READER’S EDITORIAL: STAND UP AGAINST SMART METERS APRIL 5
By Susan Brinchman
Director and Founder, Center for Electrosmog Prevention
March 11, 2012 (San Diego)--What can be done to gain an opt-out from smart meters here in San Diego and Orange Counties? The CPUC is dragging its heels in "granting permission" for one in our region. They may do so by June, our attorney learned recently. That is not good enough. It is not set and it is not definite. Why? Well, for one thing, few people in our county know about the smart meter problem due to lack of media coverage and no activism that is newsworthy here such as protests; even fewer have taken steps to show the CPUC we want an opt-out.
They are less impressed by letters than by seeing people show up at events and meetings and speaking out in public, protesting. That is what earned an opt-out in Northern California, along with the many municipalities whose citizens insisted take a stand for health. We have not done that adequately here and so, have no opt-out yet. But we do have an opportunity shortly. CPUC is rarely here, but they will be on April 5.
The CA Public Utilities Commission will hold two sessions here in San Diego, on April 5, 2012, at the Al Bahr Shrine Center, 5440 Kearny Mesa Road. at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. This would be a good opportunity to educate the public about the smart meter issues, by passing out fliers, and speaking about smart meter problems and the need for an opt-out NOW, in addition to the outrageous plan by SDGE to require its customers (us) to pay for their culpability in causing the fires in our county in 2007. If you are interested in attending one of these meetings and helping to pass out fliers, please contact me. We need to mobilize to alert the public and demand an opt-out NOW.
From the Reader. March 8th, by Don Bauder:
"The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) will hold two sessions April 5 to let the San Diego public comment on San Diego Gas & Electric's plan to force customers to pay for uninsured costs from the 2007 fires, in which the utility was found negligible. (SDG&E also wants such indemnity for future fires.) Many San Diegans argue that shareholders should pick up that tab, particularly since Sempra, SDG&E's parent, is enjoying huge profits and stock gain, just upped its dividend considerably, and SDG&E rates are already the highest, or among the highest, in the nation.
…SDG&E will make a 15-minute presentation at the start of each session. Ramona's Mussey Grade Road Alliance filed for the public hearing in January."
For more information, see flyer: Smart Meter Public Health Alert with Opt-Out Info for SDG&E Customers http://www.scribd.com/doc/83836459/Smart-Meter-Flyer-CEP-March-3-2012
The views in this editorial reflect the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of East County Magazine. To submit an editorial, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.