On March 15, 2012, the CPUC issued Proposed Decisions regarding Smart Meter opt-out options for customers of Southern California Edison (SCE) and San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E).
Under the Proposed Decision for SCE, customers who do not want a wireless Smart Meter installed at their location can retain the meter currently installed at their location or receive an analog meter or a non-analog, non-smart digital meter that had been at the customer’s location prior to the installation of a wireless Smart Meter. Customers choosing to opt-out would be assessed an initial fee of $75 and a monthly charge of $10 thereafter. A California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) customer electing the opt-out would be assessed an initial fee of $10 and a monthly charge of $5 thereafter.
Under the Proposed Decision for SDG&E, customers who do not want a wireless Smart Meter installed at their location can choose to have an analog electric and/or gas meter. Customers choosing to opt-out would be assessed an initial fee of $75 and a monthly charge of $10 thereafter. A CARE customer electing the opt-out option would be assessed an initial fee of $10 and a monthly charge of $5 thereafter.
The fees for SCE and SDG&E customers are subject to adjustment upon conclusion of a separate phase of this proceeding.
The earliest the Proposed Decisions can come before the CPUC’s Commissioners for a vote is April 19, 2012. If approved by the CPUC, the September 21, 2011, Assigned Commissioner’s Ruling directing SCE and SDG&E to establish a delay list would no longer be in effect and all customers currently on the delay list would be transitioned to a wireless Smart Meter unless they elected to participate in the opt-out option.