On Tuesday, March 8, at 11 a.m. the Lake County Board of Supervisors will consider the possibility of taking legal action against Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) to stop the installation of SmartMeters.
Recently, PG&E representatives came before our board to present the positive aspects of SmartMeters. PG&E representatives stated that with SmartMeters our state will move toward a “Smart Grid,” and that with SmartMeters residents “may” realize a 12- to 20-percent savings in their monthly bill.
The word “may” peaked my attention (pun intended).
PG&E told our board that they have installed over seven million SmartMeters.
During PG&E’s presentation, I asked PG&E to provide my office statistical data that substantiated their claim of a 12- to 20-percent monthly savings.
So far, I have not received any information. In fact, I have had conversations with elected officials in other counties and I have received feedback from residents who have had a SmartMeter installed, and the overwhelming consensus is that their monthly bill has actually increased!
With SmartMeters, PG&E is able to use wireless technology that sends real-time information on a daily basis. With SmartMeters, PG&E is able to bill each customer or peak day usage versus total monthly usage with standard meters. This means an exponential increase in rates to our local residents, businesses and farmers.
On July 26, 2006, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) approved SmartMeters for the customers of PG&E, and authorized PG&E to spend $1.7 billion to deploy SmartMeters.
On Feb. 25, 2010, the CPUC adopted the new rate structures for residential, commercial and agricultural customers that will allow PG&E to bill its customers a higher rate for use during the peak hours. The SmartMeter is necessary to implement this new billing structure.
CPUC members are appointed, and not elected. They are removed from local residents and, in my opinion, beholden to utility companies and special interest groups.
As decision makers, the CPUC can take only one of two sides: either the members stand “for people,” or they stand “for profit.” Unfortunately, time and time again, the CPUC continues to stand “for profit.”
When this discussion came before our board, a number of local residents voiced their concerns about SmartMeters. At that time, I did not understand what all the fuss was about.
Many citizens voiced concerns about rate increases; health risks associated with SmartMeters due to the exposure of electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions; concerns about the loss of privacy due to the sharing and storage of real time information and data; and they voiced concerns about the firing of meter readers throughout the state.
In my research, I have found it true that there are positive aspects of SmartMeters, and the development of a Smart Grid.
With SmartMeters and a Smart Grid users will have to be more frugal with their use of electricity which will result in a decrease in the use of energy, which means a decrease in greenhouse gases.
In addition, people with Internet access will be able to go online and monitor their bill. While this may be a strong selling point, I do not believe that this is PG&E’s motive.
I have also found the concerns about health risks and exposure to EMFs to be a valid concern.
Even though the CPUC looked at studies and concluded that the emissions from an individual SmartMeter “should” not pose a health risk, there are no studies that have looked at the “cumulative” health risks where SmartMeters are installed in dense neighborhoods.
Yes, it may be true that with SmartMeters customers will be able to go online and monitor their usage and attempt to decrease their demand in order to reduce their bills.
Unfortunately, a lot of my constituents do not have Internet access and they are not in a position to decrease their demand.
My constituents are business owners who need power to run their businesses; my constituents are farmers who need power during all hours to water, harvest and package their crops; and my constituents are seniors, and disabled people that have to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Unlike the CPUC, the choice for me is simple. I will continue to stand “for people.”
Email me your input at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Anthony Farrington represents District 4 on the Lake County Board of Supervisors. He lives in Lakeport, Calif.
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