Background
On July 26, 2011, the Consumers Power Alliance, Public Citizen, Coalition of Energy Users, Eagle Forum of California, Neighborhood Defense League of California, Santa Barbara Tea Party, Concerned Citizens of La Quinta, Citizens Review Association, Palm Springs Patriots Coalition Desert Valley Tea Party, Menifee Tea Party - Hemet Tea Party - Temecula Tea Party, Rove Enterprises, Inc., Schooner Enterprises, Inc., Eagle Forum of San Diego, Southern Californians For Wired Solutions To Smart Meters, and Burbank Action1 (collectively, Joint Applicants), filed Application (A.) 11-07-020 seeking modification of Decision (D.) 08-09-039 and an order requiring SCE to file an application for approval of a smart meter opt-out plan (Joint Application). Joint Applicants note that the Commission is currently considering two similar applications concerning smart meter opt-out options for customers served by Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) and San Diego Gas & Electric Company (SDG&E).2 They request that SCE also be required to propose an alternative to the installation of a digital electric or gas smart meter that transmits customer usage data through radio transmission in its service territory.3
SCE filed a timely response to the application. A combined workshop to consider opt-out options for all four investor-owned utilities4 was held on September 14, 2011.
1 The Joint Application originally included three other applicants - the County of Santa Barbara, California; Montecito Association; and Stop Smart Meters. A Motion to Amend Application, filed on August 8, 2011, removed these three entities as applicants.
2 These are A.11-03-014 and A.11-03-015, respectively.
3 These meters are also referred to as "wireless smart meters."
4 The utilities in attendance at the September 14th workshop were SCE, PG&E, SDG&E and Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas).
