Michigan: A Call To Action

[Updated March 11, 2017]

Michigan Analog Utility Meter Choice advocates:

Before next Tuesday (March 14th), please call one or more of the Energy Policy Committee members, and ask them to support HB 4220, Utility Meter Choice.  

Then, please plan on attending the next public hearing for HB 4220 in Lansing on Tuesday, March 14th, at 9 am, in the Anderson House Office Building (across from the Lansing Capitol Building).

Please pass this message on to all you know in favor of this legislation.  Thank You!

Energy Committee members and contact information (sponsor and co-sponsors noted, no need to call them):

Gary Glenn (R) Committee Chair 98th District (Sponsor of HB 4220 - no need to call unless to say "Thank you!")

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/central/glenn/

Phone: 517-373-1791

Email: GaryGlenn@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/098.pdf

Bay County (part):  Auburn city, Beaver Township,  Fraser Township,  Garfield Township,  Gibson Township.  Midland city (part):  Mount Forest Township,  Pinconning city,  Pinconning Township,  Williams Township.  Midland County (part):  Homer Township,  Jerome Township,  Larkin Township,  Lee Township,  Lincoln Township,  Midland city (part),  Midland Township 

Roger Hauck (R) Majority Vice-Chair, 99th District

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/central/hauck/district-map/ 

Phone: (517) 373-1789

Email: RogerHauck@house.mi.gov 

District Map: http://gophouse.org/representatives/central/hauck/district-map/

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 

Tom Barrett (R) 71st District (Co-sponsor of HB 4220 - no need to call unless to say "Thank you!")

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/central/barrett/

Phone: 517-373-0853
Email: TomBarrett@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/071.pdf

Eaton County (part),  Bellevue Township,  Benton Township,  Carmel Township,  Charlotte city,  Chester Township,  Delta Charter Township,  Eaton Township (part),  Eaton Rapids Township,  Grand Ledge city (part),  Kalamo Township,  Lansing city (part),  Olivet city,  Oneida Charter Township,  Potterville city,  Roxand Township,  Sunfield Township,  Vermontville Township,  Walton Township,  Windsor Charter Township 

Tristin Cole (R) 105th District 

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/northernmi/cole/

Phone: 517-373-0829
Email: TristonCole@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/105.pdf

Antrim County, Charlevoix County, Montmorency County, Oscoda County, Otsego County

Jim Tedder (R) 43rd District

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/southeast/tedder/

Phone: 517-373-0615
Email: JimTedder@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/043.pdf 

Oakland County (part),  Independence Township,  Lake Angelus city,  Village of Clarkston city,  Waterford Township (part) 

Joseph Bellino (R) 17th District

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/southeast/bellino/

Phone: (517) 373-1530
Email: JosephBellino@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/017.pdf

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

Diana Farrington (R) 30th District 

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/southeast/diana-farrington/

Phone: 517-373-7768

Email: DianaFarrington@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/030.pdf

Macomb County (part):  Shelby Charter Township (part),  Sterling Heights city (part),  Utica city

Beth Griffin (R) 66th District

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/central/griffin/ 

Phone: (517) 373-0839

Email: BethGriffin@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/066.pdf

Kalamazoo County (part):  Alamo Township,  Cooper Township,  Parchment city, Van Buren County

Steven Johnson (R) 72nd District

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/westmi/johnson/

Phone: (517) 373-0840

Email: StevenJohnson@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/072.pdf

Allegan County (part):  Dorr Township,  Leighton Township,  Wayland city,  Wayland Township.  Kent County (part):  Gaines Township,  Kentwood city

Beau LaFave (R) 108th District

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/up/lafave/

Phone: (517) 373-0156

Email: BeauLaFave@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/108.pdf

Delta County, Dickinson County, Menominee County 

James Lower (R) 70th District

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/central/lower/

Phone: (517) 373-0834

Email: JamesLower@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/070.pdf

Gratiot County (part):  Alma city,  Arcada Township (part),  Bethany Township,  Emerson Township (part),  Pine River Township,  St Louis city,  Seville Township, Montcalm County

John Reilly (R) 46th District

Web page: http://gophouse.org/representatives/southeast/reilly/

Phone: 517-373-1798

Email: JohnReilly@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://gophouse.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/046.pdf

Oakland County (part):  Addison Township,  Brandon Township,  Oakland Charter Township (part),  Orion Township,  Oxford Township

Donna Lasinski (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 52nd District

Web page: http://housedems.com/state-rep-donna-lasinski

Phone: (517) 373-0828

Email: DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov 

District Map: http://housedems.com/district-52-map

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 (Co-sponsor of HB 4220 - no need to call unless to say "Thank you!") (Update March 24, 2017:  I don't know where I got the information that Rep Dianda was a co-sponsor.  He is not.  Please call him also.  Thank you!)

Web page: http://housedems.com/state-rep-scott-dianda

Phone: (517) 373-0850

Email: scottdianda@house.mi.gov 

District Map: http://housedems.com/district-110-map

Baraga County, Gogebic County, Houghton County, Iron County, Keweenaw County, Marquette County (part): Ishpeming Township, Powell Township, Ontonagon County

John Kivela (D) 109th District

Web page: http://housedems.com/state-rep-john-kivela

Phone: (517) 373-0498

Email: johnkivela@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://housedems.com/district-109-map

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

LaTonya Garrett (D) 7th District (Co-sponsor to HB 4220 - no need to call unless to say "Thank you!")

Web page: http://housedems.com/state-rep-latanya-garrett

Phone: (517) 373-2276

Email: LaTanyaGarrett@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://housedems.com/district-7-map

Wayne county (part), Detroit city (part), Highland Park city

Darrin Camilleri (D) 23rd District 

Web page: http://housedems.com/state-rep-darrin-camilleri

Phone: (517) 373-0855

Email: DarrinCamilleri@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://housedems.com/district-23-map

Monroe

Brian Elder (D) 96th District 

Web page: http://housedems.com/state-rep-brian-elder

Phone: (517) 373-0158

Email: BrianElder@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://housedems.com/district-96-map

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

Web page: http://housedems.com/state-rep-patrick-green

Phone: (517) 373-1772

Email: PatrickGreen@house.mi.gov

District Map: http://housedems.com/district-28-map

Macomb County (part): Center Line city, Warren city (part)

Just the Facts, Man

In response to this news article:  Michigan 'smart meter' hearing elicits fears, this is what I wrote to the Editor of the Detroit News and the author of the article:

Dear Editor and Mike Gerstein (writer),

"Studies" may have shown our "concerns are unfounded", however experience has not. 

Michigan has never before had over 2 million so-called "smart" and/or electronic public utility meters installed.  Ever.  So logically, experience should override "studies". 

And there's a big difference between experience, and fears.  Take a look at the testimonies of people who attended the 2014 Michigan Oversight Committee hearing on smart meters.  They were talking about experience, for the most part.  Not fears. 

Part 1:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q12IbEtTrwk

Part 2:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJE0flyzv-Y

As was stated at yesterday's Energy Committee hearing, industry-funded studies predominantly "don't show any associated health risks."  While NON-industry-funded studies DO show "associated health risks."  So who are you going to believe?

DTE's opt-out fees are HIGHER than you reported, and even the digital opt-out meter collects granulated data that is downloaded by DTE when they read the meter. 

And Kurmas admitted that it was like "standing next to their old analog meter."  Some consider this an invasion of privacy, that the utility company will be able to know exactly how much electricity one is using, and exactly when.

You wrote, "it's not clear if the meters pose an increased cancer risk."  So who is the utility company to determine if I want to subject myself to a possible increased risk of cancer? 

I can choose to expose myself to the radiofrequency radiation of a cell phone, or not.  I can choose to expose myself to the potentially carcinogenic effects of cigarette smoke, or not.  I would like to RETAIN the RIGHT to choose my (potential) carcinogens, and smart meters emit a potential carcinogen. 

The "older equipment" lasts at least twice as long as the new equipment, smart meters, so when utility companies talk about "maintaining older equipment," they're talking about LESS maintenance than smart meters.

HB 4220 would not only protect my property rights, it would protect my privacy and my right to choose the carcinogens I'm exposed to.

Jeanine Deal

Battle Creek, MI