By Greentech Lead Team: California
utility company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) announced that
California Public Utilities Commission has approved its latest proposal that
will allow PG&E customers to opt out from its smart
grid implementation program, according to a report by The San Francisco
Chronicle.
PG&E was planning to install a total
of roughly 9.7 million smart meters throughout its service area, but complaints
ranging from information privacy to accuracy to concerns about potential health
consequences forced the utility to adopt an opt-out plan.
The report said that fees will be
the most important aspect of the current plan, as the decision from
the Commission could serve as a basis for similar cases around the
country.
The company’s proposal will force
customers to pay the fee to opt-out. The plan will impose a $75 up-front fee
followed by $10 monthly costs to pay for meter readers. Low income residents,
however, would pay a lower rate.
The report added that one key factor
in the approval of the proposal was the PUC’s skepticism about claims of health
impacts from smart meter technology. Ultimately, the decision was unanimous in
support.
Recently Pacific Gas and Electric Company
announced that it has added more than 220 megawatts of clean wind and solar
power to its generation mix in 2011 and signed contracts for future delivery of
463 megawatts of new renewable power, enough to meet California’s
environmental goals.