PG&E required to get Smart meters evaluated
Majority Leader disappointed Peevey ignores call for moratorium pending independent testing

SACRAMENTO – Senate Majority Leader Dean Florez (D-Shafter) expressed a mix of appreciation and frustration with the California Public Utilities Commission, which responded late yesterday to his request for information regarding Smart Meter concerns even as it refused to make any promises on several key issues, and asked why a similarly prompt response from Pacific Gas & Electric has not been forthcoming.

Following a Bakersfield hearing at which dozens of residents testified to severe utility bill spikes following the installation of Smart Meters, Florez wrote to both the CPUC and PG&E to ask for their commitment in resolving a number of issues raised.

CPUC president Michael Peevey on Thursday responded with a letter agreeing with Florez on the need for independent testing of Smart Meters, but completely ignoring the Senator’s call for a moratorium on installation of new Smart Meters or further rate increases until such testing is completed.  Peevey also offers to establish an “internal task force,” as opposed to a Citizen Oversight Board as Florez requested.

PG&E has yet to provide a response to Florez’s letter.
 
“The PUC has relented on some key points, including conducting independent testing and responding more quickly to customer complaints, which will benefit consumers in the long-run.  But they seem intent on continuing to place Smart Meters in the homes of millions of Californians before we get any real answers on the reliability of this new technology,” Florez said, adding,  “At least the PUC gave us the courtesy of a response.  Now I see what PG&E’s customers have been experiencing.”
 
Smart Meters are ultimately supposed to give consumers real-time information on their energy usage, so they can make adjustments to save on their bills, but the technology to allow the sort of communication needed to achieve that will not be in place for years.  So far, only the utility itself seems to be saving -- eliminating the labor costs of manually reading older meters -- as many consumers say their bills have increased dramatically despite cutting back on energy consumption.
 
PG&E has blamed the spike on summer heat, but much of the increase has come from multiple rate hikes approved readily by the Public Utilities Commission, much of that to pay for the new meters.
 
A second hearing on Smart Meter concerns is planned for October 21 in Fresno.
 
Attached are copies of Florez’s letter to the CPUC and Thursday’s response from Peevey. 

###
10-13-09 Florez letter to PUC  
10-14-09 response by PUC to 10-13-09 Florez demands