Thursday, August 09, 2012

SDG&E Files Opt-Out Proposal for Its Problem-Ridden Smart Meters


SDG&E Files Opt-Out Proposal for Its Problem-Ridden Smart Meters

Posted on November 28, 2011 at 10:34 pm


You soon may be able to get rid of the new, controversial smart meters on your residence and business. That is the good news. The bad news is that SDG&E wants you to pay for this privilege; the smart meters may be replaced with similar, problematic types of meters, unless citizens demand the safer, reliable analogs; and those in apartments and condos won't have relief as hundreds of meters can be co-located there.
Today, SDG&E filed a smart meter opt-out proposal with the Calfornia Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (CPUC), following an administrative judge's ruling earlier in the month requiring the utility to do so.
The proposal, viewable in full in this article's Media section, provides costs and comments on the viability of four potential smart meter opt-out options that the CPUC wanted more information on.
SDG&E reveals its preferred option, solid state digital meters that include smart meters with radios turned off, and excessive, questionable costs that it wishes to pass on to those customers who do not want their current, new, radiation-emitting meters. In another recent document, SDG&E has admitted that the solid state digital meters also emit rf radiation.
However, the digital meters DO benefit the utility greatly, by allowing time-of-use billing (coming in 2012) and other features which translate into greatly increased profits and what many feel is increased control over consumers.
Curiously, SDG&E claims that only a fraction of its customer have complained or have requested removal of their smart meters, if we are to believe them:
"1. The number of residential customers on SDG&E’s delay list – 499 as of 11/11/11.
2. The number of residential customers who currently have a smart meter and have requested SDG&E to replace their smart meter with a non-smart meter – 121 as of 11/11/11.
3. The number of residential customers currently on SDG&E’s return-to-utility (“RTU’s”) list which contains residential customers that SDG&E to date has been unable to install a smart meter due to access and other issues – approximately 3,800 remaining endpoints (gas and electric meters) as of 11/06/11.
4. Additional residential customer participation in an opt-out program once a final decision is rendered – unknown.
Based on these factors outlined above, SDG&E estimated that approximately 3,000 residential customers could potentially opt-out of SDG&E’s Smart Meter program." (PROPOSAL OF SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY (U 902 E) FOR
CUSTOMERS TO OPT-OUT OF WIRELESS SMART METERS, p. 8)
However, in Jan., 2011, during a TAP meeting on Smart Meters, SDG&E reported a much higher rate of complaints:
"Total Smart Meter Related Complaints –2,641 -.15% rate"
The SDG&E Smart Meter Opt-Out Proposal resulted from immense pressure on the CPUC to respond to millions complaining about health issues, overbilling problems, privacy, security, fires, and interference with electrical and wireless equipment, represented by state municipalities, activists, and organizations.  
Other utilities in CA were also ordered to present opt-out proposals in the past month. A formal application to force SDG&E to allow its customers to use analog meters (the old-style, safe meters) was filed by UCAN, a San Diego County nonprofit, in March, 2011with the CPUC, which contributed to this current opt-out proposal for SDG&E's service area. 
Several prehearing conferences were held, with additional organizations participating from San Diego County, including Center for Electrosmog Prevention, Southern Californians Against Smart Meters, and Southern Californians for a Wired Solution. SDG&E had to attend a workshop on this topic on Sept. 14th, in San Francisco.
The Great CPUC Dog and Pony Show (aka Smart Meter Opt-Out Workshop)http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/the-great-cpuc-dog-and-pony-show-aka-smart-meter-opt-out-workshop
Later in the fall, SDG&E was required to allow those without smart meters to join a delay list
Alert: PUC Commissioner Orders SDG&E & SCE to Let Customers Delay Smart Metershttp://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/alert-puc-commissioner-orders-sdge-sce-to-let-customers-delay-smart-meters
and to submit previously closely guarded information on the number of pulses per day and its pervasive mesh network of signals that create an unprecedented, enormous amount of non-ionizing (rf, radiofrequency) radiation in our communities, indoors and outdoors.
UCAN's opt-out proposal was granted in part, including the order for SDG&E to produce their current proposal. Read more herein.
Some statewide activists are comparing multinational utilities forcing customers to pay for protection to extortion: "pay us so you and your family won't be irradiated". Considering this type of microwave radiofrequency radiation has just been added, in May, 2011, to a list of 2B Carcinogens by the World Health Organization, and numerous independent scientists are warning about these exposures, one may well consider getting the devices off their property. Lawsuits are expected to follow swiftly for forcing payment. SDG&E has laid off its meter readers, saving millions.
Some question why we should pay for that which we previously had at no extra cost. It is clear that the smart grid and smart meters are very expensive. It is clear that, following the smart meter installations, SDG&E is making significantly more than what it made last year, according to a UCAN audit, which also found padding of costs. What has been asked for is safety (required by state public utility code) and protection of the public. This should not cost extra.
View CEP Expanded Smart Meter Opt-Out Proposal for CPUC 8.18.11 for an in depth description of these proposals by Center for Electrosmog Prevention.
What is desired by those who understand the problems, risks, and the health issues are the original (electromechanical) analog meters, at no cost to the customers, so everyone can afford them. All banks of meters should be eliminated, as should all wireless and rf radiation-emitting meters. SDG&E and the utilities will have to pay for its mistakes. The customers shouldn't.
What you can do to TAKE ACTION:
1. SDG&E customers should review the very important attached proposal (PROPOSAL OF SAN DIEGO GAS & ELECTRIC COMPANY (U 902 E) FOR
CUSTOMERS TO OPT-OUT OF WIRELESS SMART METERS, found in this article's Media section), which could be adopted, at least in part, by the CPUC.
2. Write Administrative Law Judge Amy Yip-Kikugawa, the primary person working on the smart meter opt-out plan for the state of CA's CPUC. She can approve all, part of, or none of the SDG&E opt-out proposal. If you have information for her or wish to convey your opinion on whether you'd like a radiation (rf)-emitting (electronic digital meter) or a non-radiation emitting meter (analog, electromechanical) on your home or business, you may contact Judge Yip-Kikugawa at email:amy.yip-kikugawa@cpuc.ca.gov, or by phone : (415) 703-5256.
3. Write and call SDG&E to ask that your smart meters be removed, if you are concerned. Use email or send a letter using certified return receipt. Notify the local nonprofit, Center for Electrosmog Prevention, at director@electrosmogprevention.org, if you have asked SDG&E for smart meter removal, now, or in the past, and please include your full contact information. UCAN is also keeping a list of those who wish to opt-out, we encourage you to contact them with your requests.
4. Leave a comment below to share regarding your smart meter concerns and solutions that make sense to you.
5. Visit www.electrosmogprevention.org to learn more about smart meter concerns. Visitwww.smartmeterdangers.org to learn what independent scientists are saying, the independent research that backs up the health complaints, and hundreds of links to news articles describing the battle over smart meters that is going on all over the USA, Canada, and the UK.
6. Share this article and those in our Smart Meter series, below, with all your email list, friends, neighbors, and relatives. Distribute a flier, available here.
Open Letter to Sempra & SDG&E Demanding Analog Meter Replacement of Smart Meterhttp://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/open-letter-to-sempra-sdge-demanding-analog-meter-replacement-of-smart-meter
SDG&E May Have to Provide Smart Meter Opt-Out Plan to State PUChttp://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/sdge-ordered-to-provide-smart-meter-opt-out-proposal-to-cpuc
Alert: PUC Commissioner Orders SDG&E & SCE to Let Customers Delay Smart Metershttp://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/alert-puc-commissioner-orders-sdge-sce-to-let-customers-delay-smart-meters
The Great CPUC Dog and Pony Show (aka Smart Meter Opt-Out Workshop)http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/the-great-cpuc-dog-and-pony-show-aka-smart-meter-opt-out-workshop
Anti-Smart Meter Rally, Press Conference and Smart Meter Opt-Out Workshop 9/14/11http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/anti-smart-meter-rally-press-conference-and-smart-meter-optout-workshop-91411
Underlying Cause of the Southwestern Blackout, Sept. 8, 2011: Failure of the Smart Gridhttp://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/underlying-cause-of-the-southwestern-blackout-sept-8-2011-failure-of-the-smart-grid
Smart Meter Nightmare #2: San Diego man sick from bank of smart metershttp://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/smart-meter-nightmare-2-san-diego-man-sick-from-bank-of-meters
Smart Meter Nightmare #3: East County Woman and Pet Sick, Begging for Help http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/smart-meter-nightmare-3-east-county-woman-and-pet-sick-begging-for-help#c
Smart Meter Nightmare #4: SoCal Landlord Says Meters Hurting Her Tenantshttp://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/smart-meter-nightmare-4-socal-landlord-says-meters-hurting-her-tenants
Smart Meter Nightmare #5: Senior Citizen Replaces Smart Meter With Analog http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/smart-meter-nightmare-5-senior-citizen-replaces-smart-meter-with-analog#comments
THESE TWO BELOW RELATED, BUT NON-PATCH, TO ARTICLE ABOVE:
Open Letter to the La Mesa City Council: Tell SDG&E to Stop the Smart Metershttp://lamesa.patch.com/articles/an-open-letter-to-the-la-mesa-city-council-stop-the-smart-meters
http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/sdge-files-opt-out-proposal-for-its-problem-ridden-smart-meters
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