Santa Cruz County Residents Protest SmartMeter Installations

A group of protesters is planning to hand out fliers on the dangers of SmartMeters at the Santa Cruz Farmer's Market on Wednesday as part of an ongoing demonstration against the installation of the meters.

On Monday about 50 protestors gathered at the PG&E facility to stop trucks belonging to Wellington Energy, the company's subcontractor hired for the installation, from leaving the lot. Half that number showed up again today calling for the installation of the meters to be suspended.

"PG&E wants a fight with the county, they've got one," said Josh Hart, of Scotts Valley-based Stop Smart Meters!          

Crews are installing SmartMeters to replace analog meters throughout Santa Cruz County.

So far only one arrest has been made -- Hart was arrested on June 21 for blocking the doorway of the PG&E payment center in Capitola.

He said almost everyone protesting says they are willing to risk arrest if necessary, because they are alarmed about the health risks SmartMeters pose.          

Hart said electromagnetic radiation emitted by these wireless technologies will have long-term, detrimental health effects on people, animals and plants.

There are documented reports of people suffering from headaches, ringing in ears, inability to sleep, and heart arrhythmia, Hart said.          

SmartMeters are advanced utility meters that wirelessly communicate usage information to customers and utility companies. PG&E has scheduled installations of them for all of their customers by mid-2012.

PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith said the installations are already underway.

The Board of Supervisors has approved a moratorium on new installations in unincorporated areas of the county, Hart said. The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office is allowed to enforce the county ordinance, however the California Public Utilities Commission has oversight over the SmartMeter installations.

Smith said the meters are beneficial because they give customers detailed information about their own energy usage and encourage them to conserve.

He said the World Health Organization has reviewed the issue extensively and determined there was no connection between low-level electromagnetic emissions and negative health effects.

But Hart called the program a "false solution."

"They're selling it as some green solution to climate change, but it's really not," Hart said. "It benefits the bottom line of the shareholders of these utility companies."

Santa Cruz is one of several counties in the Bay Area that is against the installation of the meters.

Health risks aside, Hart said there is a concern over the accuracy of the meters where in some cases customers claim they are being overcharged hundreds of dollars by their meters.

Smith said customers can request to delay installation by calling (866) 743-0263.

"Our aim is to work with any customer that has a concern," he said.

--Bay City News