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UPDATE: Since this story first appeared, there has been a development in Naperville, Illinois. A group of activists there have failed in their attempt to block Naperville's smart grid project. The Illinois town of 150,000 was already underway on a $22 million smart meter project. A group of residents filed a petition to put the project to the ballot. The referendum was denied in January 2012, however, when the Electoral Board determined the group did not have enough valid signatures.
. By Jesse Berst
She objects to Evans' plan to privately brief each city commissioner and then call for a quick vote. She also complains that project costs were unfairly withheld from the public. She claims that the project will cost a minimum of $24.4 million in the first 10 years and at least another $12 million in the next decade. The city's electric utility serves 21,000 customers.
Despite Ritchie's obvious distrust and inflammatory language, she admits that she doesn't know if the project is a good idea or not. "Smart grid may be the best thing that ever came to Leesburg — or it may be a disastrous mess that leaves the public saddled with millions of dollars of debt for years to come."
The list keeps growing Earlier this month in Naperville, IL, an advocacy group filed a petition with 4,200 signatures last week, asking for a referendum on whether or not to stop implementation of that city's $22 million smart meter project, which is already approved and underway.
In Connecticut, the state's attorney general has spoken up in opposition to a request by Connecticut Light & Power to install 1.2 million smart meters. "CL&P's proposal would force the company's ratepayers to spend at least $500 million on new meters that are likely to provide few benefits in return," Attorney General George Jepsen said. . And in Maine, consumers are complaining that smart meters are interfering with other household electronics, from garage door openers to security systems. PG&E heard similar complaints after smart meter rollouts in California. Central Maine Power says it has logged about 250 such complaints -- representing just a fraction of the 440,000 meters installed. The Portland Press Herald reports the utility has set up a special unit to handle the complaints and is sending experts to people's homes to execute what a utility spokesman says is an easy fix.
Jesse Berst is the founder and chief analyst of Smart Grid News.com. He consults to smart grid companies seeking market entry advice and M&A advisory. A frequent keynoter at industry events in the US and abroad, he also serves on the Advisory Council of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's Energy & Environment directorate.
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