We also have a responsibility to all of our customers to provide reliable electricity at the lowest cost possible. When customers do not have a smart meter, there are additional costs and conditions for the alternative meter and equipment, as well as for ongoing maintenance and meter reading. If you choose to opt out of having a smart meter, the following will apply:
- You will be charged a one-time fee of $127.00.
- You will have an additional monthly fee of $39.40 added to your SMUD bill.
- You must be current with your bill, and allow monthly access to your meter.
- We’ll install an alternative meter at your home in 2013.
Unlike a smart meter, the alternative meter will not be able to provide daily updates with your hourly, daily, or weekly electricity use. Also, it will not identify power outages. And, you may not be able to participate in future energy-saving programs such as those using a home area network.
They will also automatically add these charges to her bill if she DOES NOT call SMUD to make an appointment for installation or indicate that she would like to opt out of having one.
Much has been made about the safety of these smart meters especially with regard to radiation exposure so it is great to see SMUD showing such compassion and understanding with such a tough personal decision.
The Sac Rag 
Readership down? Come on people! This is despicable. Not only is the monopoly that is Smud taking us all for a ride just because they can, but my smart meter letter arrived in a ‘special’ oversized/unusually colored envelope a la Publishers Clearinghouse. The genius that runs their marketing department is banking on people opening the letter due to the curious packaging. Maybe playing on people’s fears they forgot to pay their bill and are getting their power turned off or something along those lines? My guess is the lawsuits that are certainly in the works (We all remember the PG&E nightmare, right?) are going to begin with the question of whether Smud diligently notified its customers they were screwing them over in a timely manner or not.
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People need to know they do not have to opt in or opt out. I got a letter too, and will be sending them one of my own that does not CONSENT. Google Jerry Day. The letter they sent is an offer to contract, don’t contract with them. Lock up your meter and don’t let them take it. We need to stand together! SMUD has quietly gotten the upper hand on many in Sac while many in the Bay are up in arms and many of the cities are fighting with the people against PG&E.
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Why would folks worried about smart meter “electrosmog” even allow electricity in their homes in the first place? Where is the data that smart meter radiation is any worse than the 60Hz electrosmog that envelopes us everywhere we go.
These people are frequency-ist!
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Data protected?
How often collected?
Notification of disclosure?
Risk of exposure?
Cost to change?
Causes dog mange?
I’d jam it, but then I’d have to expose my self/family to burst of EMF every 15 seconds. FOR NOW.
I’d opt out, but that costs $40 a month. FOR NOW.
I’d say, “who cares?!” but then my electricity would get turned off before I could press “send.” FOR NOW.
I’d use a giant battery, to even out/moderate my power flow, even though that device isn’t licensed to operate on the “smart grid.” FOR NOW.
Good-bye freedom. Hello big brother. I, for one, welcome our new digital overlords. May they forever know all.
Never happen, you say? Did you post a photo on the internet in 1995? Do you think your power consumption will be private in 5 years? Really? Zillow, anyone?
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Hi,
I am under extortion by Smud as well. I confronted the Board of Directors about their intent to foist a conspiracy to raise fees on the tin foil hat people. I am ADA and have joined forces with other Sacramentans. I would like to hear from others to fight this.
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