electrosmogprevention.org
www.electrosmogprevention.org
Smart Meter Dangers http://www.smartmeterdangers.org/
Southern Californians Against Smart Meters
American Coalition Against Smart Meters www.causes.com/acasm
No2SmartMeters@Twitter.com
Please donate at www.electrosmogprevention.org
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