Month: December 2014
PG&E hands over even more emails
Evidence of smart meter corruption
PG&E has handed over another batch of emails that expose days long meetings between PGE’s Brian Cherry and CPUC president Michael Peevey. Peevey provides information, direction and advocacy on utility projects, instead of regulating PG&E to protect the public to ensure safe utility service.
The majority of the emails are about Oakley Power Plant, a windmill project called Manzana and San Bruno. However one small section gives a peek into Michael Peevey’s intentions on smart meters.
On July 2, 2010 PGE’s Brian Cherry wrote to Tom Bottorff about having spent a “good few days with Peevey and Bohn” (former Commissioner). Cherry’s description of what took place included smart meters.
“SmartMeters-Mike grumbled about the CCSF PFM* and the folks in Sebastopol who want to delay SmartMeter implementation. He implied that this wasn’t going to happen and that by the time the Commission got around to acting on it, we would have installed all of our meters.”
Exhibit 2 SmartMeter Upgrade Proceeding A.07-12-009 link to the emails: PGE Letter to Mr. Sullivan Exhibits 1 – 17_ 12-22-14
Click to see the screen shot:
The “folks in Sebastopol” are the EMF Safety Network. We had a formal proceeding before the Commission in 2010 asking for a moratorium on smart meters. A.10-04-018. President Peevey dismissed that proceeding deferring authority to the FCC. * CCSF is the City and County of San Francisco who asked for a moratorium, and illustrated smart meter problems. http://docs.cpuc.ca.gov/PublishedDocs/EFILE/PM/119424.PDF
The Structure Report was issued two months after Cherry wrote about this, and its conclusions were the same as Cherry reported, smart meters were claimed to be accurate, and PGE was faulted for how they handled smart meter problems.
Peevey has done exactly what Brian Cherry said he implied. Peevey dismissed and ignored the substantive issues, created a pay to opt out program, and delayed… meanwhile PGE installed almost all their smart meters. The utilities forced smart meters onto property without consent and without honest disclosure of how the meters work.
Wasn’t that just our experience?
PG&E forcing smart meters on customers!
Tearing down signs, and installing ahead of schedule!
CPUC ignoring cities and counties requests for a moratorium and safety studies!
CPUC and PG&E ignoring local laws that banned smart meter installation!
CPUC ignoring the science! ignoring doctors requests! ignoring disability rights!
Charging punitive fees to avoid smart meters!
Not allowing communities to decide! Not allowing businesses a choice!
Excluding health and safety from the smart meter opt out proceeding!
More from the email:
“He [Peevey] was concerned about the Structure SmartMeter Audit. He said he could not go into details, but that we would like their conclusions on the viability of the technology and infrastructure that supports it. He did say the Structure Audit report would be very critical of the way we handled the problem and communicated with our customers. He was also highly critical of Helen and her handling of the Senate hearing in Sacramento.”
“Miscellaneous- Mike couldn’t hide his disdain for Mark Toney and TuRN. He was particularly incensed, along with Clanon, about TURN’s refusal to modify their website about opposition to Smart Meters. I’m not too concerned about TURN and the GRC at this point. I don’t believe we need them as a settlement partner with Peevey as the assigned Commissioner….”
This is the stuff of crooks!
CPUC approves extortion smart meter fees
What really happened at Peevey’s last CPUC meeting
Before noon on Dec.18, a Bay City News reporter published a rare media account of Peevey’s last meeting at the CPUC titled “San Bruno blast: PUC’s Peevey presides over final meeting, receiving scorn and praise”. During untimed public comments 30 speakers droned on with accolades for his twelve years at the CPUC, one calling him the “greenest Commissioner”. After a couple hours the scorn began. 21 speakers had signed up to speak, most on smart meters. Robert Ernst read the names and smart meter complaints told to the CPUC judge at public hearings. (see video below)
Within hours the news article covering the scorn was censored, and almost all mention of smart meter opposition inside the CPUC meeting was removed. Here’s what was taken out:
“Armed police guarded the meeting, which at one point was interrupted by shouts when it appeared that Peevey intended to adjourn the meeting before all members of the public had a chance to speak.
“Be quiet,” Peevey told those who were shouting. Eventually, Peevey decided to continue the meeting through lunch and speakers continued to offer comments.
Numerous people offered opposition to the controversial PG&E smart meter program.
Robert Ernst of San Rafael offered Peevey “a dark rose for dark times” that he claimed smart meters pose for California. People held up signs that read “Listen to the Smart Meter injured.
“The PUC is clearly a captured agency, working on behalf of, and in collusion with, the utility it is supposed to be regulating,” said Sandi Maurer.”
Prior to the meeting we met on the steps of the CPUC in protest. The grim reaper held a wireless kills sign, black roses were handed out and a smart meter victims coffin was raised.
The alternate smart meter decision is APPROVED
After a lunch break, the CPUC approved Peevey’s alternate decision, which charges opt out fees of $75 initial fee and $10 a month ($10 and $5 for low income) for no more than three years. The decision excluded health and safety and disallowed community and business opt out. The Commissioners did not discuss it, only offered gratuities to those involved.
Thanks to everyone who coordinated the actions and participated, and to Steve Zeltzer for the following video:
Use a cell phone? Must Watch Film: Mobilize
MOBILIZE is an explosive investigative documentary that explores the potential long-term health effects from cell phone radiation, including brain cancer and infertility.
In 2011 the World Health Organization stated, “The electromagnetic fields produced by mobile phones are classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as possibly carcinogenic to humans.” The cell phone industry has vigorously disputed these findings.
This thought-provoking film examines the most recent scientific research and the harsh challenges politicians face trying to pass precautionary legislation. Featuring interviews with expert researchers, mobile phone industry representatives, and prominent politicians, MOBILIZE illuminates how industry’s economic and political influence can corrupt public health.
December 18: Press Conference and Demonstration at the CPUC in SF
California Public Utilities Commission
Thursday, December 18
8:30 AM
505 Van Ness Ave. (at McAllister), San Francisco
Give CPUC President Michael Peevey the send-off into retirement that he deserves after a dozen years of corruption and complicity with corporate utilities.
Protest the CPUC’s proposed decisions in the ‘smart’ meter opt out proceedings. Show strength in unity against their proposals that:
- Ignore serious public safety hazards including toxic injuries, fires, homelessness, violations of privacy, higher bills, loss of meter readers, and no promised energy savings.
- Continue to impose coercive extortion opt out fees
- Violate laws, and deny customer and disability rights
- Prohibit opt-outs for communities, apartment buildings, and businesses
- Reward utility companies with millions $$$ more for smart grid failings
Join in demanding that the CPUC:
• Reject the proposed decisions
• Rescind and refund ‘opt out’ extortion fees
• Halt the ‘smart’ meter program
Bring any other past or present grievances against the CPUC (toxic dumping, nuclear plants, gas line explosions, accessibility, public power, etc.)
Join in demanding:
• Criminal prosecution of CPUC President Peevey and others, and shut down of the aging and hazardous Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant!
We will be raising our demands both outside before the meeting, as well as inside. Please come prepared to make some noise and be seen.Wear black if you can. Rain or shine.
For more information about the proposed decisions, go to these links:
ALJ Amy Yip-Kikugawa’s Proposed Decision
President Michael Peevey’s Alternate Proposed Decision
The proposed decisions will (as summarized by the EMF Safety Network):
- Give 37 million dollars to the Investor Owned Utilities (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E, and So Cal Gas) for providing the opt-out program.
- Adopt permanent fees for residential customers who “do not wish to have a wireless smart meter.”
- Continue the same interim fees of $75 initial fee plus $10/month, and $10 initial fee plus $5/month for low income.
- Local governments and multi-unit dwellings may not collectively opt out of smart meter installations.
- Charging an opt-out fee does not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
- They will not address health and safety impacts in this decision.
- Assess fees on a per location basis, for example if you have two or more meters on your property, that will be one fee, per utility company.
- If you have two utilities, they can both charge you fees.
- President Peevey proposes putting a cap on the opt-out fees at 3 years.
- Neither proposal considers a no-fee option.
Endorsed by:
Alameda County Residents Concerned About “Smart” Meters
California Brain Tumor Association
Center for Electrosmog Prevention
Ecological Options Network
EMF Analysis
EMF Safety Coalition
EMF Safety Network
No Nukes Action
Peoples Initiative Foundation
Smart Meter Health Alert
Stop OC Smart Meters
Smart Meter Harm
Stop Smart Grid
Stop Smart Meters!
Stop Smart Meters Irvine
United Public Workers for Action
Wireless Radiation Alert Network
(For more information, or if your organization would like to endorse this, please contact info@stopsmartmeters.org)
How do EMF’s affect us?
According to Dr. Martin Pall, EMF’s affect us through activation of voltage gated calcium channels, not by heating.
Please, watch Dr. Pall talking in Oslo, Norway, on October 18, 2014, about electrosmog as the new health and environmental pollutant.
Dr. Olle Johansson says “This is real science at it’s best!”
Electromagnetic fields act via activation of voltage-gated calcium channels to
produce beneficial or adverse effects Dr. Martin Pall, 2013