Dive Summary:
- Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) in California will cough up $390,000 to settle a regulatory investigation of a smart meter case potentially involving company spying.
- The California Public Utilities Commission has been investigating claims that a former PG&E employee, William Devereaux, illegally spied on anti-smart meter groups online between 2009 and 2010, and went as far as using a fabricated identity.
- As a part of the settlement, PG&E will have to rework its social media education and training process and pay for three third-party regulatory training sessions by 2015.
From the article:
"Smart meter opposition groups viewed Devereaux's actions as a means to disrupt smart meter installations and mislead activist groups. After the settlement came to light, PG&E denounced Devereaux's actions and put a renewed focus on its social media practices."