Letter to the Editor: IJ Wrong About Smart Meters

-- Written by Valeri Hood, Fairfax

The Marin Independent Journal editorial on Smart Meters this past Thursday is incorrect and may lead to false confidence in California's Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

The CPUC has done no testing, never does. The CPUC's own San Bruno Panel's Report has been confirmed by the National Transportation and Safety Board findings. Both found the CPUC woefully inadequate in providing customer safety. Its staff has no opportunity to attend seminars or update training; they do not use consultants who could provide expertise; and there is no money to allow better and proper vetting of submissions made to the CPUC for approval that is pretty much rubber-stamped.

Compliance is determined by a 'box-checking' process so limited the CPUC learned of only 13 incidents of exploding underground vaults, whereas news reports listed 78 since 2005! This was revealed in a public hearing in June.

This is how Sierra wildfires, Rancho Cordova gas line burnings and death, Hinkley, San Bruno and a few thousand other casualties have taken place. The gap between the talking heads and the staff makes Grand Canyon look like a door mat.

Beyond that is the fact that there is no requirement that Smart Meters be wireless. Other countries use different technologies for smart grids because they understand wireless devices can be harmful to people and the environment. California utilities that have chosen to force wireless flawed devices on an unwilling public could learn from other deployments. If the CPUC were doing the job it is chartered for, we might all benefit.

What a silly piece of jingoistic journalism the editorial was. Of course, people who want advanced technology should have access to it, and that includes Smart Maters. The question that was not asked: should people who want something be allowed to harm their neighbors and community? Should my neighbor's sonic volume rock band keep the surrounding block awake all night? Of course not. We must try to find reasonable solutions. Such a simple concept, but more important than ever in today's stressed and cranky world. (Congress should try this.)

In the case of Smart Meters, there is no requirement that the meters be wireless. Other technologies are used all over the world to provide smart grids. Had the utilities adequately test-marketed the devices, current flaws would have been corrected pre-market. Instead, PG&E has chosen to force a flawed product on the public.  And, that is another concept altogether.

Letters to the editor are always welcomed. Email them to kellyd@patch.com