How to avoid KIUC Smart Meters

SUBHEAD: KIUC has once again clouded the picture offering to defer installation for those who want no Smart Meter. By Juan Wilson on 15 April 2012 for Island Breath - (http://islandbreath.blogspot.com/2012/04/how-to-avoid-smart-meters.html) Image above: Satire of PG&E Smart Meter initiative. From (http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/03/18/im-mad-as-hell-and-im-not-going-to-take-this-anymore). This past week the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative (in name only) put out a press release by Maile Moriguchi that was titled "KIUC Smart Meter Installation Process" (see below). In short it lists the"advantages" of installing the Smart Meters and what customers should expect on the day the meters are installed. It also describes the "offer" to defer installing a Smart Meter for now while KIUC considers what to do about those that opt out. The press release details:

KIUC is offering a deferred installation option for members who do not want an advanced meter installed. If the member decides to defer installation, they do so with the understanding that they will not be receiving the benefits of the smart meter and that KIUC has agreed to defer installation while continuing to analyze the impacts that are caused by members who decide not to receive an advanced meter and how to address those impacts. Members who would like to be placed on the deferred installation list may contact KIUC at 246-4300 to request a deferred installation request form. This deferral program does not reflect a final determination by KIUC regarding advanced meter installations and KIUC may decide to obtain cost recovery for the costs and impacts caused from those members who decide not to receive an advanced meter.

To Opt Out of a Smart Meter To opt out KIUC customers are instructed to phone KIUC to obtain a form that must be filled out and verified. They instruct customers to phone them to receive the form. The text of the form is below. The "official" PDF of the file can be found on this obscure KIUC page (http://website.kiuc.coop/content/smart-meter-deferred-installation-information-0) at this link: (kauai.coopwebbuilder.com/sites/kauai.coopwebbuilder.com/files/advancemeterinstallationdeferralform_final_0.pdf). If for some reason the file is not available online at the KIUC site, I have stored a copy on the Island Breath server (www.islandbreath.org/2012Year/04/120415optoutform.pdf).
The the form reads as follows:

Advanced Meter Installation Deferral Form (Use separate form for each account) As a member of Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC), I am aware of my opportunity to defer installation of an advanced meter (Smart Meter) at my home or place of business; and by deferring installation, I do so with the understanding that I will not be receiving the benefits of an advanced meter. I understand that, KIUC has agreed to defer the installation at this time while it continues to analyze the impacts that are caused by member who decide not to receive an advanced meter and how to address those impacts. The deferral program does not reflect a final determination by KIUC regarding advanced meter installations and KIUC may decide to obtain cost recovery for the costs and impacts caused from those members who decide no, to receive an advanced meter (_) I wish to defer installation of advanced metering at my home/business. (_) I would like to talk with a KIUC representative about the advanced meter installation prior or to making a decision on whether to defer instalation on. Contact number Member name (printed): Member signature: Date: Account Number: Physical Address of Service: Submit by mail: Kaua'i Island Utility Cooperative Advanced Meter Deferral Form 4463 Pahe'e Street, Suite1 Lihu`e, HI 96766‑2000 Submit by email: info@kiuc.coop Submit by fax: (808) 246‑4315 OFFICIAL USE ONLY - VERIFICATION OF MEMBER/ACCOUNT INFORMATION (_)

Important Reminder There is no deadline date for submitting the form on the KIUC website that we have found. We recommend submitting the form before May, when the installation roll-out begins. Our Recommendation It is our opinion that not submitting the official PDF form (or an exact printed replica) by the means described on the form will result in you getting a Smart Meter installed on your home. There are two major problems with the form as it is.

1. It is only addressed to"Members" of the cooperative. It should be addressed to "Customers". This is not only because KIUC is not truly a cooperative, but because those customers, who are not members (such as myself), probably have more independent rights on this issue than the members. For example, non-members are not restricted from buying energy from other providers than KIUC.
2. The form does not have a check box for those that never want a Smart Meter installed on their home. The sneaky use of the term "defer" installation comes with the qualification: "The deferral program does not reflect a final determination by KIUC regarding advanced meter installations"

None the less, get the official opt-out form. Fill it out and check the box specifying "I wish to defer installation of advanced metering at my home/business." Add to that a notation of your own to the effect that "I wish to have no installation of advanced metering at my home/business. If and when I choose such a metering system I'll let you know." We agree with Adam's suggestion below that any effort you make to halt an installation of a Smart Meter on you home should be documented and sent also to the PUC, County Council and Mayor. Other Recommendations There are other strategies that are being proposed at this time: Adam Asquith (adam_asquith@yahoo.com) Adam suggests not checking the "defer" box and only qualifying you want "no installation". His case is that checking the box legally may bind you to a later installation. Our opinion is that "no check" will be processed as "no form" by those handling the box for "OFFICIAL USE ONLY - VERIFICATION OF MEMBER/ACCOUNT INFORMATION". Adam also suggests that you send your modified form rejecting a Smart Meter installation to the Hawaii PUC, the Kauai County Council, the mayor of Kauai. That way if your request is not granted you will have documentation that that was your intent. Jonathan Jay (jjkauai@gmail.com) Jonathan strongly urges you NOT to sign it as is. If you agree to a deferred install­ment, 'defer' is the mod­i­fier, 'install­ment' is the mod­i­fied. What kind of install­ment? A deferred one. Do you want to agree to an installment? By sign­ing the doc­u­ment, you are also agree­ing to the rest of the para­graph — which says A) this is not the end of the story, and B) they can bill you, and fine you for not tak­ing the new meter. That you never asked for.

If instead what you want is to reject the ʻSmart Meterʻ instal­la­tion, using the same for­mat as KIUC, P2P has crafted you this rejec­tion form: (www.islandbreath.org/2012Year/04/120415p2prejection.pdf)

Ea O Ka Aina: Urgent call to halt Smart Meters 4/16/12 Ea O Ka Aina: Refuse to Opt In! 4/16/12 Ea O Ka Aina: Smart Meter Surveillance 4/8/12 .