Utility Official Suspended for an E-Mail Masquerade

[TomCADem]

Source: NY Times

SAN FRANCISCO — A Pacific Gas and Electric executive has been suspended with pay for using a fake name to join an online discussion organized by opponents of so-called smart meters, the utility company said on Tuesday.

In an e-mail last week, the executive, William Devereaux, wrote that he wanted “to see what I can do to help” opponents of the meters, which send electronic signals about energy consumption from homes to a central monitoring station. Mr. Devereaux is the senior director of PG&E’s SmartMeter Program.

Although his message was signed “Ralph,” his e-mail server betrayed him, identifying him by his real name. Sandi Maurer, the moderator of an opposition group, the California EMF Safety Network, immediately wrote back: “Hi, aren’t you the head of the Smart Meter program at PG&E? We’d love your help! Can you help us obtain a Smart Meter moratorium ASAP?”

Jeff Smith, a spokesman for the utility company, said Mr. Devereaux had been suspended with pay pending the outcome of an investigation. “We do not at all condone this kind of behavior,” he said. “It is not in keeping with PG&E’s core values of honesty and transparency.”


Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/10/science/earth/10meter.html?ref=todayspaper

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Opponents joining online discussion boards to sow discontent? Reminds me of "Democrats" proudly proclaiming that they barely convinced themselves to vote in this election, and how they plan to stay home in 2012. Activism through inaction!

[tularetom]

1. As always, should you or any of your SM Force be caught or killed,

PG&E will disavow any knowledge of your activities.

This poor bastard got hung out to dry by his bosses. I hope he was amply compensated for getting fucked over.

[PSPS]

4. He was. He's getting a paid vacation. (Paid by the snookered ratepayers of PG&E.)

[Dyler Turden]

2. Suspended WITH pay????

There are a lot of blue collar workers that would kill for that kind of punishment.

When you shovel shit for $7.00 an hour a day off and still bringing home your $46.00 a day would be great.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. 7X8=56, but I agree with your premise. nt

[davidinalameda]

3. when politicians keep fucking us over

it's hard to find a reason to vote for them