Smart Meter Opt-Out FAQ

The Smart Meter Opt-Out Program is for residential customers who prefer not to have a smart meter at their home. For a fee, this California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC)-approved program allows customers to choose a non-communicating meter for their home instead of a smart meter.

Any residential customer can opt-out. However, the request must be made by the SDG&E customer of record (family members, neighbors, or landlords cannot act on behalf of another customer).

You can indicate your preference to opt-out of having a smart meter by calling 877-357-8525, mailing in an opt-out form, signing up online here.
 

Regardless of the type of meter you currently have at your home, there’s a $75 initial fee to opt-out. You’ll also have a $10 monthly charge added to your SDG&E® bill for a three-year period.

If you’re a CARE customer, the initial fee is $10 and you’ll have a $5 monthly charge added to your bill. These costs are per service address, not per meter.

The opt-out costs include the necessary field visit as well as the costs associated with maintaining two separate meter programs. In addition, the monthly fee covers the costs to manually read and bill your meter on a bi-monthly basis.

To get started on the opt-out program, a technician will visit your home to perform a basic check on the existing metering equipment and install color-coded tags to identify opt-out participation.

In some cases, the technician may exchange the meter if it’s been identified for an upgrade. In addition, a meter reader will visit your home every other month to read your meter for billing.

Once we receive your request to opt-out, we’ll process your request right away. We anticipate completing requests within a 1-2 week timeframe, depending on the volume of requests we receive. If you have special needs requiring an appointment, please contact us at 877-357-8525.

Yes, if you mail in an application, you’ll be required to sign a form indicating your agreement to opt- out. If you sign up online, over the phone, or in person, your acceptance of the program terms is considered your authorization.

For your convenience, you may pay the initial fee over a three-month period. If the initial fee isn’t paid in full within the allotted timeframe, you’ll be removed from participating in the opt-out program and returned to smart meter service.

Yes. If you opt-out, you’re responsible for the associated fees incurred. If you change your mind, the fees aren’t refundable. Please keep in mind that you can only opt-out one time per service address, per calendar year.

For more information, please visit us online at sdge.com/smartmeter or call 877-357-8525.