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California PUC Rejects Smart Meter Moratorium

SACRAMENTO (AP) - California regulators have decided not to block Pacific Gas and Electric Co. from installing Smart Meters despite concerns about the devices' health effects.

The California Public Utilities Commission voted 4-1 on Thursday against the moratorium proposed by the advocacy group, EMF Safety Network.

The group says radiation from the wireless electricity and gas meters is harmful to people's health. It calls federal radiation standards that regulate them inadequate.

PUC President Michael Peevey told the network it should take its concerns to the federal government, not the state utilities commission.

PG&E maintains that the meters are safe. Still, other PUC commissioners said they would like to see more research on whether the meters can affect health.

(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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