Dive Summary:

• Pacific Gas and Electric Co. (PG&E) will begin its final push next month to replace the final three percent of its residential and commercial meters to smart meters.
• The transition from analog meters for PG&E began in 2006 and should be finished before this summer; about 95 percent of the changeover is complete.
• The utility does offer an opt-out plan to its customers, who must pay a $75 initial charge and $10 additionally each month if they don't want the new meters.

From the article:

Not everyone will make the change. PG&E stated in a news release that 321 of its Kern County residential customers -- about a sixth of 1 percent -- have signed up for a state-approved opt-out program that grew out of frustrations first voiced in Bakersfield.

"PG&E was pleased to begin accepting opt-out requests from our customers on Feb. 1, 2012, and we encourage any resident who does not want a SmartMeter to contact us directly at 866-743-0263, where we have representatives available 24 hours each day, seven days each week, who can assist them in opting out," local PG&E spokeswoman Katie Allen wrote in an email Tuesday. ...