Cotati takes up Smart Meters

Cotati's City Council on Wednesday will take up the issue of PG&E's new Smart Meters - although it has no authority to delay or stop their installation.

PG&E says the meters are meant to save time and money through a "smart grid" that allows consumers to access their energy use data in real time as well as making it easier for the utility to measure their gas and electric usage.

But to detractors around the state, they have resulted in overstated kilowatt hours and higher energy bills.

Some meters already are being installed in the city, City Manager Dianne Thompson said.

The Sebastopol City Council voted in February to ask PGE to delay installing the meters after residents raised concerns that such technology may cause serious health problems, including cancer.