Let it never be said there isn't a price to "progress" -- not to mention opposition.
Worried and angry residents have been urging local governments to stop the installation of SmartMeters, which use wireless technology to allow remote readings of energy use and that allow PG&E to track power consumption hourly, even though a study released Thursday found the meters are accurate.
The devices are intriguing because they allow homeowners or renters to ostensibly save money and energy by giving them better information about consumption and peak use times, when the price would be more expensive.
The problem has been that for a relatively small number of customers, the meters haven't worked as billed, and resulted in skyrocketing utility bills.
These glitches have been lumped in with health concerns voiced by a committed and worried group of people who believe they'll be harmed by the electromagnetic radiation emitted by the meters.
Despite the complaints, the meters are highly accurate, according to an independent analysis released Thursday by the state Public Utilities Commission.
The review found SmartMeters were accurately gauging electricity use, but said poor customer service by PG&E has contributed to widespread customer dissatisfaction.
Although the Obama administration has given the state $4 billion in stimulus funding for revamping the electric grid, which would include SmartMeters, opposition likely will continue, mostly because PG&E customers won't be able to choose to opt out of having a new meter installed.
Unfortunately, the utility company's often inept public communications, along with a mistrust by many people of imposed solutions, means human meter readers may not be out of work anytime soon.
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