There are NO documented energy savings anywhere in the U.S. where smart meters have been installed.

The pilot programs you refer to have the utility companies giving the participants up to $6,000 worth of specialized equipment including energy monitors that customers do NOT receive in the real programs.

And the utility companies offer prizes to those who conserve the most.

It has already been demonstrated on numerous ocassions that (1) the cost of the pilot programs per customer far outweigh advantages and (2) any conservation that occurs is NOT due to the smart meter but due to the motivation of the participants to succeed or win prizes, which could have been done WITHOUT costly smart meters.

The basic point is: electricity costs more to deliver at higher-demand times. Additionally, shifting loads, especially abruptly, is a challenge. Such technology supplies better, more timely information, and it allows for easier demand-side changes that reduce the need for the costly practices above.

I’m sorry, I understand the concerns with the technology, but the point that it can save people and utilities money is not an issue of contention.

Are you a utility company shill?

There are NO documented energy savings anywhere in the U.S. where smart meters have been installed and the Cost+Benefit is horrendous in each area resulting in the Attorney General rejecting smart meters on a cost+benefit analysis.

Please identify any energy savings actually occurring other than loose talk by the utility company and you repeating it.

If someone goes out for Pizza and you don’t want any, are you supposed to pay your share for the pizza plus a additional for opting out?

The fee is extortion and it’s intention is for additional funds for the Utility Company and to punatively discourage people from opting out. They get away with this extortion because the PUC is working with PG$E rather than regulating them.

These meters are not intended to “green” the city, “save on utility bills”, “reduce energy consumption”. They have one function and one function only, to put more money in the coffers of big energy corporations.

Seriously, do you think they would spend tens of millions of dollars installing something without the consent of the public without knowing they were going to be compensated at least 100 fold down line?! THEY ARE IN BUSINESS TO MAKE MONEY, not help the environment, reduce your usage, or green America.

These health-affecting meters will help them find out exactly what times we all use the most electricity and gas, and then they will exponentially increase the cost of the usage during those times. And they will be able to parse it down to the minutes. This is just their latest plan in an on going arrangement to bilk the public.

Why would a corporate structure that makes billions from your energy usage be trying to set things up so that you use less, which is what they claim is the reason for these damnable things (“you’ll be able to see when you use the most energy and amend your usage”)? Why would they want to make LESS money, which would be the upshot of you consuming less? Have you thought about that?

The fact that at least one the CPUC board member who put forward charging fees for opting out and for removing the units that were installed without our consent was formerly an exec with PG&E should tell you something. Why should we have to pay for NOT having something installed? Why should we have to pay to remove something we didn’t approve in the first place, ON OUR PRIVATE PROPERTY. Why are these things not VOTED ON.

The truth is the corporations that rule our governments and rule us are not there to make your life free or easy. They’re going for total domination, and they’re almost there. The United Fascist States of America.

It’s time to WAKE. UP.

Whey don’t they get a credit for $300 since they don’t get a smart meter?