The Marin Board of Supervisors declared a one-year moratorium on Smart Meters by a 4-0 vote Tuesday.
PG&E's new wireless meters have been a hot issue in the area. Just a few days ago, two women were arrested for blocking a Smart Meter truck in Inverness. Opponents say the new meters are inaccurate and send out unhealthy radiation.
But the county actually has no authority over the meters. It's the state Public Utilities Commission that can make the decision, and it hasn't said anything.
PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith told the Marin Independent Journal that the utility will keep installing the meters unless it hears from the commission.
About 100 residents showed up to the meeting on Tuesday. Some of them complained about headaches, sleeping disorders and heart problems, according to a release.
The moratorium was put in place "because the potential risks to the health, safety and welfare of county residents are so great," the emergency ordinance says. It applies only to unincorporated areas of the county, including all of West Marin.
After thousands of customer complaints, a September audit found the meters were "functioning properly," but it didn't say anything about possible health risks. PG&E did admit that thousands of its meters had glitches.
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Until more information is known about the meters, opponents in Marin want the option to opt-out of having the meters installed in their home.
There are currently about 5.5 million smart meters installed, most of them are in the Central Valley and the Bay Area.
