During the board meeting Dec. 7, Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz
refused to vote in favor of an installation of a Pacific Gas
&
amp; Electric SmartMeter to a light pole at Hollister Ranch
Estates as a
”
protest
”
against Charter Communications’ new wireless Internet
service.
During the board meeting Tuesday, Supervisor Jaime De La Cruz refused to vote in favor of an installation of a Pacific Gas & Electric SmartMeter to a light pole at Hollister Ranch Estates as a “protest” against Charter Communications’ new wireless Internet service.
De La Cruz complained of having to spend more money on the cable company’s new wireless technology after spending more than $100 on other equipment. The cable company has no association with PG&E.
“I’m voting no as a protest of Charter,” De La Cruz explained.
The comments caused a loud laugh from the crowd.
Supervisor Reb Monaco responded he wasn’t going to “touch” what De La Cruz said. The rest of the board tried to explain to De La Cruz that PG&E had nothing to do with Charter.
De La Cruz said he was unhappy about higher bills from Charter and cited it as his reason for the opposition against PG&E. He explained that he recently had purchased new wireless technology with the cable company. He wanted to upgrade with Charter, but it wasn’t in compliance with the business’ new Internet service.
To use the new service, he would need to buy Charter’s equipment, De La Cruz said.
The item was pulled from the consent agenda after Supervisor Margie Barrios expressed concern that the new device would cause the county’s energy bill to increase. Barrios attributed her worries to reports of faulty calibrations and increased cost from PG&E.
County Administrative Officer Richard Inman explained that the county was billed not on the energy usage of the light poles but by how many there are in the county.
The cost would not change, he said.
“It will have no financial impact,” Inman said.
The board passed the agenda item 4-1.
