Showing posts with label HB 4220. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HB 4220. Show all posts

Thursday, August 24, 2017

The Evolution of a Revolution


"Analog utility meter choice," she said as she read my new name tag, "Yeah!  I want my analog meter back."
"Good!" I said as I handed her a flyer.
"I get dizzy when I sit by the smart meter.  That's the only time I get dizzy.  When I move away from it, I'm fine."
"Sounds like you're sensitive..." 
She was not the first person to explain in detail physical symptoms they experience when near a smart meter.  Her reaction is one of the milder ones I've heard of because her symptoms seem to disappear almost immediately when she moves and reduces her exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMFs).  


The fact that new electronic meters bring about any physiological effects is disturbing.  The fact that our utility companies and some of our legislators don't believe adverse health effects are a possibility is even more disturbing.

Both the name tag I wear and the flyer I distribute have evolved since first becoming active in the Analog Utility Meter Choice movement here in Michigan.  
My first name tag was a gift from the first person I distributed flyers with.  It stated, "SAY NO TO SMART METERS!"  In those days, most people had little to no idea what smart meters were, so anyone caught looking at the name tag I was wearing would be asked if they knew what smart meters were.

With the most recent name tag design (pictured on the right above), I was hoping to invite others to start the conversation first.  And it worked!  A "stranger" read the name tag and told me she wanted the analog utility meter back.  And proceeded to tell me why.

The issue of health effects from electronic meters is not going away, despite utility companies and some legislators disbelief.  If anything, adverse health effects are increasing as more smart meters and transmitting natural gas meters are installed.


Did you know that senior citizens and the disabled are among the utility customers that are currently living without electric service here in Michigan because they've refused electronic and transmitting utility meters?  Our monopoly utility companies have refused a growing number of paying customers electric service because the customers want to keep analog utility meters, the meter that has literally withstood the test of time and is not known to make some people dizzy or cause other disturbing symptoms.



Some of our legislators are okay with utility companies refusing service to senior citizens, disabled, and others who refuse electronic meters.


Why?

The typical argument a legislator will give has to do with money.  However, are they hinting at why they are supporting the monopoly utility companies and not the people of Michigan?  Because of money?


Their argument has to do with "cost-shifting" and how smart meter customers would have to bear the burden of extra expenses created by analog meter customers.


And I say, show me the facts.  Audit the electric companies and prove your claims!

Few will discuss "possible" health effects, despite the fact that there are perhaps hundreds of testimonies from Michigan residents of adverse health effects, and thousands of published peer-reviewed research papers proving that microwave radio-frequency radiation is not benign and does cause adverse health effects (see links on the right).



Not the World Health Organization, not the American Cancer Society, not even the Federal Communications Commission; no one has ever made the conclusive statement that microwave radio-frequency radiation is 100% safe.

Yet Michigan's monopoly utility companies are getting away with charging utility customers extra to avoid this possible human carcinogen.  What's the difference between that, and bullying?  


This is not only a property rights issue.  This is a human rights issue.

If you live in Michigan and want to protect your health, property rights, and human rights, please contact every one of the representatives on the Energy Policy Committee who has not yet committed to a "YES" vote on HB 4220, Analog Utility Meter Choice legislation (listed below).  They are blocking this bill from passing out of committee.  Let them know how important this is to you, and why.


On issues presented before the committee, these representatives represent us ALL:


"When dictatorship is a fact, revolution becomes a right." ~ Victor Hugo

Thank you!  Bless us all!


Wednesday, June 21, 2017

A Message To Analog Meter Choice Advocates in Michigan



We only need a couple more votes to get HB 4220 out of the Energy Policy Committee, and on to the full House of Representatives.  We are so close to achieving this!

If you haven't already, please ask HB 4220 supportive representatives, not on the committee, for their help.

If your representative is not on the Energy Policy Committee but has told you they do support HB 4220, please call them today!

Please ask them to speak with one or more of their colleagues on the Energy Policy Committee who have not yet committed to a "YES" vote.  

Here's a suggestion of what you can say:

  • Hello Representative _______, my name is _______, and I am one of your constituents.
  • I need your help getting HB 4220, analog utility meter choice legislation, out of committee.
  • Please speak with one or more of your colleagues on the Energy Policy Committee who have not yet committed to a "YES" vote.
  • Please ask them to support HB 4220!  
  • Thank you!



You can suggest one or more of the following Energy Policy Committee representatives who have not yet committed to a "YES" vote:  

  • Beth Griffin
  • Roger Hauck
  • Beau LaFave
  • James Lower
  • Jim Tedder
  • Joseph Bellino
  • Tim Sneller
  • Darrin Camilleri
  • Scott Dianda
  • Brian Elder
  • Patrick Green



These are the representatives believed to support HB 4220, who are not on the Energy Policy Committee:

  • Sue Allor - phone 517-373-0833 or 231-833-0700
  • Edward Canfield - phone 517-373-0476
  • Lee Chatfield - phone 517-373-2629 or 231-881-0287
  • John Chirkun - phone 517-373-0854 or 586-943-8937
  • Christine Grieg - phone 517-373-1793 or 248-238-3969
  • Shane Hernandez - phone 517-373-0835 or 517-798-6212
  • Kevin Hertel - phone 517-373-1180 or 586-596-5411
  • Michele Hoitenga - phone 517-373-1747 or 231-878-3888
  • Pamela Hornberger - phone 517-373-8931 or 586-850-4286
  • Gary Howell - phone 517-373-1800
  • Martin Howrylak - phone 517-373-1783 or 248-952-8683
  • Holly Hughes - phone 517-373-3436 or 231-894-5956
  • Tim Kelly - phone 517-373-0837 or 989-906-6759
  • Robert Kosowski - phone 517-373-2576 or 734-467-1798
  • Frank Liberati - phone 517-373-0845 
  • Peter Lucido - phone 517-373-0834 or 586-206-3133
  • Michael McCready - phone 517-373-8670 or 248-930-1555
  • Jeremy Moss - phone 517-373-1788 or 248-819-1802
  • Jeff Noble  - phone 517-373-3816
  • Rose Mary Robinson - phone 517-373-1008 or 313-832-2675
  • Jim Runestad - phone 517-373-2616 or 248-779-7085
  • Lana Theis - phone 517-373-1784 or 517-515-5550
  • Jason Wentworth - phone 517-373-8962
  • Henry Yanez - phone 517-373-2275
  • Adam Zemke - phone 517-373-1792 or 734-645-3186



If your representative is one of the supporters listed immediately above, please call them today and ask them to speak with one or more of their colleagues on the Energy Policy Committee!

If you're not sure who your representative is, you can find that information here.

If you have any questions about this, please email AnalogMeterChoice@gmail.com, and add that address to your contacts list to assure messages go to your Primary Inbox.


Thank you for all you do to help this legislation!
Please share this message with family and friends.


Wednesday, May 3, 2017

April 28th Open Letter to Energy Policy Committee



On April 28th of this year, I sent the following "open letter - for the record" about a recent very one-sided news article on Analog Utility Meter Choice legislation in Michigan, to Representative Glenn, Chairman of the House Energy Policy Committee, and copied all the members of the committee:

Dear Representative Glenn, 
This article was published yesterday by DEI (Daily Energy Insider):  Smart meters opt-out bill ready for Michigan House energy committee vote - Daily Energy Insider 
Most customers of DTE Energy and Consumers Energy were not given the option of "opting-IN" to the smart and electronic metering program.   
Consumers Energy claimed in their testimony that only a small percentage of customers "opted-OUT", yet they also admitted that a customer would have to go to their website and click on a tab having to do with "questions" in order to find any information about an "opt-out program".  It is no wonder so few opted-out. 
Some customers have had electricity shut-off for refusing a "smart" meter, and have gone through two or more Michigan winters with no electricity.  They would most likely argue that thoughtfulness (per the article) was not, and has not, been used. Regardless of what DTE Energy and Consumers Energy say about privacy and cyber security, "smart" meters remain a "digital back door" to our homes and our personal lives via the wireless connection.   
This article also mentioned that analog meters would cost customers more money to keep in place.  Neither DTE Energy nor Consumers Energy has offered to "show us the books" to prove this claim.  How could a system of metering that has been in place for decades (analog metering), suddenly cost "roughly $9 million more annually for energy"? 
With analog choice, we are not asking for anything new or special.  We are simply asking for the continuation of a system of utility metering that does not infringe upon our property, and other personal rights. 
Thank you for all you do to support this legislation. 
Sincerely, 
Jeanine Susan Deal  
Battle Creek, MI  49015

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

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!")
Phone: 517-373-1791
Email: GaryGlenn@house.mi.gov
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
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 

Tom Barrett (R) 71st District (Co-sponsor of HB 4220 - no need to call unless to say "Thank you!")
Phone: 517-373-0853
EmailTomBarrett@house.mi.gov
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 
Phone: 517-373-0829
EmailTristonCole@house.mi.gov
Antrim County, Charlevoix County, Montmorency County, Oscoda County, Otsego 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) 

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

Diana Farrington (R) 30th District 
Phone: 517-373-7768
Email: DianaFarrington@house.mi.gov
Macomb County (part):  Shelby Charter Township (part),  Sterling Heights city (part),  Utica city

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

Steven Johnson (R) 72nd District
Phone: (517) 373-0840
Email: StevenJohnson@house.mi.gov
Allegan County (part):  Dorr Township,  Leighton Township,  Wayland city,  Wayland Township.  Kent County (part):  Gaines Township,  Kentwood city

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

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

John Reilly (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

Donna Lasinski (D) Minority Vice-Chair, 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 (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!)
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

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

LaTonya Garrett (D) 7th District (Co-sponsor to HB 4220 - no need to call unless to say "Thank you!")
Phone: (517) 373-2276
Email: LaTanyaGarrett@house.mi.gov
Wayne county (part), Detroit city (part), Highland Park city

Darrin Camilleri (D) 23rd District 
Phone: (517) 373-0855
Email: DarrinCamilleri@house.mi.gov
Monroe

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)




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