LAKE COUNTY — PG&E filed a SmartMeter program opt-out proposal with the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) last week that would allow some customers to pay fees in order to have the devices” wireless radio capabilities shut off.
PG&E residential customers could request to have the wireless radios embedded in the devices deactivated, which would be known as “radio off” mode. The option would only be available to residential customers.
“SmartMeters will ultimately be installed,” but customers concerned about potential health effects of the device could choose the “radio off” option, according to PG&E spokesperson Jeff Smith.
Residential customers selecting the “radio off” option would be required to pay an upfront fee as well as standardized monthly fees in order to help PG&E recover the costs of offering this program modification.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington said he was “highly disappointed, but not surprised” by the PG&E proposal. “My initial response is that it is not even close to where it should be considered an opt-out plan. To me, it looks almost more like a plan for extortion,” he said.
The Lake County Board of Supervisors approved a temporary moratorium on SmartMeter installation in the unincorporated parts of Lake County earlier in the month, but PG&E and its installation contractor, Wellington Energy, have continued putting in devices throughout the county.
PG&E has said it will not honor locally imposed moratoriums, contending that the CPUC has jurisdictional power over the installations, not local governments.
CPUC President Michael Peevey asked the company on March 10 to develop an opt-out program and file a proposal with the CPUC by last Thursday. PG&E submitted the “radio off” proposal on the deadline day.
PG&E proposes a one-time upfront charge of either $135 or $270 for standard residential customers. The fee would be lower for customers enrolled in the CARE program, which offers discounted rates to qualifying low-income households.
A monthly fee would follow, taking the form of either a fixed flat rate or a standard rate in relation to the customer”s monthly usage. All monthly rate options would again be lowered for CARE program customers.
Customers would be able to choose their desired fee structure, and those selecting the higher upfront charge would face smaller monthly fees.
PG&E said the “radio off” fees would allow the company to recover the costs of the option, which are projected to include $38.3 million of capital costs and $75.1 million of expenses during the next two years. The financial estimates are based on PG&E projecting that 145,800 customers would request to “radio off.”
The “radio off” option would be funded entirely by customers who select the option, while customers who allow the devices to function normally would not face rate increases, Smith said.
PG&E projected in its proposal that the CPUC could reach a final decision on the “radio off” option as early as the end of August or mid-September. The CPUC approval process would include a pre-hearing conference and submittal of testimony and briefs, and could consist of an evidentiary hearing.
Farrington said he hopes the CPUC does not approve the “radio off” proposal and force PG&E to develop an opt-out proposal that is more comprehensive and fair to the ratepayers.
PG&E will continue to install the devices with operational wireless radio functions until the CPUC directs the company to do otherwise, Smith said.
There is currently no formal process by which customers can permanently delay their SmartMeters from being installed, but PG&E does “try to work with those customers” to provide additional information to educate them about the program, according to Smith.
The utility company argues that radio frequency exposure from SmartMeters is significantly less than other widely-used devices, such as cell phones or microwave ovens, and that the SmartMeters” radios would transmit only about 45 seconds per day.
PG&E asks customers with questions or concerns about the SmartMeter program to call the 24-hour SmartMeter hotline at 866-743-0263.
