Showing posts with label AMI meter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AMI meter. Show all posts

Thursday, April 6, 2017

Eyes Are On Michigan!


Most of us are already aware of the issues with new public utility meters (sometimes called "smart", advanced, digital, AMI, AMR, or AMR ERT).  If you're not, please watch this documentary from Take Back Your Power, read through some of this blog, and/or listen to the testimonies given at the Michigan Energy Policy Committee public hearings, part 1, part 2, and part 3.  

There are very serious issues with the new meters, which is why momentum is building to pass legislation that will allow natural gas and electric public utility customers the right to "opt-put" and keep using analog meters (that have never had a fraction of the issues) without having to pay extra (extortion) fees to do so.

From New York:

Woodstock NY- This is a serious issue because once you all have smartmeters, you will not be able to get rid of them. Better to ensure a good opt out program, for now.
On Saturday, April 8th, at 7 p.m., the Woodstock Smart Meter Forum is showing a film on the smart meter hearings presently taking place in Lansing, Michigan. Afterwards, former Ulster County legislators, Terry Bernardo and Mike Madsen, will discuss legislative best practices on getting an analog opt-out bill through the NYS Assembly and Senate. Stop Smart Meters Woodstock’s presentation is free and open to all, and will take place at the Woodstock Public Library, 5 Library Lane in Woodstock. For more information call 679-8111.

Michigan - A Call To Action:

Please call one or more of the Energy Policy Committee members (listed below) who have not yet committed to supporting HB 4220, and ask them to support "no-fee" Analog Utility Meter Choice!  Here's a script of what you can say:

"Hello. My name is ______.  I live in  _____.  I am asking you to support House Bill 4220, which gives me the right to choose an ANALOG gas or electric utility meter, without having to pay extra fees .  I want the right to choose my meter.  Please support House Bill 4220."

Thank you for all you do to support this legislation!

Michigan Energy Policy Committee members who have not yet committed to a "yes" vote on HB 4220:

Roger Hauck (R) 99th District
Phone:  (517) 373-1789
Email:  RogerHauck@house.mi.gov 
Isabella County, Midland County (part),  Coleman city,  Edenville Township,  Geneva Township,  Greendale Township,  Hope Township,  Ingersoll Township,  Jasper Township,  Mills Township,  Mount Haley Township,  Porter Township,  Warren Township 

James Lower (R) 70th District
Phone:  (517) 373-0834
Email:  JamesLower@house.mi.gov
Gratiot County (part):  Alma city,  Arcada Township (part),  Bethany Township,  Emerson Township (part),  Pine River Township,  St Louis city,  Seville Township, Montcalm County

Beth Griffin (R) 66th District
Phone:  (517) 373-0839
Email:  BethGriffin@house.mi.gov
Kalamazoo County (part):  Alamo Township,  Cooper Township,  Parchment city, Van Buren County

Jim Tedder (R) 43rd District
Phone:  517-373-0615
Email:  JimTedder@house.mi.gov
Oakland County (part),  Independence Township,  Lake Angelus city,  Village of Clarkston city,  Waterford Township (part) 

John Riley (R) 46th District
Phone:  517-373-1798
Email:  JohnReilly@house.mi.gov
Oakland County (part) Addison Township Brandon Township Oakland Charter Township (part) Orion Township Oxford Township 

Beau LaFave (R) 108th District
Phone: (517) 373-0156
Email: BeauLaFave@house.mi.gov
Delta County, Dickinson County, Menominee County 

Joseph Bellino (R) 17th District
Phone: (517) 373-1530
Email: JosephBellino@house.mi.gov
Monroe County (part):  Ash Township,  Berlin Township,  Exeter Township,  Frenchtown Township,  London Township,  Monroe city,  Monroe Township (part).  Wayne County (part):  Flat Rock city,  Rockwood city,  Sumpter Township

Donna Lasinski (D) 52nd District
Phone: (517) 373-0828
Email: DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov 
Washtenaw County (part): Ann Arbor city (part), Bridgewater Township, Chelsea city, Dexter Township, Freedom Township, Lima Township, Lodi Township, Lyndon Township, Manchester Township, Northfield Township, Salem Township, Saline city, Saline Township, Scio Township, Sharon Township, Sylvan Township, Webster Township

Scott Dianda (D) 110th District
Phone:  517-373-0850
Email:  scottdianda@house.mi.gov
Baraga County, Gogebic County, Houghton County, Iron County, Keweenaw County, Marquette County (part): Ishpeming Township, Powell Township, Ontonagon County

Brian Elder (D) 96th District 
Phone: (517) 373-0158
Email: BrianElder@house.mi.gov
Bay County (part): Bangor Township, Bay City city, Essexville city, Frankenlust Township, Hampton Township, Kawkawlin Township, Merritt Township, Monitor Township, Portsmouth Township

Patrick Green (D) 28th District
Phone: (517) 373-1772
Email: PatrickGreen@house.mi.gov
Macomb County (part): Center Line city, Warren city (part)

John Kivela (D) 109th District
Phone: (517) 373-0498
Email: johnkivela@house.mi.gov
Alger County, Luce County, Marquette County (part): Champion Township, Chocolay Township, Ely Township, Ewing Township, Forsyth Township, Humboldt Township, Ishpeming city, Marquette city, Marquette Township, Michigamme Township, Negaunee city, Negaunee Township, Republic Township, Richmond Township, Sands Township, Skandia Township, Tilden Township, Turin Township, Wells Township, West Branch Township, Schoolcraft County

Darrin Camilleri (D) 23rd District 
Phone: (517) 373-0855
Email: DarrinCamilleri@house.mi.gov
Detroit area (part), Brownstone Township, Huron Township, Gibraltar city, Trenton city, Woodhaven city, Grosse Ile Township

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Tuesday, February 28, 2017

For the Record...


This is my rebuttal to DTE Energy Vice Chairman, Steve Kurmas, who gave his verbal testimony to the Michigan Energy Policy Committee on February 21, 2017, regarding "smart" AMI meters.  His verbal testimony starts at about 1:15:00 in the above video.  He also submitted written testimony here.  

Mr. Kurmas wrote that over 65 million AMI (smart/electronic) meters have been installed across the US with no issues of health or security.

Regarding Health...

Of course utility companies are going to tell you that their new equipment is safe.  That is what they have been told by the manufacturers.  The manufacturers claim the equipment is safe because it falls within certain FCC guidelines.  They don't mention that the FCC is not a health regulatory agency, they are not protecting the public's health, and the FCC guidelines have been under attack for a number of years.  

 Mr. Kurmas also did not mention that the United States is one of three countries that allows about 100 times more outdoor pulsed radiofrequency radiation than most the rest of the world, and that never before in recorded history have over 2 million transmitting public utility meters been installed in Michigan.  So we, and other states fitted with electronic public utility meters, are literally functioning as test markets on health effects.
Image from the Environmental Health Trust

Mr. Kurmas also did not mention all the people who testified to ill health effects after smart or electronic meter installation, at the 2014 Michigan OversightCommittee Hearing.  

 Since then, many more Michigan citizens have come forward, testifying to adverse health effects after electronic meter installation, including myself.

Mr. Kurmas also wrote, "the average cell phone produces as much as 100,000 times more RF than an AMI meter."  What he did not tell you is: That statement has been challenged by a Professor of Nuclear Policy, Daniel Hirsch.  Hirsh states that when corrected for duty-cycle and whole-body exposure, "the cumulative whole body exposure from a Smart Meter at 3 feet appears to be approximately two orders of magnitude higher than that of a cell phone, rather than two orders of magnitude lower." 

 As of February of this year, the World Health Organization updated its "Cancer Fact Sheet" page to include non-ionizing radiation as a risk factor under the category "Reducing the Cancer Burden".  Electronic "smart" meters emit pulsed non-ionizing radiation continuously.

 Traditional analog meters do not expose us to pulsed non-ionizing radiation, a possible human carcinogen.

Regarding Security...

In March of 2016, Computer Weekly (dot) com posted an article written by Bryan Glick, titled "Government warned of smart meter security threat back in 2012."  The article concludes with a call for the "smart" meter project to be "'halted, altered or scrapped' immediately to avert an expensive IT failure."

Another article, from Security Week (dot) com, written by Eduard Kovacs in January of this year, is titled "Smart Meters Pose Security Risks to Consumers, Utilities..." and begins with, "Serious vulnerabilities in smart electricity meters continue to expose both consumers and electric utilities to cyberattacks."

In his verbal testimony, Mr. Kurmas admitted that the information gathered from a smart meter is akin to the information you would get if you stood in someone's yard right next to their analog gas, electric, and/or water meter.  He did not say that by doing so, you would be able to tell if someone got up in the middle of the night, slept-in, or even if someone was home, late getting home, or on vacation.

Traditional analog public utility meters do not make our homes and our privacy vulnerable.

Regarding Canada...

Mr. Kurmas also stated that in 2012, Canada attained 100% AMI installation.

What Mr. Kurmas did not tell you was that in 2014, SaskPower of Canada pulled 105,000 smart meters after "eight unexplained fires associated with the units."

 And, in 2016, Canada had to "pull the plug" on over 36,000 rural smart meters because of signal issues.  At that time, Hydro One of Canada reported that 6% of their one million customers were having billing issues.

 Canada's auditor-general stated there are "few benefits for the hefty cost" of smart meters.

 In his 14 years of being with the Fire Department, Fire Chief Duane Roddy of Oscoda Township, had never himself witnessed a traditional analog meter fire.  Yet, as he testified in front of you (Michigan's Energy Policy Committee) on February 21st, within 36 hours of installation, the smart meter on his cabin "arced" and almost caught his cabin on fire.  
"Thirty-six hours after installation, I had a fire myself," testified Fire Chief Roddy, 
"we're seeing... the fire is at the meter."  

 Was that a blessing of disclosure in disguise?

Availability and maintenance... 

Mr. Kurmas also stated that analog meters were not manufactured any longer.  There are a couple of different websites I know of where anyone can order an analog electric meter.  So they are available.  And if the law of supply and demand is true, the supply will follow the demand.

Mr. Kurmas also stated that traditional analog meters needed to be maintained.  However, he didn't mention that traditional analog meters have a life expectancy of double (or more) that of AMI smart meters.  So they will either be checking traditional analog meters, or totally replacing AMI smart meters, every few years.  Is that more "green", or less?


Links...


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