The same people who said that nuclear power would be so cheap we wouldn't need meters to measure its use have written more chapters in the on-going private for-profit power producing fairy tale. PG&E wants to charge its customers $3 a month to have a smart meter.
Smart meters cause neurological problems (as well as cancer and possibly sterility) for many people initially forced to have one attached to their home. There has been tremendous controversy over the so-called "smart" meters, including one attached to a home which transmitted information about the wrong address (plus, the homeowner was never informed about the installation...).
The CEO of PG&E should take an 8% salary cut before even hinting about this kind of tomfoolery. Try to live on a budget of $200 a month (after paying the rent). I either have to not pay PG&E, or cut back on food or medicine. If a bunch of customers show up at PG&E's door with buckets of tar and pillows, it ain't a sleepover!
May 26th, 2011, 750 people filled a room at a California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) meeting. The PG&E Vice-President-in-the-room wore a suit that looked like it cost enough to feed the room steak-and-potatos. This dog-and-pony show will eventually result in a yes vote for public power in San Francisco.
Guess who has the most to lose if that happens? Hetch-Hetchy Reservoir is PG&E's biggest source of power generation. It belongs to San Francisco. When that happens the VP's clothing budget might be more in the range of Goodwill than Gucci. Hopefully the shareholders of the company won't get the idea to have a tar-and-feather-themed sleepover.