Just Say No to Big Brother’s Smart Meters by Orlean Koehle The Smart Grid is the rare energy initiative that has the support of the Department of


Energy, environmentalists, and utilities across the country. When fully implemented, the Smart Grid could enable energy efficiency, integrate renewable sources of electricity, foster electric cars, and allow consumers to reduce their energy consumption and save money.


In order to accomplish all of these lofty goals, the Smart Grid will need the cooperation, and even love, of consumers. And an early negative reaction from consumers could jeopardize the entire project. Yet with the early rollouts of smart meters, consumers complain that their needs for information and communication have not been met, privacy concerns have not been addressed, and their bills are rising. Some consumers have gone so far as to place locks on their old meters. In this provocative discussion between representatives of utilities, consumers, regulators, and an expert of consumer behavior and energy consumption, we will dig.


Marin County One-Year Moratorium Against Smart Meters Passed 4-0 by the Board of Supervisors, January 4, 2011:


(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40918724/ns/localnews-san francisco_bay_area_ca/)


The moratorium will prohibit the installation of smart meters and related equipment in the unincorporated areas of Marin.


It is very well written and lists the many areas of


concerns expressed by other ordinances such as privacy and health issues, but they also mention a new area of concern – smart meters are interfering with radio reception, especially emergency radio reception. It can be read at the following website: http://www.co.marin.ca.us/efiles/BS/AgMn/agdocs/110104/110104-11-CL-ord-ORD.pdf In the NBC article about the vote by the supervisors, by reporter Mike Anderson, he


states something very interesting – that the county has no jurisdiction over the meters. It is the PUC that makes the decision and PG&E thinks they can go on installing them unless they hear from the PUC. Wow! Does that mean that PG&E thinks county government is meaningless? They have some draconian power over all of us? The following is how the article reads: “PG&E's new wireless meters have been a hot issue in the area. Just a few days ago, two women were arrested for blocking a Smart Meter truck in Inverness. Opponents say the new meters are inaccurate and send out unhealthy radiation. But the county actually has no authority over the meters. It's the state Public Utilities Commission that can make the decision, and it hasn't said anything. PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith told the Marin Independent Journal that the utility will keep installing the meters unless it hears from the commission. About 100 residents showed up to the meeting on Tuesday. Some of them complained about headaches, sleeping disorders and heart problems, according to a release. The moratorium was put in place "because the potential risks to the health, safety and


welfare of county residents are so great," the emergency ordinance says. It applies only to unincorporated areas of the county, including all of West Marin. After thousands of customer complaints, a September audit found the meters were


"functioning properly," but it didn't say anything about possible health risks. PG&E did admit that thousands of its meters had glitches. Until more information is known about the meters, opponents in Marin want the


option to opt-out of having the meters installed in their home. There are currently about 5.5 million smart meters installed, most of them are in the Central Valley and the Bay Area.


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