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December 2012 Newsletter
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Dear Friends:  

 
Last Friday the California Court of Appeals denied our Smart Meter lawsuit against the CPUC and PG&E.  They provided no written statement as to why they denied the case. It's hard to believe that the CPUC is not held accountable, and can get away with ignoring the health and safety impacts of Smart Meters. We are evaluating our next steps in terms of legal action, which could include:  
  1. Filing a petition for modification of our original CPUC application, adding in all CA utilities, including private utilities, new information, studies, doctors statements and customer declarations.
  2. A federal lawsuit.  
  3. A people's tribunal, or a citizen's grand jury. 
The CPUC Public Participation Hearings on the Smart Meter opt out program are being held this week- the final two are scheduled for today, Tuesday Dec 18 in San Clemente and Thursday Dec. 20, in Santa Rosa. Three hearings have been held so far in Bakersfield, Santa Barbara and last night in Los Angeles. (See more info below)

Please take this quick survey!

 

Thanks to all of you for your support and concern for public health and the environment.

 

Gratefully,  

Sandi  
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Please Take this quick survey!
 
In preparation for writing the brief in the CPUC Smart Meter opt out proceeding I want to hear how you feel about allocating any utility costs associated with restoring the analog meters. In my testimony I stated shareholders should pay any and all costs. Other parties in the proceeding, SCE, SDG&E and The Utility Reform Network (TURN) testified that individual customers who opt out should pay 100% of the utility costs. PG&E proposed keeping the interim rates and socializing the remaining costs.

I believe it's unlikely that the CPUC will make shareholders pay, but they might socialize the costs. What you do think?  Click here to take the survey!
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New Website Page: LEGAL WORK
 
A compilation of all the legal filings by the EMF Safety Network can be accessed on a new website page called Legal Work. The EMF Safety Network has been or is involved in 6 legal cases since April 2010.
  • CPUC Application A.10-04-018 
  • Lawsuit against the CPUC and PG&E in CA Appeals Court
  • CPUC Smart Meter Opt Out Proceeding A. 11-03-014
  • CPUC Investigation of PG&E for Spying I.12-04-010    
  • Civil court case against PG&E for spying
  • CEQA Lawsuit Sebastopol Verizon 4G cell tower 
 
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CPUC Holds Public Hearings on Smart Meters

 

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is holding a series of five "public participation hearings" from Dec 13-20, 2012 to gather public input on the Smart Meter opt out program. Currently customers who want to retain or restore the analog meters are charged  "interim fees" to not have Smart Meters.


The CPUC judge Amy Yip-Kikugawa will preside over the hearings. This is an opportunity for customers to comment on cost and cost allocation issues: costs include customer impact; fees; billing overcharges; health costs; environmental costs; interference; fires or burnt out appliances following installation; Banks of Smart Meters; and the need for community Smart Meter free zones, etc.
 
In your comments be sure to address cost allocation: Do you think it's unfair that individuals should have to pay to protect themselves from Smart Meter radiation? Should shareholders, everyone, or individuals pay?

Hearings are free and open to the pubic.
  • They are scheduled to be 2 hours long.
  • Encourage politicians to attend. They will be allowed to speak first.
  • The length of time to speak will depend on how many people show up: The more people, the less time, for example 1-2 minutes. If hundreds show up the ALJ may ask for one person to represent and speak on behalf of a group of customers..."I represent #'s of customers."
  •  There will be a court reporter and the public comments will become a part of the record in the Smart Meter consolidated proceeding (A.11-03-014)
Remaining hearing locations:

SAN CLEMENTE
December 18, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. San Clemente Community Center -- Ole Hanson Fireside Room 100 N. Calle Seville San Clemente, CA 92672
 
SANTA ROSA
December 20, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. Steel Lane Community Center -- Dohn Room 415 Steele Lane Santa Rosa, CA 95403

Read a news article about the Santa Barbara hearing: Edison Customers Express Concern, Frustration Over Installation of Smart Meters
 
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DONATIONS WELCOME!

 

Donations can be sent through Paypal, or sent by mail to the EMF Safety Network.  

 

If you are looking to make end of year tax deductible donations Ecological Options Network, EON, our non- profit sponsor, can provide tax deductions for donations of $100 or more. Make check payable to EON and mail to EMF Safety Network PO Box 1016 Sebastopol CA 95473

 

 Click here for how to donate.  

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EMF Safety Network Contact Information
p: 707-824-0824
e:  emfsafe@sonic.net 
w: www.emfsafetynetwork.org

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