Plenty of people across Santa Cruz County are furious at PG&E’s efforts to install smart meters in homes and businesses. In addition to complaints about the meters’ accuracy, many people, led by the Wireless Radiation Alert Network, are suggesting that the wireless signals can have an adverse affect on residents’ health. Watsonville has already banned the smart meters because of the concerns, making it only the second city in the state to do so.
At a meeting with the California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday, county leaders declared that they would do what they can to stop the continued deployment of smart meters, at least until public concerns are addressed. “We’re going to take any action we can to ensure citizens of this community have protection,” said Supervisor John Leopold. The question is whether they have the authority to do so.
PUC supervisor Marzia Zafar said that no steps will be taken to halt the installation until two reports—one on accuracy, and the other on safety—are released. The first report is due out next week, while the second report is due out later this year. Leopold was upset by this approach, saying that the reports should have been released before the utility company began installing the new meters. Zafar countered that the radiation released is about one-sixtieth the amount of a standard cell phone, and that its emissions are much less frequent than average cell phone usage. Perhaps the most telling comment, however, came from local resident Mehan Shegal, who complained, “I’m being forced to accept a new technology.” We wouldn’t want that now, would we?
