Smart Meter Opt-out at No Cost, After 3 Years

ALERT! Opting out from the new San Diego Gas & Electric radiation-emitting “smart” utility meters? After three years from the date you first “opted out”, it will be at no cost. Also, your legacy-style analog meter (if opting out) will be read every two months rather than monthly, and estimated in between, starting immediately, both ordered by the CPUC on Dec. 19th.

Many people in CA are getting rid of the so-called “smart” (but very dumb) utility meters, to protect their health from the pulsed microwave radiation, to avoid potential smart meter fires, frequently reported overbilling due to malfunctioning meters, or to protect their privacy and security. However, they did not like paying the extra utility fees charged for opting out. The Center for Electrosmog Prevention (CEP) of La Mesa, CA one of a handful of California organizations working to obtain the opt-out, has been taking legal steps to fight these fees that many feel are unjust, by participating for nearly 4 years in smart meter opt-out proceedings at the CPUC (California Public Utilities Commission). While a no-cost smart meter opt-out has not yet been accomplished, the current $10 (or $5 for CARE customers) monthly fee will stop after the 3 year anniversary of each individual’s opt-out. Further, CEP’s suggestion to reduce the number of meter readings to reduce cost has been accepted in part, and now, the meters will be read less often, cutting meter-reading program costs in half. The opt-out became available nearly three years ago, in May, 2012, so many of those opting out from the start will soon no longer pay any extra fees.

The American Association of Environmental Medicine, an association of over 300 physicians trained in environmental health conditions nationwide has urged immediate caution concerning exposure to smart meters, as they may contribute to problems like ringing ears, headaches, dizziness, heart arrythmias and more. The CPUC has allowed an opt-out due to the pressure from many tens of thousands of Californians and the 57 California cities, towns, and counties, whose governments have demanded that hazardous smart meters not be installed within their jurisdictions. San Clemente, sadly, was not one of these, nor were Orange or San Diego Counties, as their elected officials appeared to have little interest in protecting the public from a blanket of pulsed microwave rf radiation. Shame on them. But you can opt-out, due to the efforts of CEP.

For more info go to www.electrosmogprevention.org and click here to read the American Academy of Environmental Medicine’s Press Release concerning smart meters.

For more Patch articles on smart meters go to:

• Smart Meters and Wireless Blog Articles from La Mesa Patch

• Living Nightmare: How SDG&E Smart Meter Led to Headaches, Hearing Loss
  Who would think that a utility company would come on your property and install something dangerous and leave it there?
  

To opt-out from your gas and electric smart meters, call SDG&E at 1-877-357-8525 or if you are not a SDG&E customer, call your local utility. Preventing risk to your health is worth it! It may actually cut down on your bill, as many have reported higher bills with so-called “smart” meters.

To opt-out, for the first three years, it will cost:

$75 to sign up, and $10 a month (for non-care customers)

$10 to sign up, and $5 a month (for CARE customers)

Do you have a smart meter or smart meter opt-out story to tell? Leave it here, in a Comment, below!