San Clemente CPUC Meeting Dec. 18 Re: Doubling of Smart Meter Opt-out Fees

SDG&E Customers / CALIF ALERT: Opt-out Fees May Double to $400 a year - Speak Out Against All Opt-out Fees at Local CPUC Meetings in December

This is a red ALERT about local CPUC public participation meetings to be held in December, 2012, concerning smart meter opt-out fees. Reasons for opting out of smart utility meters include health and safety concerns, privacy and security. For an excellent, very graphic electronic brochure on smart meter problems and the opt-out, click here.

We encourage San Diego Gas & Electric  and SoCal Gas customers in San Diego and Orange Counties to attend the meeting in San Clemente, on Dec. 18th, from 6-8 PM, at the San Clemente Community Center – Ole Hanson Fireside Room, 100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, CA 92672 to speak out against all smart meter opt-out fees, which may soon double to over $400 per year for SDG&E, SCE, and So CA Gas customers. If you live elsewhere in CA, go to the nearest meeting. Bring as many people as possible to these meetings, if you can attend, as your presence does matter and is counted, and can impact CPUC decisions made after meetings are held.

It is noteworthy that the state of Vermont legislated a free smart meter opt-out, statewide, for all utility customers, this year. The system is working well, according to our reports. We feel that there should be no fees and that these are, in fact, illegal, breaking numerous state and federal discrimination laws and California public utility codes. Click Opening Briefs on Discrimination Laws & Opt-out Fees at CPUC (7/20/2012) for more info. 

In Northern and Central California, 57 municipalities have banned or criminalized the installation of smart meters, sending a strong message to the CPUC and state government. This, along with the participation of numerous organizations in CPUC proceedings, produced the opt-out order by CPUC. Those municipalities realized they don't want to have their citizens sickened and be left holding the bag for the costs. Pressure on the CPUC is a good thing and going to meetings does add up to that. Many utility customers know that we are dealing with a badly broken regulatory system, however, saying nothing is condoning it. If you care about your own health or the health of your children and loved ones, you will opt-out AND attend one of these meetings!

If you can't attend, we ask that you write or call the CPUC:

Public Advisor’s Office
505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2103
San Francisco, CA 94104
E-mail to public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov

1-415-703-2074 or toll free 1-866-849-8390
TTY 1-415-703-52892 or toll free 1-866-836-7825

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CPUC Sets Public Participation Hearings on Smart Meter Opt-Out Costs

The CPUC has set five Public Participation Hearings to hear from consumers about costs and cost allocation issues associated with requiring Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E) to offer an analog opt-out option for residential customers who do not wish to have a wireless Smart Meter installed at their location. Each Public Participation Hearing will run for two hours at the following locations:

BAKERSFIELD (PG&E and SoCalGas territories)
December 13, 2012, 6 p.m.
Bakersfield City Hall Council Chambers
1501 Truxtun Ave., Bakersfield, CA 93301

SANTA BARBARA (PG&E, SCE, and SoCalGas territories)
December 14, 2012, 3 p.m.
County Administration Building Board Hearing Room, 4th Floor
105 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA 93101

LOS ANGELES (SCE and SoCalGas territories)
December 17, 2012, at 6 p.m.
Junipero Serra State Office Building
Carmel Room – Auditorium, 1st Floor
320 West 4th St., Los Angeles, CA 90013

SAN CLEMENTE (SCE, SoCalGas, and SDG&E territories)
December 18, 2012, 6 p.m.
San Clemente Community Center – Ole Hanson Fireside Room
100 N. Calle Seville, San Clemente, CA 92672

SANTA ROSA (PG&E territory)
December 20 2012, at 2 p.m.
Steel Lane Community Center – Dohn Room
415 Steele Ln., Santa Rosa, CA 95403
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Center for Electrosmog Prevention (CEP) , a La Mesa-based nonprofit, continues to support consumer interests in the CPUC smart meter opt-out and smart grid proceedings. We are advocating for a free and expanded opt-out, disability and medical condition rights and accommodations, and banning of all smart meters. To learn more about our positions and for talking points, go to

Brief filed by Center for Electrosmog Prevention on 07/05/2012

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/EFILE/BRIEF/170230.pdf
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Brief filed by Southern Californians For Wired Solutions For Smart Meters (SCWSSM) on 07/19/2012

http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/EFILE/BRIEF/171335.PDF (282 kb)
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to learn more about the above meetings and opt-out fee issues, go to:
http://www.electrosmogprevention.org/stop-ca-smart-meter-news/2393/

ACTIONS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY:

1. Share this blog article widely.

2. Join or start a local group to work on reducing electrosmog - to inquire about joining a San Diego or Orange County group, contact director@electrosmogprevention.org.

 
With very best regards,
Susan Brinchman
Director, Center for Electrosmog Prevention
P.O. Box 655
La Mesa, CA
91944
director@electrosmogprevention.org
Center for Electrosmog Prevention www.electrosmogprevention.org
Smart Meter Dangers
SCASM Southern Californians Against Smart Meters http://www.causes.com/causes/610453-southern-californians-against-smart-meters-scasm
American Coalition Against Smart Meters (ACASM) www.causes.com/acasm

Follow Smart Meter News and CEP on Twitter http://twitter.com/No2SmartMeters