Residents in Sebastopol, California are worried that the installation of smart meters by Pacific Gas and Electric is a health hazard. The city held a town hall meeting to hear consumer concerns over radiation from the meters’ electromagnetic fields.  Dozens of peope addressed the City Council, many wearing “Smart Moratorium” buttons. “This is a matter of choice,” explained Nancy Hubert. “They are not allowing us a choice. I think this is pretty outrageous actually.”

"I want the city of Sebastopol to be the first city to say ‘hell no,’ to PG&E’s smart meters", said resident Madison Baker who has been a vocal opponent of smart meters. Starting this month, the utility will begin deploying the new meters to consumers on the northern coast of California, including the cities of Santa Rosa, Rohnert Park and Petaluma.

Officials from PG&E vigorously deny any suggestion the meters are unsafe or in any way a danger to public health.  Utility spokesman Andrew Tang notes that studies conducted in 2005 and 2008 show the rates of radiation from the electromagnetic fields from the meters fall within standards and levels set by the FCC.

Even though PG&E is confident there are no health hazards associated with their smart meters, spokeswoman Katie Romans acknowledged, “We do want to address the community’s concerns fully. We’ll be taking those concerns back to our experts.” Romans said the utility will report their experts’ response at the next town hall meeting.

Smart meters deployment is also under scrutiny elsewhere in the world. In Australia, the Opposition party sought to have deployment stopped until a full cost-benefit analysis is finished. In November 2009, the Auditor-General determined the Government’s cost-benefit analysis was flawed and that consumers would be faced with higher electricity bills. The Government is redoing the analysis but has rejected the demand to halt the roll out.

“We’re undertaking a review to make sure the pricing structures that will flow from these smart meters and the consumer protections are appropriate,” said Energy Minister Peter Batchelor. The Opposition’s energy spokesman, Michael O’Brien, is unconvinced and asserts that the meters will rip-off utility customers. “If this is going to hurt consumers why would you continue with it now?” he asks.

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