This Isn't About Fear

Image from here

A few months back I attended a small convention where I sat at a table with other Michigan Analog Meter Choice advocates.  We were there to offer information about the new electronic public utility meters, and why it had become necessary to support legislation that would protect us from forced installations of these new meters.

At one point, I was approached by a woman who wanted to tell me something.  "I'm not afraid of smart meters", she said in a somewhat hushed tone.  

We talked for several minutes, and even laughed together a few times, though she continued to repeat, "I'm not afraid of smart meters."  It was as if she didn't hear what I was saying about the real issues with electronic and smart meters.  

She repeated one more time, "I'm not afraid of smart meters", and we bid each other farewell.

Perhaps she sees some of the information about smart meters as fear-mongering.  But...

This isn't about fear or being afraid of anything.

This is about our rights as human beings.

This is about property rights and human rights.

This is about homeland security and our personal security.

This is about our privacy, safety, and health.

This is about the health of our children and grandchildren.

This is about our rights that utility companies are trying to take away from us.

This is about protection from monopoly utility companies who are shutting-off power to paying customers for not accepting a meter that has lots of proven issues.

This is about legislation that will protect our rights as human beings.

This isn't about fear.

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

An Open Letter to the Michigan House Energy Policy Committee

March 27, 2017  (Delivered today, March 28, 2017)

To:  The Members of the Michigan House Energy Policy Committee

Re:  HB 4220 - Analog Utility Meter Choice Legislation - an open letter

Honorable Members of the Energy Policy Committee,

As a member of this committee, your decisions not only affect your constituents, but every child, woman, and man in all of Michigan.

When it comes time to vote on HB 4220, please remember a few things:

• The fire chief who thankfully was home when his new smart meter arced and nearly caught his cabin on fire.¹
• The Detroit couple who's dogs were killed in a smart meter house fire.²
• The autistic children who, it is known, do better in an environment low in electromagnetic fields and low in dirty electricity.³
• The parents of autistic children, some of whom may not be able to afford "opt-out" fees to keep radiofrequency radiation emitting and dirty electricity creating electronic meters off their homes. 
• Newborn babies whose tiny skulls are much thinner than 200-pound men used for testing the penetration depth of radiofrequency radiation.⁴
• The perhaps hundreds of Michigan residents who have been testifying about ill effects experienced after smart or electronic meter installations.⁵
• The Michigan residents who have withstood two (or more) Michigan winters with no electricity due to power being cut by the utility companies because they refused a smart or electronic meter.  Some of these people had severe adverse physical reactions to smart and electronic meters, and removed or had them removed, to save their lives. 

When I was in my 30's, only a few people had cell phones.  Today, most everyone has a cell phone, even some toddlers.  Did you know that malignant brain tumors are now the top cause of cancer deaths in adolescents?⁶  That wasn't so when I was in my 30's.

Cell phones are a choice we don't have to pay extra to not have.  Some Michigan residents were already avoiding cell phones when smart or electronic meters were installed, or forced, onto their homes.  Many of these people were then thrown into full-blown electrosensitivity.

Did you know there are reliable disease bio-markers that characterize and identify electrosensitivity?⁷  This is a real condition, and some other countries are recognizing it and taking measures to reduce radiofrequency and wireless radiation in public places.⁸

Most people recover from electrosensitivity when electromagnetic fields in their environment are reduced or eliminated, though a growing number of people become hypersensitive to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and become "EMF refugees", constantly seeking out "white zones" free of EMFs, in order to not experience debilitating symptoms.⁹

On the one side we have utility meters (analog) that have been in use for more years than you or I have been alive, with no issues of privacy, fire safety, cyber attacks, plus they don't emit radiofrequency radiation (a class 2B carcinogen)¹⁰, and they don't create dirty electricity.¹¹  Plus, they take a miniscule amount of energy to operate.

On the other side we have electronic utility meters that take more energy to operate (adding to peak demand), emit a class 2B carcinogen, create dirty electricity, collect and record granulated data about our personal habits, and are easily hacked by some.  Plus, smart meters have probably started more fires in their short history than all the fires started by analog meters in the last 100 years.

The precautionary principle states, "that the introduction of a new product or process whose ultimate effects are disputed or unknown should be resisted."

So-called smart and electronic metering falls within the precautionary principle description.

Please be a hero in the eyes of those who are aware of the issues around electronic metering and support  HB 4220, an analog choice without added fees.  You will not regret it.

Most Sincerely,

(Signed)  Jeanine Deal

Supporting material:

1.  Testimony at the February 21, 2017 EnergyPolicy Committee, Fire Chief Roddy

2.  Fox News: Smart Meter Blamed for Causing Fireand Killing Dogs

3.  Autism and EMF?  Plausibility of a pathophysiological link

Wireless and EMFReduction for Autism - Clear Light Ventures

The Emerging LinkBetween Wireless and Autism - Clear Light Ventures

4.  Exposure Limits: The underestimation of absorbed cell phone radiation, especially in children

WeeksMD: ElectricalPollution in the home

5.  Michigan Oversight Committee Hearing on SmartMeters December 2, 2014 Part 1

Michigan Oversight Committee Hearing on Smart Meters December 2, 2014 Part 2

6.  Brain tumors now the most frequent form of cancer in US adolescents: Ground-breaking American study

Malignant Brain TumorsTop Cause Of Cancer Deaths Among US Adolescents, Young Adults

The Effects ofElectromagnetic Field on the Endocrine System in Children and Adolescents

7.  Reliable disease biomarkers characterizingand identifying electrohypersensitivity

8.  Worldwide Countries Taking Action on Wireless

International PolicyActions on Wireless

9.  Sanctuaries | Refugium

EMF Refugee | ProtectYour Family from EMF Pollution

I Am an EMF Refugee //News // Notre Dame Magazine // University of Notre Dame

10.  IARC (International Agency for Research onCancer) Classifies Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields as PossiblyCarcinogenic to Humans

11.  Electromagnetic hypersensitivity: biologicaleffects of dirty electricity with emphasis on diabetes and multiple sclerosis

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...

• Written Comments on HB 4220 by Steve Kurmas, Vice Chairman of DTE Energy
• About the FCC
• Isn't the FCC protecting us?
• International EMF Scientist Appeal to the World Health Organization
• Michigan Oversight Committee Hearing December 2014 Part 1
• Michigan Oversight Committee Hearing December 2014 Part 2
• Professor Daniel Hirsch Abstract on Smart Meter Health Impacts
• Article:  Government warned of smart meter security threat back in 2012
• Article:  Smart Meters Pose Security Risks to Consumers, Utilities
• Article:  Hydro One pulling plug on 36,000 rural smart meters after years of complaints
• Canada's auditor says "few benefits" from US $1.7bn rollout

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

I Am Hopeful

Last night I went to a Conservative Republican convention, called "Battle Cry Michigan," held at Soaring Eagle Casino in Mt. Pleasant.

I had been invited to sit at the "Utility Meter Choice 4 Michigan" vendor table, and chat with people as they stopped, and I'm really glad I went.  

I voted 3rd party, not for Trump, however, I loved the energy of the people in that convention room.

They were hopeful, confident, and resolved.

They were certain that life for Americans would get better, that endless wars would begin to diminish, and that America would become "fair" again, among other things.  And they seemed determined to help make it all happen, as well.

Most of the people who stopped at the Utility Meter Choice 4 Michigan table agreed with us: 

Michigan public utility customers need an analog choice when it comes to utility metering.

Several had already formed an opinion of "smart" and electronic public utility meters.  Some of the comments I heard:

"This is how they can hack into our homes."

"They create a privacy issue."  

"They mess with my radio."

 "I've seen them at fires."

"Of course they mess with our central nervous system."

These were professional people, for the most part, making these comments.  How refreshing to be among so many people who saw beyond the rhetoric of "smart," electronic, and wireless technology.

Some even knew of the link between wireless technology and cancer.

Those who had not already contacted their Michigan state representatives and senators regarding analog choice legislation, promised to do so.  

And a few had already seen the excellent "smart" meter documentary, "Take Back Your Power," by Josh Del Sol. 

It was a "feel-good" evening, making me very hopeful for the future of utility meter choice legislation in Michigan.

 [Update October 25, 2020:  The bill number for no-fee analog choice legislation introduced in 2020 is HB 5606.] 

May we all be blessed!

Inadvertent Activists

This is what I said to the City Commissioners of Battle Creek at the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, September 20, 2016:

New, non-analog public utility meters are sometimes called smart meters, digital meters, AMR ERT, advanced meters, or upgraded meters.  These new meters have inadvertently created a growing number of activists speaking out against them.  The issues include privacy, cyber security, explosions and fires, safety, inaccuracy, over-charges, and health complaints. 

New non-analog/smart metering technology has never been subject to human safety testing. 

On the website wearetheevidence.org, you will see testimonies from all kinds of people, from medical doctors, attorneys, teachers, musicians, all who have one thing in common: They developed electromagnetic hyper sensitivity caused by electromagnetic fields. 

New public utility meters all generate electromagnetic fields in the radiofrequency radiation range, and thereby increase everyone's chances of developing this potentially fatal condition. 

Old analog public utility meters do NOT create electromagnetic fields.

The BioInitiative Report, with 29 authors, mostly medical doctors and PhD's, states: 

"Bioeffects are clearly established and occur at very low levels of exposure to electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation."

Radiofrequency radiation is emitted by SEMCO Energy's new gas meters, Consumers Energy's new electric meters, and the City of Battle Creek's new water meters.  Battle Creek's Perry Hart (the Director of Public Works) told us the new water meters pulse this radiation every 14 seconds.  That's over 6,000 pulses per day of radiation from water meters alone!

Michigan is no stranger to health complaints from new non-analog public utility meters, as evidenced by the Michigan OversightCommittee hearing in 2014.

We are asking for something very simple: To keep the old, safe, time-tested analog public utility meters on our homes without penalty.  Analog meters have been used for approximately 100 years without issue.

No one complained about analog meters, not even the utility companies.  That is, until smart meters came along.  That's when utility companies started to complain.  They needed an excuse to "fix" what wasn't broken.

Thank you for listening.  May you all be blessed.

(Comments are limited to three minutes, strictly enforced.)

For the Health, Safety & Welfare of the Citizens

After finding out about all the Resolutions that have recently been passed, modeling House Bill 4916, Utility Meter Choice, via Michigan's Smart Meter Education Network newsletter, I wrote the City of Battle Creek officials about it last night:

Dear Mayor Walters, Vice Mayor Baldwin, Commissioner Owens, Commissioner Gray, Commissioner Flores, Commissioner Sherzer, Commissioner Behnke, Commissioner Faris, and Commissioner Helmboldt, 

On April 28, 2016, the County of Lapeer, Michigan, passed a Resolution modeling HB4916 for Utility Meter Choice with no-fees for opt-out.  Here is a copy of their Resolution:  http://bit.ly/1XdoXpt 

This is a video of the Lapeer County Commission meeting on April 28, 2016.  Testimony regarding health effects from wireless/smart meters begins at about 8 minutes, then the Commissioners discuss the Resolution, and pass it:  http://bit.ly/1Tioksg 

Brown City, within Lapeer County, passed their own Resolution on May 9, 2016, also modeling HB4916 for Utility Meter Choice with no-fees for opt-out.  Here is a copy of their Resolution:  http://bit.ly/1OtVx4X 

On May 10, 2016, Marathon Township also passed a strong Resolution modeling HB4916.  Here is a copy of that:  http://bit.ly/253EtdL 

These are counties and communities that are concerned about the health effects from wireless/smart meters and are taking action.  I urge you to also pass a Resolution modeling HB4916, to give all public utility customers the choice to keep their old analog utility meter that had none of the concerns wireless/smart meters have, without having to pay additional fees to do so. 

Wireless/smart meters nearly killed me.  That is why I am so passionate about this issue.  It is becoming more and more clear that I'm not the only one in Michigan who has experienced adverse health effects from wireless/smart meters. 

Will you please pass a Resolution modeling HB4916, as more and more communities in Michigan are doing, for the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens? 

Sincerely,  

Jeanine Deal

This morning I heard back from one of the Commissioners, Kate Flores, thanking me for my passion and continued efforts, and that she would review what I sent.  So far, she is the only one to respond...

Thank you for reading ~ May we all truly be blessed!

Requesting A Resolution

Image from EMR Aware Newsletter

April 19, 2016, to the City of Battle Creek City Commission I said:

I'm here to ask you to pass a Resolution, as most recently Marysville, Michigan did, and now Columbiaville, Michigan has.   A Resolution modeling Michigan House Bill 4916, the Utility Meter Choice Bill, that allows all public utility customers to opt-out of wireless metering technology, commonly known as smart metering, though wireless gas meters are neither "smart," nor called "smart."  Wireless gas meters are called AMR meters, and like other wireless public utility meters, they pulse radio frequency radiation in the microwave range 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, non-stop. 

On April 11th, just over one week ago, the village of Columbiaville, Michigan, northeast of Lansing, joined the growing list of Michigan communities to pass Resolutions supporting their citizens in their desire to have a free choice in regards to wireless public utility metering. 

Citing privacy concerns, Columbiaville's Resolution states:"Smart meters are overly intrusive into their energy usage." 

Citing health concerns, Columbiaville's Resolution states:"...emissions from smart meters are actually dangerous to their health." 

Columbiaville has forwarded House Bill 4916, the Utility Meter Choice Bill, to the Michigan Committee on Energy Policy, and has called upon State Representative and Chairman Aric Nesbitt, the Michigan Public service Commission, Attorney General Bill Schuette, State Senator Mike Green, and State Representative Gary Howell to take all regulatory procedures needed to investigate their concerns about health and welfare. 

Gas, electric, and water wireless smart meters come with a history of problems, from chronically overcharging customers, starting fires, being an open-door at our homes for hackers, and destroying people's health. 

Columbiaville, Michigan, now supports their citizen's ability to keep their old, safe, and time-tested analog utility meters, and to opt-out of the new wireless smart metering programs without suffering financial penalties or monthly charges. 

Please join Columbiaville, Marysville, and the growing list of Michigan communities concerned about these real issues with smart meters. Please pass a Resolution modeling House Bill 4916, for a no-fee analog utility meter choice.

Thank you for listening.  May you all truly be blessed!

"Do You Know What Smart Meters Are?"

Note: When I use the term "smart meter," I am referring to any utility meter that has a wireless component that transmits data.  I also call the new gas meters "smart meters," because they pulse radio frequency radiation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, just like electric and water "smart meters."  Even though the gas companies call their new meters AMR ERT (automatic read encoder receiver transmitter), and insist they are not "smart meters," I still call them "smart meters."
    
Another "Say No To Smart Meters!" activist gave me the above name tag last summer, and I've been wearing it everywhere I go.

Whenever I notice someone looking at the name tag, I look at them, smile, and say: 

"Say no to smart meters!"

Some people just turn and look away, and that's the end of it.  In my mind I bless them, then look away also.  

For those who don't look away, who either continue looking at the name tag, or who look directly at me, I ask:

"Do you know what smart meters are?"

The people I've talked to either, (1) have never heard of smart meters, (2) have heard the term "smart meters," but don't know what they are, (3) know enough about smart meters to be very interested in what I have to say about them, or (4) say they love their smart meter (actually, only one person has said that to me).

About a handful of people I've talked to are aware of some, if not all, of the "issues" with smart meters (see links below):

• Health - There are 1000's of studies that show that the radio frequency radiation pulses of smart meters cause biological harm to humans, and many people have become very ill after their installation, myself included; there's another issue with "dirty electricity" that smart meters and the digital "opt-out" meters create, which can be just as debilitating to our health
• Security - There's lots of hackers in the world, and many people are very concerned about this so-called "smart grid" network our houses and our "smart" appliances will be connected to via a "smart meter"
• Privacy - The data utility companies collect can show very personal information about us, and the data is sometimes sold; utility companies have admitted that the data is "worth trillions"
• Safety - Electric smart meters have been known to catch fire or explode, though it seems like there's been a lot of cover-up going on around that

The vast majority of people I've spoken with know little to nothing about them.  So that is where the conversation begins.  

Recently...

One day about a week ago, I was in a "big-box" store, second or third in line, when I noticed the man behind me looking at my "Say No To Smart Meters!" name tag.  So I smiled and said my line:

"Say no to smart meters!"

Instead of looking at me, or looking away, this man looked down and didn't say anything.  Just as I was about to turn away, he looked up and our eyes met.  Then he spoke softly: 

"I guess I don't know enough about smart meters to say 'yes' or 'no' to them."

I smiled and nodded, then responded:

"I mean no disrespect, sir, but that is part of the problem.  It seems like there's been quite a media blackout about smart meters in Michigan.  So you're not alone.  I've heard (via Public Works Director in Battle Creek, Perry Hart) that about 30% of Michigan utility customers now have 'radio reading' technology, but only about 1 in 10 of the people I've talked to know what they are."

"There's actually State and Federal laws that make it unlawful for anyone to install a radio device on private property without the property owner's knowledge and consent, but utility companies are doing it all over the United States, and so far, getting away with it."

I went on to explain why I am so passionate about saying "no" to smart meters, and the horrendous health issues I went through shortly after they were installed where I live.

We also talked about the FCC, conflicts of interest there, how the FCC does not protect us, and how radiation limits in the United States are among the highest in the world:

Information...

So if you don't know enough about smart meters to say 'yes' or 'no' to them, you're not alone.  Utility companies and mainstream media have done an excellent job at keeping utility customers uninformed about "radio reading technology."

If you want to learn more about smart meters, here are some places to start:

• EMF Scientist 
• BioInitiative Report
• Smart Meter Education Network in Michigan on Health Effects
• Smart Meter Education Network in Michigan on Dirty Electricity
• Smart Grid Awareness on Health Effects
• ElectricSense Information About Smart Meters
• GEOVITAL on Smart Meters
• AAEM Wireless Smart Meter Case Studies
• Global Research - Smart Meter Dangers 
• Weston A. Price
• Wireless or Not, Smart Meters Harm Your Health - Michigan Stop Smart Meters
• Smart Meter Health Impact Survey
• An Electronic Silent Spring
• EM Watch - EMF Pollution
• Evidence of Harm - Wireless Health Impacts (YouTube)
• Wireless and Children - Environmental Health Trust
• AAEM - EMF and RF Fields Effect on Human Health
• Smart Meter Health Complaints
• People For Safe Technologies
• Health Risks of Electromagnetic Radiation
• Wireless Technology & Public Health Forum
• Self-reporting of symptom development
• Smart Meter Health Alerts
• The Latest Form of Pollution: EMFs
• Public Health Physician's Warning
• The Health Crisis of Our Time
• Health Impacts of RF Radiation
• European EMF Guideline
• Smart Meter Radiation Exposure Up to 160 Times More Than Cell Phone
• Consumer's Advocate Ralph Nader on Smart Meters
• How Smart Meters Invade Individual Privacy
• Smart Meter Education Network in Michigan on Privacy
• Utilities "very excited" about mining smart meter data (video)
• Increased Risk of Privacy Created By Smart Meters
• Why You Should Opt-Out When It Comes To Smart Meters
• Langford Smart Meter Fire
• PG&E Knows Smart Meters Catch Fire (YouTube)
• Smart Meter Fire, Mission BC
• Meter installations a fire risk, electrician says
• Smart Meter Fire
• Smart Meter Fires, Living Hell, and Bureaucratic Messes
• Man Dies in House Fire Attributed to Smart Meter
• Smart Meter Fire in Portage, Michigan?
• Fire Department's Press on Concerns of Smart Meter Fires
• 1000's of Smart Meter Fires (video)
• Smart Meter Education Network on Fires
• Incidents of Fires - Maryland Smart Meter Awareness
• Smart Meters Generate Gold Mine of Data
• Analyzing Smart Meter Data Leads to Big Profits
• Austrian smart meter plan raise fears over data privacy
• Isn't the FCC protecting us?
• FCC: Prime Example of Institutional Corruption
• The FCC: An Industry Captured By the Industries it Regulates
• FCC's Job Is Not to Protect Americans
• Take Back Your Power 
• Smart Meter Billing Issues
• Smart Meter Complaints
• Smart Meter Price Increases
• Electric Bill Skyrockets After Smart Meter Installation
• Skyrocketing water bills mystify, anger residents