The Plain Facts About Electric System Radio Signals An Advanced Mesh Network SmartMeter™ electric meters include two low power radio frequency (RF) transmitters. One of the two transmitters uses RF signals to communicate with PG&E over the SmartMeter electric network. The other transmitter uses RF signals to communicate into the customer’s home or business, a feature customers can use in the future to connect with a new generation of home energy management systems and radio-enabled smart appliances. To communicate with PG&E, SmartMeter electric meters send signals over a sophisticated mesh network. In a mesh network, each electric meter also acts as a repeater, passing signals from nearby meters to a pole-mounted neighborhood network access point. The network access point gathers signals from many meters and communicates directly with PG&E over the public wireless network (i.e., a cell phone network). SmartMeter network access points are typically mounted approximately 25 feet above ground level but are occasionally installed on building rooftops. Page 1 of 2 Go to pge.com/smartmeter for more information 24-hour Emergency Customer Service Business Customer Service July 2009 SmartMeter Line In addition to SmartMeter electric meters and network access points, the SmartMeter electric network includes pole-mounted network repeaters that assist in passing signals from meters to neighborhood access points. Low Power, Infrequent Signals All of the components of the SmartMeter electric network – the SmartMeter electric meters, the network access points, and the network repeaters – emit radio signals common to everyday living, like those from AM or FM radio broadcasts, TV broadcasts (VHF, UHF), garage door openers, and remote-controlled car locks. The signals used by the SmartMeter network are much weaker than those from many common devices, such as microwave ovens and cell phones. The strength of the radio signals used in the SmartMeter system are far, far below the exposure limits established by the government. Furthermore, the strength of the SmartMeter radio signals decreases very rapidly with distance from the transmitter.

The Plain Facts About Electric System Radio Signals In addition to being very low power, radio frequency transmitters in SmartMeter electric system usually sit idle. The SmartMeter electric meter transmits radio signals to the SmartMeter network only once every 4 hours, with each transmission lasting less than one-tenth of a second. Each SmartMeter electric meter acts as a repeater on average only 2% of the time. The pole-mounted SmartMeter network access point communicates with PG&E via the public wireless network less than a total of 4 minutes during each 4 hour period. Thorough Evaluation The SmartMeter electric system uses an RF technology that is both well established and broadly deployed. To ensure customer safety, PG&E commissioned an independent evaluation of possible health impacts. This evaluation confirmed that our SmartMeter technology should have no adverse health impacts. Page 1 of 2 Go to pge.com/smartmeter for more information 24-hour Emergency Customer Service Business Customer Service July 2009 SmartMeter Line The Bottom Line SmartMeter radio transmissions are weak, infrequent and short. Customers should experience no adverse health impacts. If customers are concerned about specific health issues, they should feel free to consult with their physicians and invite their physicians to contact PG&E for more information.