SANTA CRUZ COUNTY LEADERS ARE ASKING STATE UTILITY-REGULATORS TO DO MORE TO STOP THE INSTALLATION OF P-G- & E SMART METERS. SUPERVISORS MET YESTERDAY WITH A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CALIFORNIA PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, TRYING TO WORK OUT CONCERNS RELATING TO THE NEW, WIRELESS METERS. STATE REGULATIONS GOVERN THE UTILITY, WHICH CONFLICTS WITH THE COUNTY’S DECISION TO TRY TO IMPOSE A MORATORIUM ON THE METERS’ INSTALLATION. SOME RESIDENTS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE METERS’ ACCURACY IN MEASURING USAGE, AND ABOUT RADIATION EMITTED BY THE DEVICES. A REPORT IS EXPECTED TO BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK REGARDING THE METERS’ ACCURACY, AND ANOTHER IS DUE LATER THIS YEAR ADDRESSING SAFETY CONCERNS. IN THE MEANTIME, STATE OFFICIALS ARE SET TO MEET NEXT WEEK TO DISCUSS HALTING OR CONTINUING THE INSTALLATION EFFORT.
