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SAN FRANCISCO, Calif- Wednesday morning the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) voted to modify the Smart Meter program for PG&E. The new program will allow residential customers who do not wish to have a wireless Smart Meter installed at their location to get an analog meter, said the CPUC.
If you want to keep your analog meter it will cost an initial fee of $75 and a monthly charge of $10. Customers enrolled in the CPUC's low income program (California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE)) electing to opt-out will be assessed an initial fee of $10 and a monthly charge of $5.
PG&E customers who want to opt-out of the Smart Meter program can submit their request online at www.pge.com/smartmeteroptout or call 1-866-743-0263. PG&E says they plan to remove the Smart Meters from the homes of those opt-out customers who already have them; those customers who still have analog meters will be able to keep them.
Commissioner Timothy Alan Simon said, "Today's decision provides a choice to customers who would like to opt-out of PG&E's Smart Meter installation program at a much lower costs than originally proposed."
According to the CPUC, the costs approved are interim and will allow residential customers to begin selecting the opt-out option immediately. The costs are subject to adjustment upon conclusion of a second phase of this proceeding where issues concerning the actual costs associated with offering an analog opt-out option will be addressed.
The September 21, 2011, Assigned Commissioner's Ruling directing PG&E to establish a delay list is no longer in effect and all customers on the delay list will be transitioned to a wireless Smart Meter unless they elect to participate in the opt-out option.
The proposal voted on is available at http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/AGENDA_DECISION/158309.htm.
