SmartMeters are coming to the Coast and some have already arrived quietly.
A group called the Albion Community Awareness Network is planning to make some noise about that at an anti-SmartMeter rally on Friday at noon at the Fort Bragg PG&E office at Main and Laurel streets.
PG&E is now installing SmartMeters despite a county ordinance prohibiting them from doing so. The county sheriff has posted a form on its website that locals can download and fill out if they see smart meters being installed in violation of the county ordinance.
“The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors has requested that the Mendocino County Sheriff”s Office receive any written complaint from citizens who would like to report the installation of a SmartMeter in Mendocino County. The following written report will be forwarded to the Mendocino County District Attorney for review,” the website report states.
PG&E announced installations would start in July, but seems to be phasing the meters in slowly.
Mendocino County”s Sheriff”s Dept. Capt. Kurt Smallcomb said (as of last Friday) nobody had filed one of those website complaints. Some people had called requesting information, he said.
There is no evidence that PG&E or its installers can be prosecuted.
“Per state law, only the CPUC has authority to impose a moratorium on SmartMeter deployment,” said Paul Moreno, PG&E spokesman.
County supervisors seemed to concede this point at their most recent meeting.
“The CPUC has communicated this to cities and counties that have tried to impose moratoria on SmartMeter deployment. However, PG&E is committed to addressing each customer”s concerns and questions about the program. If customers wish to have their meter upgrade delayed, they can contact PG&E to request a delay while the CPUC decides on an opt-out proposal,” said Moreno.
So far, watchdogs have had little luck spotting the installation work in progress. Not only has nobody filed a report with the sheriff, none of the opponents or others interviewed has encountered installers. A posting to listserves turned up just one report for this news story.
Bernie MacDonald reported he had an installer come about a week ago to the land where he lives in Albion.
“I encountered him regarding my meter [which is “noticed”] and he indicated his intent to leave that meter alone until AB37 was acted on. He indicated that he could not change the owner”s meter because it was user enclosed and had to have the cover removed. I then pointed him to the third meter on the property and suggested that he deal with it when he had the owners remove the cover for their first meter,” MacDonald said.
With so few confirmed sightings of SmartMeter installations, this reporter called in to join the delay list, to see how the process works firsthand. The phone call took just 2 minutes, 40 seconds — including the PG&E phone tree.
A representative named “Jessica” told me the utility would “attempt to delay” my installation. This language is one reason Albion Network members have advised those who don”t want SmartMeters to put up signs on their property saying no trespassing and no installation.
Jessica told me that installation had not been scheduled at 831 Cedar, nor had any letter been sent to me.
“You are ahead of the game,” she said. She didn”t know if others were being installed in Fort Bragg. The action will result in a delay until the CPUC makes a final decision on the delay and opt out programs, I learned.
Also on Monday, I got a letter at my Fort Bragg office at 900 N. Franklin St. saying Wellington Energy was set to install a SmartMeter there. That letter offers all positive information about SmartMeters, but nothing about the opt-out or delay options. I chose not to resist the installation on behalf of the office.
“As part of our public outreach, we send letters to customers weeks ahead of deployment. PG&E has hosted several SmartMeter open houses and educational centers in Mendocino County and has made presentations to local governments about the program,” said Moreno.
SmartMeters use digital, WiFi, technology to give constant updates of electrical use. Residents can look online at their bill to track usage. Activists oppose SmartMeters mostly because of the energy they radiate, which all sides admit needs more study before being deemed safe. Proponents say SmartMeters emit WiFi less than a minute per day, far less than cell phones, microwaves, computer Wifi and other devices.
RefuseSmartMeters.com is a statewide website that lists numerous problems and concerns with the new technology. Greg Krouse, who hosts the Toxic Trespass Show on KZYX is leading RefuseSmartMeters Mendocino,
Moreno offered two phone numbers for those interested in delaying or learning more about SmartMeters.
For more information, call 1-866-743-0263. To delay installation, call 1-877-743-7378.
