LAKEPORT — The Lake County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Tuesday approved a temporary moratorium on SmartMeter installation in the unincorporated parts of Lake County after a spirited hour-long public hearing on the PG&E device.
The BOS voted 4-0 to enact the urgency measure effective immediately; along with supporting an amended letter to state legislators in favor of an “opt out” assembly bill and directing county counsel pursue the possibility of injunctive action.
District 3 Supervisor Denise Rushing recused herself, citing that she is involved with a small engineering consortium that bid on a PG&E contract, unrelated to SmartMeters, and that bid process has not been resolved. The Record-Bee incorrectly reported the reason Rushing recused herself from the March 1 BOS SmartMeters discussion.
Tuesday”s SmartMeters hearing began with two PG&E representatives discussing the installation program and increased educational efforts the company has taken locally in recent weeks. PG&E has added six additional educational centers and supplied local offices with more distributable information about the program, according to the representatives.
The SmartMeter is a device that would help PG&E and customers better track individual energy use, according to the company.
PG&E has nearly completed SmartMeter installation statewide, having worked north from southern California, according to the representatives. PG&E has installed more than 39,000 devices in Lake County thus far, according to the PG&E website.
Around 70 Lake County residents attended the hearing, a mainly anti-installation crowd that applauded several times when the Supervisors” openly questioned the validity and safety of the SmartMeters.
“I think this is one of those moments when we need to take a stand,” District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said.
More than 10 residents voiced their opposition to SmartMeters, citing among their concerns: possible health issues, increased utility rates, job loss, trespassing and privacy issues.
The adopted ordinance imposing the moratorium states “because the potential risks to the health, safety and welfare of county residents are so great, the Board of Supervisors wishes to adopt a moratorium on the installation of SmartMeters.”
County staff modeled its ordinance after similar adopted measures in Marin and Santa Cruz counties, according to County Counsel Anita Grant.
The moratorium went into effect around 12:20 p.m. Tuesday, meaning the county would not allow the installation of SmartMeters or related equipment in the unincorporated areas of Lake County.
Clearlake and Lakeport would have to take individual actions regarding SmartMeters, according to the Supervisors, because they do not have jurisdiction over those incorporated cities.
The BOS also approved sending a letter to state legislators in support of Assembly Bill 37, which in part calls for customers to be provided alternatives to SmartMeters.
The BOS will also support a customer”s right to “opt out of SmartMeter installation,” in its letter to state legislators.
The BOS also directed county counsel to pursue injunctive against PG&E to stop SmartMeter installations. The BOS heard that the primary action would be in the form of a complaint or petition to the California Public Utilities Commission.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
