Watch CBS News

Former PG&E Executive Accused Of Snooping

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Despite Pacific Gas & Electric claims he acted alone, internal documents show information from online snooping by a former executive was widely shared with employees at the San Francisco-based utility.

William Devereaux, the former senior director of PG&E's SmartMeter program, resigned last month after admitting he used a phony name to monitor online discussion groups by activists opposed to SmartMeters. They are concerned about health effects of SmartMeter electromagnetic radiation.

The San Jose Mercury News says internal PG&E documents turned over to state regulators and obtained by the newspaper on Monday also reveal that PG&E went beyond mere online monitoring.

A series of e-mail exchanges, for instance, show that PG&E sent an employee to monitor a SmartMeter demonstration in Rohnert Park in October. The employee took at least four photographs of protesters.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.