Senior PG&E director admits snooping on Smart Meter critics

[Newsjock]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

The PG&E director who oversees the utility's controversial Smart Meter program has admitted using a false name to try to join an online group opposed to the smart meters and secretly monitoring other online forums critical of PG&E.

The disclosure by William Devereaux, senior director of PG&E's Smart Meter program, is likely to be yet another public relations disaster for the utility, which is eager to overcome widespread resistance to its Smart Meter program even as it seeks to restore public trust in the wake of the deadly San Bruno gas pipeline explosion.

Consumer advocates were quick to express dismay. "Covert electronic surveillance does nothing to help PG&E rebuild the public trust it squandered," said Mark Toney, executive director of TURN, the Utility Reform Network.

... Devereaux, 45, admitted to the subterfuge in an interview with the Mercury News on Monday.

"As part of understanding what our customers are thinking, we have been monitoring activity on the Internet," he said . "I anonymously joined a couple of anti-smart meter Web sites in the spirit of understanding what they are thinking. We're trying to understand the points of view of these folks. The intent was to better understand what was behind much of the resistance."

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/green-energy/ci_16558858?nclick_check=1

[Angry Dragon]

1. Gee!! . I wonder if they actually thought to ask them

Maybe if these companies actually sat down and listened.
They would have to really hear them instead of just
sitting there and nodding their heads.

[bluedigger]

2. It would be pretty naive to think they weren't being monitored.

Active participation would be another thing.

Right, Agent Mike?:rofl:

[No Elephants]

3. I used an assumed name to register here and I am "secretly monitoring" posts here.

Or did you think Mr. and Mrs. Elephant named me No?


Non-issue, IMO. If you don't realize anyone can read your internet message board posts, you probably didn't know how to register, either.

[snooper2]

4. Wooo Hoo.....this is worthy of writing about

"Covert electronic surveillance"


:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Yo Dana Hull, you are a tool :rofl:

[Newsjock]

5. PG&E suspends exec who used fake name to infiltrate SmartMeter foes

Source: San Jose Mercury News

PG&E announced Tuesday that it has placed William Devereaux, the senior director of the utility's SmartMeter program, on paid suspension pending an internal investigation into his efforts to infiltrate an online group of customers opposed to smart meters because of health concerns.

Devereaux admitted Monday that he tried to join one online group under a false name -- Ralph -- and had subscribed to at least one other discussion group critical of PG&E.

"We do not at all condone this type of behavior," said PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith. "It is not in keeping with PG&E's core values of honesty and transparency. We learned of this late yesterday and placed the employee on paid suspension. We immediately started an investigation and will complete it as quickly as we can."

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_16566346