PG&E Shareholders Greeted By Vocal Protest Yesterday in SF

As PG&E shareholders and employees walked up to the firm’s headquarters at 77 Beale St. in San Francisco to attend the annual shareholders meeting yesterday, they were confronted by a raucous ratepayer revolt, with chants of “Our Health is NOT for Sale” and “We say NO FEE Charge the Utility.”  Many entering were visibly uncomfortable.  Voge Smith, a Novato resident whose petition demanding a halt to opt out fees has generated nearly 3000 signatures- spoke of widespread health problems from smart meters, and was allowed inside the building with ABC 7 On Your Side reporters, who aired this report.

Thank you to all who attended the protest and joined the growing call for an end to extortionate and punitive opt out fees (and an end to the smart grid!).  If you couldn’t attend the protest but still want to contribute, please consider a donation to help us keep fighting smart meters.

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Posted in California, Citizen rebellion, Democracy, neighborhood organizing, PG&E, San Francisco | 2 Comments

CA Stocking Up on Candles as VT Gets Free Opt Out

Protesters in Vermont demand a free opt out in November 2011- last week the VT legislature concurred

Last week the Vermont legislature passed a bill that requires utility companies to offer a free opt out for its customers- we believe the first such state law in the US.   It’s not a total ban but it’s one step in that direction- especially if large numbers take advantage of the new law.  Media outlets like Bloomberg are buzzing with news of the wave of ‘smart meter defiance’ sweeping the nation.  Praise is in order for the legislators who voted for this bill and the many advocates working to make the voices of Vermont’s public heard.  Why not write to your state legislator right now and ask them how come Vermont deserves a free opt out, but not in our state?

Meanwhile, out in the wild west where the California legislature has been sitting on their hands as the PUC authorizes extortionate opt out fees, residents who prefer to retain their safe, accurate and durable analog meters are having to stock up on candles amidst PG&E threats to disconnect otherwise on-time bill-paying customers.  Below is a report from California’s central coast, where many are planning to resist the fees- nearly 400 have signed a pledge refusing to pay, thousands more have demanded a halt to the fees.  We suspect this is just the tip of the iceberg.  Here’s the word on the street:

“We sent a personalized version of this sample letter to both addresses of (PG&E) before the May 1 deadline. We appreciate so much your supplying the sample!!! Our son and daughter each rent a house we own (in SLO and LO, respectively), so we included separate letters, personalized and signed by each, with their account numbers. All sent by certified mail. We’ve also been stocking up on candles, and with our solar oven, we’ll be OK if they cut off our electricity for non-payment of opt-out fees. Also have been emptying out the freezer, so can let them do the dirty deed to objecting customers and see how it makes PG&E look.”

We’ll see- but one thing is for sure- the free opt out cat is out of the political bag- it’s just a matter of time before consumers from other states demand it.

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Posted in California, Citizen rebellion, CPUC, Democracy, Vermont | 2 Comments

Take Back Your Power California: Protest PG&E Monday

TAKE BACK YOUR POWER Rally and Protest MONDAY MAY 14TH 9AM
PG&E Headquarters 77 Beale St. San Francisco

Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E) is a company with a long history of exchanging public health and safety for private income and profit.  This is more true than ever before, after the preventable and deadly catastrophic explosion in San Bruno, the nightmarish risks of nuclear power, climate change, and the catastrophic effects of the “smart grid” which has hit communities all over California hard- in the checkbook, decimating our privacy, risking national security, damaging our health, and risking deadly fires.

Then charging us a fee to “opt out.”

Who’s really in charge here anyway?

On May 14th, PG&E’s shareholders will hold their annual meeting at the company’s downtown SF headquarters to hear about their increasing profits at our expense (17% increase in quarterly profit).   Tired of the threats, intimidation, extortion and abuse?  How much more will you take California?

It’s time to TAKE BACK OUR POWER from corporate greed.

It’s time to TAKE BACK OUR POWER from PG&E.

Protest outside and let your voice be heard- if you are a PG&E shareholder, go inside and confront management with the crimes they are committing.

We need to MAKE SOME NOISE.

More info:

Stop Smart Meters!  info@stopsmartmeters.org

No Smart Meters SF!  415-282-8185

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Posted in California, Citizen rebellion, Installer Threats and Assaults, PG&E, San Francisco | 2 Comments