PG&E Customers Can Opt Out of SmartMeters Anytime

Residents who oppose the installation of SmartMeters are being asked to opt out sooner than later, as PG&E tries to get an accurate count of how many refurbished analog meters it will need to supply to customers who oppose the new one, spokesman Jeff Smith said.

"We're basically trying to get a better idea of how many refurbished meters we'll need to buy and where they'll be needed," Smith said. 

Opponents of SmartMeters have argued that the meters emit harmful radiation, an argument that state and federal agencies say is not backed by science.

The California Public Utilities Commission in May unanimously approved PG&E's SmartMeter "opt-out" program, and said the potential negative health effects from SmartMeters had not been "identified or confirmed."

In Santa Clara County, more than 1,400 customers have opted out of the SmartMeter Program and elected to keep the older, more costly analog meters, PG&E Spokesman Paul Moreno said. 

About 1,540 customers in San Francisco, 1,630 customers in Marin County and 2,430 customers in Santa Cruz County, have opted out as well, according to PG&E.

In total, 24,000 customers have opted out of the SmartMeter program and 11,000 of the 35,000 customers who were originally on the delay list have elected to have SmartMeters installed, Moreno said, adding that 9 million SmartMeters have been deployed to date. 

Customers who opt out will be required to pay an upfront $75 fee and an ongoing $10 monthly fee to maintain the old meters, and can opt out at any time in the future, Smith said.

SmartMeters are meant to help reduce energy consumption by wirelessly monitoring usage.

The metering systems are being installed as part of a nationwide "smart grid" in 25 states around the country, according to the CPUC.

Anyone wishing to opt out of SmartMeter service can get more information online at www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/smartmeter, or by calling PG&E at (800) 743-5000. 

—Bay City News and Gilroy Patch