I had to contact the CA PUC this morning to get help in contacting an executive level personnel at SCGC, to get the service restarted, because the tech reported me as a threat, and as such, got Corporate Security involved at SCGC. Today, after an hour on the phone with the CA PUC and SCGC, I was able to state my case and everyone agreed that I was never a threat to anyone. Yet my account is now flagged I find out, as a trouble customer…something that I now have to fight as well. The techs that showed up today said that they would recommend lifting that flag as well.

All this to point out the flagrant aloof attitude that SCGC employees demonstrate to their customers even after their personnel fail to perform as stated. I had the previously installed Smart Meter removed today. I am now going to be hit with the Opt Out fees. Extortion to be sure. What else do you call a forced payment with no clearly identifiable benefit or incremental service increase related to the fees? In fact, it has been pointed out by Gas Company technicians, that a very high percentage of gas leaks are found by meter readers. Who is going to find those leaks once the meter readers are gone? The answer of course, is no one. So there is an increased danger clearly identified for Gas Company executives. I doubt that they really care, in their never ending pursuit of increased revenues.

I was also told, by the Gas Company executive, that the PUC had only approved 10% of their requested rate hike last time around, and that was one of the reasons for the level of service given…including the lack of cell phone contact by their techs. Yet today, when the tech showed up to replace the meter, I got a call from the same exec telling me that the tech was in front of my house. How did he know that if the techs don’t have cell phone access? Corporate weasels. That’s what we’re dealing with here. As with government representatives and other corporate officials, they hide behind company firewalls so that their customers and constituents… you know those nasty people that actually pay their salary… can’t get at them to question policy and service.

I’m continuing to pursue my complaint with the CA PUC…probably a futile attempt at gaining some kind of foothold in peeling back this legislative approval. I hope more people take an active stand against this intrusion into our personal security and privacy. It’s really a big deal.

You have got to be kidding, right?! What’s important is to protect everybody’s health, and not worry about labels and party lines anymore. Everyone has to work with each other to make our lives safe and healthy.