Californians -- Statewide hearings in Dec. re: raising smartmeter opt-out fees

 Please attend or forward as is appropriate, thank you!

From: Joshua Hart <[hidden email]>
Subject: Stop Smart Meters! California Alert: Critical Smart Meter Opt Out Hearings in December
To: [hidden email]
Date: Friday, November 30, 2012, 5:09 PM

Dear Stop Smart Meters! supporter:

As bad as the extortionate and punitive smart meter 'opt-out' fee policy seems at the moment, utilities in California are pressuring the CPUC to increase the fees, and take away the choice of an analog meter, forcing us to pay hundreds of dollars/ year for a digital 'radio off' meter with many of the same problems as the 'smart' meter.  It's been revealed that utilities like PG&E have scrapped millions of perfectly functional analog meters- now they want to charge us for purchasing new ones.  We refuse to be charged for the incompetence of for-profit, corporate utilities.  

IT IS CRITICAL TO ATTEND THESE HEARINGS AND TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO ATTEND.  Approach your family, neighbors, friends, and local elected officials now about attending and speaking at one of these hearings.

We are demanding:

-no-cost, purely electromechanical analog meters for water, gas and electric utilities
-the right for apartment complexes, and cities and counties to opt out
-the right for businesses- as well as residences to refuse smart meters

The CPUC has ignored widespread pleas from the public to schedule these hearings at a time when they would not conflict with the holidays.  Many are speculating that these dates were chosen to diminish public turnout.  

Don't let them get away with this!

If you cannot attend the hearings, please send comments (see below).

The specifics of the hearings are as follows:

BAKERSFIELD (PG&E and SoCalGas territories)
December 13, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
Bakersfield City Hall Council Chambers
1501 Truxtun Avenue
Bakersfield, CA 93301
 
SANTA BARBARA (PG&E, SCE and SoCalGas territories)
December 14, 2012 at 3:00 p.m.
County Administration Building Board Hearing Room, 4th Floor
105 East Anapamu Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
 
LOS ANGELES (SCE and SoCalGas territories)
December 17, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
Junipero Serra State Office Building
Carmel Room - Auditorium, 1st Floor
320 West 4th Street
Los Angeles, CA 90013
 
SAN CLEMENTE (SCE, SoCalGas and SDG&E territories)
December 18, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
San Clemente Community Center – Ole Hanson Fireside Room
100 N. Calle Seville
San Clemente, CA 92672
 
SANTA ROSA (PG&E territory)
December 20, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
Steel Lane Community Center – Dohn Room
415 Steele Lane
Santa Rosa, CA 95403

More information about what to expect at public participation hearings here: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/aboutus/Divisions/CSID/Public+Advisor/Public+Participation+Hearings.htm
 
Questions being considered in the Phase 2 opt out proceeding are:

1) Should  more  than  one  opt-­out  option  be  offered  to  customers  who  do  not  wish   to  have  a  wireless  SmartMeter  (e.g.,  a  digital,  non-­communicating  meter)?     Should  different  fees  be  assessed  based  on  the  type  of  opt-­out  meter  selected   by  the  customer  and,  if  so,  what  is  an  appropriate  level  for  such  fees?  

 
2) Should  all  costs  associated  with  the  opt-­out  option  be  paid  by  only  those   customers  electing  the  option,  or  should  some  portion  of  these  costs  be   allocated  to  all  ratepayers  and/or  to  utility  shareholders?  

3) What  fees  should  be  assessed  on  customers  who  elect  the  opt-­out  option  and should  the  fees  be  assessed  on  a  per  meter  or  per  location  basis?  

4) Should there be an "exit fee" imposed on customers who  elect  the  opt-­out option  and  later  return  to  a  wireless  SmartMeter?  

 
5) Should  the  opt-­out  option  be  extended  to  local  governments  and  communities?  

If you  are  unable  to  attend  these  hearings,  you  may  submit  written  comments  to  the to the CPUC's Public Advisor's Office at the address noted below.  Please refer to the application  filing  number,  A.11-­03-­014  et  al,  when  writing.    Please  state  if  you  would   like  a  response,  otherwise  no  response  will  be  sent.  Your  comments  will  become  a  part of the formal file for public comment in this proceeding.  The Public Advisor's Office will circulate  your  comments  to  the  five  Commissioners,  the  ALJ,  the  Division  of  Ratepayer   Advocates  (DRA),  and  to  CPUC  staff  assigned  to  this  proceeding.  You  may  also  write  to   the  CPUC  if  you  need  advice  on  how  to  participate  in  this  proceeding,  or  would  like  to   receive  further  notices  regarding  the  date,  time,  and  place  of  any  future  hearing  in  this   proceeding:      

 

    The  Public  Advisor   California  Public  Utilities  Commission   505  Van  Ness  Avenue,  Room  2103   San  Francisco,  CA    94102   E-­Mail:  [hidden email]    

Locations  for  these  hearings  are  wheelchair  accessible.  If  you  need  interpreters  for   language  or  for  the  hard  of hearing, please contact the Public Advisor's Office at the following  numbers  at  least  five  (5)  working  days  in  advance  of  the  meeting  date:      

    Telephone:  (415)  703-­2074  or  toll  free:  1-­866-­849-­8390   TTY:  (415)  703-­5282  or  toll  free  TTY:  1-­866-­836-­7825  


Joshua Hart MSc
Director, Stop Smart Meters!
http://stopsmartmeters.org

Stop Smart Meters! is a grassroots-funded campaign.
Please chip in if you can!  http://stopsmartmeters.org/donate