Despite an ordinance imposing a temporary moratorium, PG&E has begun to install SmartMeters in Mendocino County.
SmartMeters tie the electric grid into the world wide web, giving both PG&E and electrical customers a closer eye on electrical usage through WiFi technology.
The Board of Supervisors, on Jan. 25, imposed a temporary moratorium on the installation of SmartMeters within unincorporated areas of the county. PG&E has chosen to go forward despite the ordinance.
“The Executive Office has been notified by PG&E that the SmartMeter implementation in Mendocino County is scheduled,” a county press release said.
PG&E spokesman Greg Snapper said SmartMeter installation gets under way across the county this month.
“We worked with every individual customer to address every concern they might have. As far as moratoriums go, the California Public Utilities Commission is the only entity with any jurisdiction over our program, so we will be proceeding with installation and addressing any concern our customers have,” Snapper said, pointing out there is a process for delaying installation.
There were reports from people in Ukiah that installations were scheduled for Tuesday of this week. PG&E”s website states that Ukiah, Willits and Fort Bragg are set to be done with Smart Meter installations by the end of 2011.
Fifth District Supervisor Dan Hamburg explained how to get the delay.
“PG&E has made a commitment not to install SmartMeters at any residence for which a delay has been requested by the customer. This delay will be honored until the California Public Utilities Commission acts, presumably in September, on opt-out provisions. While PG&E”s pledge falls far short of complying with the moratorium imposed by the board, it is the best protection available at this time. The board urges all radio frequency sensitive citizens, and other concerned citizens, to contact PG&E as soon as possible,” Hamburg said in the county press release.
At a SmartMeter meeting in Albion last week, a group of about two dozen people opposed to SmartMeters started their own group, promising to find ways to resist the technology.
“Around 5 p.m. about 35 folks gathered out front to complain about the mandatory roll out in a county with a moratorium/ordinance against SmartMeters. They entered the building, walked past PG&E”s representative Austin Sharp and his associate, set up chairs and started a meeting to discuss how the community can protect itself,” said a press release from Greg Krouse of Refuse SmartMeters Mendocino. RefuseSmartMeters.com is a statewide website that lists numerous problems and concerns with the new technology.
PG&E”s approach has been to launch a powerful television, Internet, radio and newspaper advertising and public relations campaign, rather than arguing with critics or even making much mention of them and their concerns.
“PG&E”s customers can expect to see many benefits from the Smart Grid in the coming years, including the ability to lower energy bills by controlling energy use. Today, using SmartMeter technology, customers already can view hourly electricity use online up to the previous day, to help them understand how and when they use energy. In the future, as part of PG&E”s plan to enable new consumer energy management capabilities, pricing signals will help customers save money by shifting their energy use to times of the day when energy prices are lower,” said a PG&E press release.
Snapper said the PG&E SmartMeter website at pge.com/smartmeter is devoted mostly to the benefits of SmartMeters. He said there is a section devoted to questions about radio frequency at pge.com/rf.
That section also has information about other issues that have been raised.
Residents can delay the installation of their SmartMeter upgrade by calling 1-866-743-0263.
