PGE Proposes Opt-Out Plan For Wireless Smart Meters

Responding to concerns over possible health affects associated with smart meters, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) (NYSE: PCG) has proposed a plan to give residential customers the option to have the radios in their smart meters turned off.

Under this proposal, customers would pay upfront and recurring fees
to cover the costs of turning off the radio, manually reading the meters
every month, modifying IT systems and providing information to
customers on the program through call centers and other channels.

Additionally, customers who would like their SmartMeters^TM
moved to a different location on their property can take advantage of
an existing tariff to make that request, the company said. The cost of
relocating the meter would vary depending on such factors as whether the
customer receives underground or overhead service.

The
fees for turning off the meters would also help reinforce the existing SmartMeter^TM network to compensate for any degradation that turning off the radio causes, PG&E said.

Customers enrolled in the California Alternate Rates for Energy program
would receive a discount of 20% on the fee. Customers would also have
the option to take advantage of financing plans on the upfront charge.

The utility said the proposal would not increase costs for customers who choose to keep a fully functioning smart meter.

"We believe this proposal addresses concerns some customers have about SmartMeters^TM while still delivering the many benefits of SmartMeter^TM technology to the majority of customers," said Greg Kiraly, PG&E Vice President, SmartMeter^TM Operations. "The overwhelming weight of scientific evidence assures us that the low-level Radio Frequency signals from our SmartMeters^TM are safe–in fact, even safer than many household products, including cell phones and microwave ovens. But we know some customers nevertheless have concerns about the meters and we take those concerns seriously."

PG&E submitted the proposal this week to the California Public Utilities Commissions (CPUC).

On March 10, CPUC President Michael Peevey requested that PG&E "bring to this commission a proposal or series of proposals that will allow customers with an aversion to wireless devices the option of being metered without the use of wireless technology." He added that the options should come "at a reasonable cost, to be paid by the customers who choose to opt out."