Update on Smart Meter / Edison Law Suit

Dear Editor,

A couple of months ago, Topanga residents received a mailer warning about the imminent rollout of smart meters in Topanga. The mailer spoke of suing [SoCal] Edison for this carcinogenic and privacy-invading, 24/7 exposure to smart meters.

Thanks to conscientious Topangans, we currently have the most opt-outs in Edison territory, along with Ojai and Santa Barbara. Unfortunately, opting out is not enough. If you opt out and your neighbor does not, you will still be exposed to your neighbor’s smart meter emissions, as well as the collector meters and other smart grid infrastructure in the neighborhood, both under and above ground.

Some Topangans say they are ill enough to want to leave Topanga, but where will they go? The rollout is all across the state of California. The only choice we have is to fight for our health and wellbeing, our right to privacy and to protect our property and land. And that is exactly what we are doing.

The bad news is we have been speaking with attorneys and we cannot go to small claims court regarding the opt-out fees Edison is charging. The CPUC (CA Public Utilities Commission) has claimed jurisdiction over this area and we are currently in hearings that may last until May of next year. We must exhaust all legal remedies before suing and must sit these hearings out that give the utilities just enough time to get their rollout complete so they can cash in on their big Federal Stimulus Fund check, of which Edison is a $300,000,000 recipient.

The good news is we have been speaking with attorneys and they are interested! There is nothing definite yet, but we are getting closer to obtaining class action, pro bono legal representation.

We have prepared a comprehensive package on legal violations and would like to request that Topangans who have had any personal interaction with Edison or Corix [the company installing the smart meters] — such as, health issues that may be caused by the meters; or if you are healthy and do not wish to be exposed to EMF; your bill has increased since installation; they installed a smart meter after you had opted out; you think being charged nearly $200 a year not to be exposed to a carcinogen is extortion; or have your privacy invaded — please put your story in a paragraph and send it to us.

Send your personal stories to contact@thepeoplesinitiative.org. We will add it to our package when submitting to the law firms, to give it the broadest range of issues related to smart meters. Everyone’s story is unique, yet has a similar thread. Please DO join our lawsuit, if you are so inclined.

With your help we can look forward to some good news regarding legal representation.

Sincerely,

Liz Barris, PeoplesInitiative.org

CitizensForARadiationFreeCommunity.org

RadFreeTopanga.org