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Health & Fitness

Alert: PUC Commissioner Orders SDG&E & SCE to Let Customers Delay Smart Meters

Ruling: The utility shall provide information on its website that if a customer currently has an analog meter, the customer may request a delay in the installation of a smart meter.

In response to thousands of complaints about the new utility smart meters and health problems, 47 California municipalities taking a strong position against them to protect their citizens, and a long fight from activists, the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) has ordered that all utilities allow customers to delay smart meter installations.

This is a beginning, but it doesn't come in time for the millions of SDG&E customers who already received smart meters in a hurried fashion, without warnings about potential risks.

In fact, according to SDG&E documents, only a few hundred people have not yet had the problematic so-called "smart" meters installed. But this decision for all California signals a break in the industry mantra that we will all be forced to have smart meters on our homes regardless of health complaints or concerns.

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Commissioner Peevey’s Ruling Re: Concerning Customer Requests to Delay Installation of a Smart Meter.  The full text of the ruling is made available through the link provided below on September 21, 2011. 

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/EFILE/RULINGS/143742.htm

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ASSIGNED COMMISSIONER’S RULING

CONCERNING CUSTOMER REQUESTS TO DELAY

INSTALLATION OF A SMART METER

This Assigned Commissioner’s Ruling establishes certain requirements that must be included in the procedures adopted by Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and San Diego Gas & Electric Company to allow customers who currently have an analog meter and have asked to be on the utility delay list to keep their analog meter while the Commission considers an opt-out program.1

Discussion

On March 24, 2011, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) filed Application (A.) 11-03-014 seeking Commission approval of modifications to its SmartMeter program to provide its customers an option to opt-out of its smart meter program. PG&E’s application was in response to a directive by Commission President Michael Peevey. On that same day, the Utility Consumers’ Action Network filed A.11-03-015 seeking modification of Decision (D.) 07-04-043 to order San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) to develop a proposal or proposals to allow residential SDG&E customers to opt-out of the mandatory use of smart meters. On July 26, 2011, the County of Santa Barbara, along with 17 other applicants, filed A.11-07-020 seeking modification of D.08-09-039 and an order requiring Southern California Edison Company (SCE) to file an application for approval of a smart meter opt-out plan.

A workshop to consider various opt-out options that could be offered by PG&E, SCE, and SDGE (collectively, the investor owned utilities or IOUs) was held on September 14, 2011.

At the workshop, questions concerning the procedures for customers who currently have analog meters and have requested to delay installation of a smart meter were raised and discussed. Based on the discussion at the workshop, there appears to be some confusion on how a customer may request a delay and the duration of such a delay.

1 For purposes of these proceedings, the term “smart meter” means a digital electric or gas meter installed at a customer’s property that transmits customer usage data from the meter to the utility through wireless communications.

The IOU representatives also stated they would appreciate further direction from the Commission concerning such delay lists.

Although the investor owned utilities have stated that they currently have procedures in place for customers 2 seeking to delay installation of a smart meter, I agree that additional guidance is needed. While I do not believe it is necessary to adopt a uniform set of procedures applicable to all the IOUs, each IOU’s procedures must include the following:

1. The IOU shall provide information on its website that if a customer currently has an analog meter, the customer may request a delay in the installation of a smart meter. The information shall include instructions for how the customer may make such a request.

2. The IOU shall provide the customer sufficient advance notice that a smart meter will be installed so that the customer may request that installation be delayed.

3. Any customer who currently has an analog meter and requests a delay in the installation of a smart meter shall be placed immediately on a “delay list.”

4. Once a customer has been placed on the delay list, a smart meter shall not be installed at the customer’s location unless:

a. The customer contacts the IOU and requests that he/she be removed from the delay list; or

b. The IOU sends a letter to the Commission’s Executive Director for authority to install a smart meter at the customer’s location.

2 For purposes of these procedures, “customer” refers to the customer of record for the account.

A copy of that  letter shall also be sent to the affected customer. The IOU must receive written authorization from the Executive Director before installing a smart meter at any customer account on the IOU’s delay list.

The investor owned utilities shall include the foregoing requirements in their procedures for customers who currently have analog meters and wish to delay installation of a smart meter no later than three business days after the mailing date of this Assigned Commissioner’s Ruling. Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) has stated that it will not deploy smart meters in its service territory until the end of 2012. As such, it does not make sense to require SoCalGas to have its procedures to allow customers to delay installation of a smart meter in place at this time.

IT IS RULED that no later than three business days after the mailing date of this Assigned Commissioner’s Ruling, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Southern California Edison Company, and San Diego Gas & Electric Company shall include the following requirements as part of their procedures for customers who currently have analog meters and wish to delay installation of a smart meter:

1. The investor-owned utility (IOU) shall provide information on its website that if a customer currently has an analog meter, the customer may request a delay in the installation of a smart meter. The information shall include instructions for how the customer may make such a request.

2. The IOU shall provide the customer sufficient advance notice that a smart meter will be installed so that the customer may request that installation be delayed.

3. Any customer who currently has an analog meter and

requests a delay in the installation of a smart meter shall be placed immediately on a “delay list.”

4. Once a customer has been placed on the delay list, a smart meter shall not be installed at the customer’s location unless:

a. The customer contacts the IOU and requests that he/she be removed from the delay list; or

b. The IOU sends a letter to the Commission’s Executive Director for authority to install a smart meter at the customer’s location. A copy of that letter shall also be sent to the affected customer.

The IOU must receive written authorization from the Executive Director before installing a smart meter at any customer account on the IOU’s delay list.

Dated September 21, 2011, at San Francisco, California.

/s/ MICHAEL R. PEEVEY

Michael R. Peevey

Assigned Commissioner

--------------------------------------------------------------

THREE EXPERIENCES TODAY IN CALLING SDG&E TO FIND OUT ABOUT A DELAY LIST, AND ONE WITH SCE:

1.       9/22/11 S. Brinchman

This is what I experienced, calling the number on the SDG&E contact website http://sdge.com/contactus/:

Phone, Customer Service, Billing and General Information

Representatives are available 24 hours a day.

  • Residential: 1-800-411-7343

-------------------------------------

Automatic answering, no selections that remotely resembled asking to be on delay list, took up to ten minutes to finally be in communication with a human being, and  only by chance did I figure out how to hear a human voice.

The very polite person I spoke with told me I was the first customer to want to inquire about delay list. This is essentially what she said: That the delay list was only a week old, that SDGE did not have a direct number for it.

That I needed to give my name, address, phone number, account number, and reason for not wanting a smart meter. That someone would be calling me about why, and to give me other information I'd need. That once I requested it they would notate my file by sending the request to "that department."

That it is only a delay as everyone is getting the smart meters in SDGE territory, in CA, and other states, the whole United States. That SDGE was only following the directions of the CPUC in installing these on every home, that they were required to.

I asked for the document that shows this is required, she took down my address and will put the info in an envelope and send to me.

She said that they had to follow CPUC rulings and the CA state legislature in requiring everyone to have a smart meter and that was also why they had to offer the delay list, that something had occurred last week at a CPUC meeting.

That SDGE was involved in a workshop and more meetings and that is why they needed my phone number, to give me updates on the delay information. I asked if people who didn't want a meter already on their homes could get them taken off.

She said no, just those who didn't have them yet could delay it, till after the workshops and all were completed and the CPUC gave its final rulings, that. it is inevitable to have the smart meters, everyone in the country will have them.

---------------------------------

Therefore:

#1. This is confirmation that SDG&E gave out misinformation to the CPUC Administrative Law Judge last week saying there was already a delay list in operation (as the judge had ordered one on July 27th, 2011).

#2. SDG&E is making it next to impossible to call in and request a delay

#3 Nothing is on the SDGE website yet to help (required to be by 9/24 according to Peevey ruling)

#4 SDG&E is insisting it is required vs authorized to install smart meters on every home

#5. SDG&E is emphasizing that it is just a delay and we will all have mandatory smart meters, nationally

#6. SDG&E is forcing people to state why they want the delay when the ALJ at the workshop specifically said that people should not have to give their reasons.

I will keep an eye on this on their website and call a couple times a week. I encourage others to do same with their own utility in CA. Record, take notes, ask questions, share what you learn!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

2.       An Escondido woman reported this, today:

Subject: Re: I called SDGE about their delay list

It's 4:40 PM Thursday September 22, 2011. 

I just called and spoke with Patricia at SDGE customer service number. The way that I bypass all their bs is as soon as the "automated operator" asks for information from me I start saying "Customer Service, Customer Service, Customer Service"

Each time the computer asks me to provide my name or my phone or my account number or address I repeat "Customer Service, Customer Service, Customer Service" After about 60 seconds the computer apologizes that it can't understand me and will transfer me to a service rep.

Then within another 60 seconds or so I get a live person to speak with.

I stated my name and my service address and asked to be placed on the delay list through the process that was just announced by Michael Peevey at the CPUC.

Patricia said no problem that she would put me on hold for just a few minutes so she could get the form to provide this information to the "SMART METER DEPARTMENT"

Patricia came back to the line in about 8 minutes and asked my name my address the best phone to reach me at and why I wanted to be placed on the delay list.

I told her that the smart meter violated my constitutional right to safety of myself and my family because it had continually opened and closed my garage doors and exposed my family and myself to safety risks in doing so. That my FCC part 15 complaint had resulted in a analog meter being placed on my home which stopped the problem. Coincidentally, our health issues also stopped when the analog meter was placed by SDGE personnel.

Therefore I will not be giving the analog meter back to SDGE any time in the foreseeable future.

I asked her what the form was and she said it was just an email to the SMART METER DEPARTMENT with our name, address, best phone number to be reached at, and the reason we didn't want the smart meter. (hmm compiling a list of "complaints" they can marketeer away???)

I told her I had never heard of the Smart Meter Department and who were they? Couldn't get her to respond with any information that made any sense. 

She told me I was her first delay call and since it was so new a program that there was still not very much information to provide to customers and that was why they were asking for the best possible phone number to get a hold of us at — so they could keep us updated.

We said goodby and hung up. This call took about 18 minutes

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

3.  A woman from El Cajon reported her smart meter delay inquiry on 9/22/11:

I called the phone number for SDG&E customer service at 3:40 p.m. today.   The lady I spoke with said that she had not heard of the delay list for smart meters.  She said, “I am going to put you on hold and let me check on that.” 

She came back on the line and said that there was no delay list.  I informed her that there was a recent hearing  in San Francisco with the Public Utilities Commission and that SDG&E had indicated they were going to set up a delay list for people who did not want a smart meter to be put on their home.  She again told me, “There is no list.”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Resident of Santa Barbara, Southern CA Edison Customer, calls SCE today. She does not believe that the delay list is real – she describes it as “bogus”.

Subject: SCE: My experience in trying to go on the SCE delay list

Here is the chronology from this morning's calls (90 minutes of calls) to SCE to be placed on the delay list.

Summary:  You have to place the request to go on the SCE delay list to keep your analog meter

(in line with the Peevey ruling) by phoning in to (800) 810-2369.  Even if you are TOLD you are on the list, you are NOT ON THE LIST for at least a week, AFTER you get a call from a supervisor at SCE SmartConnect who will talk to you about why you don't want the smart meter.

Unless you really press the issue and ask questions, you would not be told in the initial phone call that you will get a call in a week, from another person, to be placed on the delay list.

7:30 am  Called SCE Customer Service (800) 655-4555

Asked to go on 'delay list' for smart meters.

(No delay list prompt on their voicemail system, nor website link yet).

Said I would have to call back to SCE SolarConnect for the delay list.

On verifying my name, address, phone # they found I am a solar customer.

Said because we have solar that I would instead have to contact the SCE solar dept at (866) 701-7868.

SCE Smart Connect 8:15 am - at (800) 810-2369

SCE SmartConnect agent recognized issue quickly.

Asked for reasons why I want to defer.

I told him that the ALJ specifically said "we are not talking about reasons"so why is SCE asking.  No answer.  Asked him if his training was to ask for reasons.

He would not answer.  

He verified my name, address, phone #.

Agent said I would be placed on the delay list.

I asked agent if this 'delay list' also applied to SCE's continuing installation of wireless meters (digital, electronic) that SCE doesn't call a smart meter.  Got no answer.  Referred to Supervisor Jim Miller (Customer Service - the agent did not refer me to the SmartConnect supervisor).

Miller said that I am not on a delay list UNTIL A SUPERVISOR FROM SCE SMARTCONNECT CALLS ME BACK IN A WEEK. This contradicts the first SCE SmartConnect agent. 

"You will receive a follow-up call in a week".  You are not on the delay list until that time."

A supervisor will call you and talk about why you want to go on the delay list. Until then, you are not on the delay list."

One would NOT know that this first call is insufficient... if you miss the follow up call in a week... you are evidently NOT ON THE LIST. This will frustrate the process.

I asked why I had to wait a week - he said 'high volume'.

The supervisor at SCE SmartConnect is Jerry Aguillare - on complaining about this delay, Miller said he would TRY to get the SCE SmartConnect Jerry Aguillare to call me back today.

None of the SCE people I spoke with could say if the 'delay list' also prevents installation of the digital, electronic (and RF-producing) wireless meters, replacing your analog as an interim step on the way to a full smart meter.  It is unclear if SCE will keep installing these "not smart-meters" which are wireless if you ARE ON THE DELAY LIST.

In the hearing last week at the CPUC, I asked this question of Ken Devore - he punted twice.  No answer.

FOR SOLAR CUSTOMERS ONLY

Since I am a solar customer, I was told I'd have to go to the Solar Department and ask to be placed on the delay list.

I did this, and the solar department never heard of it, and referred me back to SCE SmartConnect.

I asked the solar customer service agent if SCE had a working bi-directional smart meter and she said yes.

She could not tell me where they were being deployed, only that they ARE.  But, then she said she had no real information and to go back and talk to SCE SmartConnect.

When I asked the SCE SmartConnect agent if there were bi-directional smart meters being installed that are compatible with solar, the answer was no. 

When I asked the SCE SmartConnect supervisor (Miller), he said "at this time we do not have a timeframe for installing bi-directional smart meters on solar customers."  You will get a notice. 

SCE's brochure says  they have a solar-compatible wireless smart meter.  (go to SCE website http://www.sce.com/CustomerService/customer-service.htm)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

UPDATE: LOCAL SAN DIEGO COUNTY NONPROFIT UCAN COLLECTS LIST OF SDG&E CUSTOMERS WHO WISH TO OPT OUT (REMOVE EXISTING METERS)

NOTE: THERE IS NO OPT-OUT RULING YET BY CPUC BUT ONE IS EXPECTED. IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN OPTING OUT, PLEASE EMAIL UCAN BELOW.

Posted September 7th, 2011 by ucanpatricia

If you’ve been following our blog you know that we’re getting closer and closer to having an opt out option for SDG&E Smart Meters. The next few months will be a critical time for the CPUC to decide exactly what these opt out policies will look like and how far reaching they will be.

At UCAN, we want to make sure that the CPUC understands how many consumers are concerned about Smart Meters. One of the biggest frustrations is that it doesn’t seem that SDG&E is keeping a list of customers that want to opt out.

We want to make sure your voices are heard, so we’re compiling lists of SDG&E customers that want to opt out of their Smart Meter. By doing this we can give the CPUC a snapshot of the vast numbers of consumers concerned about Smart Meters, and hopefully expedite the process for you when an opt out option becomes available.

If you are an SDG&E customer and you want to opt out of a Smart Meter, let us know! Send an email to optout@ucan.org with the following information:

(1) Your first and last name

(2) Your SDG&E account number

(3) If you currently have a Smart Meter installed (Y/N)

We’ll keep you updated as the opt out workshops proceed.

Smart Meters Opt-Out Comment (UCAN site)

On September 10th, 2011 RobertWilliams says:

SMART METER PRIVACY VIOLATIONS.
1. Must-See 4-minute youtube video on Smart meters:
?http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8JNFr_j6kdI

SMART METER HEALTH PROBLEMS AND CANCER.

2. The WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION on May 31 2011 placed the Non-ionizing radiation coming from Wireless smart meters (and some other wireless devices) on the Class 2-B Carcinogen List.
?http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf

3. The NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF HEALTH months ago (Feb 2011) found biological changes in the brain after only minutes of exposure to non-ionizing radiation.
?http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/305/8/808.abstract

4. LABORATORY SCIENTISTS have observed?(1) Human Cell Damage?(2) DNA Chain Breaks?(3) Breaches in the Blood-Brain Barrier?from levels of non-ionizing radiation lower than emitted by WIRELESS Smart meters.
http://electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/cc-video/

5. INSURANCE COMPANIES Hired Independent Laboratory Scientists and these scientists also observed Cell Damage and DNA Chain Breaks and now the Insurance Companies will NOT Insure Liability damage from Wireless Smart meters and other wireless devices.?TV Video (3 minutes):
http://eon3emfblog.net/?p=382

Cell Phone use and other devices are Voluntary and can be shut off at the user’s discretion. Smart Meters can NEVER be turned off.

6. WIRELESS SMART METERS – 100 TIMES MORE RADIATION THAN CELL PHONES.? Video Interview: Nuclear Scientist, Daniel Hirsch, (5 minutes):
http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/04/20/daniel-hirsch-on-ccsts-fuzzy-math/

7. WIRELESS SMART METERS – CANCER, NERVOUS SYSTEM DAMAGE, ADVERSE REPRODUCTION AFFECTS.?Video Interview: Dr. Carpenter, New York Public Health Department, Dean of Public Health, (2 minutes):
http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?p=3946

8. THE KAROLINSKA INSTITUTE IN STOCKHOLM (the University that gives the Nobel Prizes) ISSUES GLOBAL HEALTH WARNING AGAINST WIRELESS SMART METERS. 2-page Press Release.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/48148346/Karolinska-Institute-Press-Release

9. RADIATION MEASURED FROM SMART METER MOUNTED ON A HOME (once active in the utility system) SHOWS RADIATION TRANSMISSION PULSES APPROXIMATELY ONCE EVERY FOUR SECONDS 24 HOURS PER DAY traveling through the bodies and brains of the inhabitants of that home. Youtube Video (6 minutes, 1st minute is sufficient):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRejDxBE6OE

Note: many of the tests on non-ionizing radiation (the type of radiation emitted by smart meters) have been done using instruments other than smart meters because smart meters have only been in people’s homes for a very short time.

But as a wireless smart meter emits 100 times more radiation than a cell phone, it is not difficult to project. If a machine gun (smart meter) fires 100 bullets in the same time that a pistol (cell phone) fires one bullet, it is not difficult to project the harm that the machine gun can inflict, even if the tests were done with the pistol.

CUSTOMER UTILITY BILLS AFTER SMART METERS INSTALLED.

10. Skyrocketing Utility Bills after installation
TV News Video (3 minutes)
http://www.bakersfieldnow.com/news/63581287.html?tab=video

NATIONAL SECURITY RISKS DUE TO SMART METERS.

11. CIA Director James Woolsey calls Smart grid “Stupid” due to National Security problems caused by so-called smart meters.
News Video (1 minute)
http://www.energynow.com/video/2011/08/10/preview-mix-james-woolsey

LEARN MORE AND JOIN THE CENTER FOR ELECTROSMOG PREVENTION (CEP), SOUTHERN CALIFORNIANS AGAINST SMART METERS, AND AMERICAN COALITION AGAINST SMART METERS BY VISITING WWW.ELECTROSMOGPREVENTION.ORG

FOR THE SCIENCE SHOWING THE HARM FROM SMART METERS, GO TO WWW.SMARTMETERDANGERS.ORG, A PROJECT OF CEP

I suggest everyone interested in ridding themselves of the wireless, radiation-emitting smart meters or being put on a smart meter installation delay list immediately call SDG&E at 1-800-411-7343  and see what they say about the delay list and future opt-out lists. Plse record the person’s name you speak with, take good notes regarding your questions and their answers. Please then inform us what SDGE said in a comment below or send a description of what you learned to  director@electrosmogprevention.org for posting on this blog.

Susan Brinchman
Director and Founder, Center for Electrosmog Prevention

We’d love to hear your experiences with calling SDG&E or SCE about their delay lists, so please inquire today and share it in comments, below!

For more information read the Patch blogs on smart meters below:

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 9/14/11 http://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 Grid http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/underlying-cause-of-the-southwestern-blackout-sept-8-2011-failure-of-the-smart-grid

Living Nightmare: How SDG&E Smart Meter Led to Headaches, Hearing Loss http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/living-nightmare-how-sdge-smart-meters-led-to-my-headaches-sleeping-ills-hearing-loss

Smart Meter Nightmare #2: San Diego man sick from bank of smart meters http://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-w...

Smart Meter Nightmare #4: SoCal Landlord Says Meters Hurting Her Tenants http://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-citize...

Message for SDG&E: Allow Opt-outs from Smart Meters  http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/tell-sdge-allow-opt-outs-from-smart-meters-remove-all-wireless

How to Opt-Out of Take Action: How to Opt Out of Radiation-Emitting Smart Meters http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/take-action-how-to-opt-out-of-radiation-emitting-smart-meters

Open Letter to the La Mesa City Council: Tell SDG&E to Stop the Smart Meters

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