"The Epic Saga of a Smart Meter Opt-Out"

FACT: Utility companies changed the equipment they had been using for about 100 years, installing "smart" and other transmitting electronic meters without customers/ratepayers knowledge or consent.

FACT: I've talked with nearly 100 people now who became ill after installation of pulsed radio-frequency radiation emitting meters. Some became deathly ill, and a few nearly died, but figured out the cause of their illness in time to mitigate or move away from their own home. This is only a small portion of the people in the world who have become ill after smart meters or transmitting meters were installed.

FACT: I've also spoken with people who have become sick after the supposedly non-transmitting or "radio-off" electronic "opt-out" meter was installed. Part of this may have to do with the "dirty electricity" some of the "new" meters create.

FACT: SOME utility companies "allow" us to PAY EXTRA to "opt-out" (of a program we never opted-into), though the safe "old" analog meter that doesn't emit radio-frequency radiation, and doesn't create dirty electricity is usually not an option.

FACT: Transmitting electronic meters usually pulse radio-frequency radiation (RFR) numerous times per minute all day, every day. Some experts argue that this type of continuously pulsed exposure (24/7/365) is more biologically damaging than a single exposure per day of the same accumulated duration.

FACT: No one, not the World Health Organization, not the American Cancer Society, and not the Federal Communications Commission, has EVER said that RFR is 100% safe. Because it's not.

FACT: I prefer to CHOOSE my possible carcinogens, and not have possible carcinogens forced upon me without my knowledge or consent. (Utility companies never gave us full disclosure of how these new meters operate before beginning installations.)

FACT: This radio-frequency radiation exposure is UNNECESSARY since analog meters (that do NOT emit radio-frequency radiation and do NOT create dirty electricity) are still available, and will be available for as long as there is a demand for them.

Some Supporting Information:

• Illinois woman arrested for refusing "smart" meter (Trying to protect her children from a class 2B carcinogen, she gets arrested.)
• Smart Meters: Countdown to a National Crisis of Illness and Death (It's not just electric utility companies installing transmitting meters.  Natural gas companies are installing them also, though they don't call them "smart".)
• Permeability of the blood-brain barrier induced by 915 MHz electromagnetic radiation, continuous wave and modulated at 8, 16, 50, and 200Hz  (Unless you understand the science 100%, you have no business saying transmitting meters are safe.)
• The precautionary principle (Something that is being totally ignored with "smart meter roll-out".)
• Analog utility meters  (If a utility company tells you analog meters are "obsolete" or no longer available, you can now tell them, "BS".)

"Smart" Meters: In-Home Surveillance For Profit

Why would utility companies spend millions to billions of dollars replacing perfectly working ANALOG meters that last 20 to 80 years or more and have withstood the test of time for safety, reliability, and accuracy, with electronic (sometimes called "smart") meters that sometimes fail upon installation, sometimes start fires, sometimes overcharge, and sometimes make customers extremely ill?

Follow the money...

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:

• Roger Hauck - Lansing phone (517) 373-1789 or email RogerHauck@house.mi.gov

• Jim Tedder - Lansing phone (517) 373-0615 or email JimTedder@house.mi.gov

• James Lower - District phone (616) 902-4946 or email JamesLower@house.mi.gov

• Beth Griffin - Lansing phone (517) 373-0839 or email BethGriffin@house.mi.gov

• Beau LaFave - District phone (906) 282-3004 or email BeauLaFave@house.mi.gov

• Joseph Bellino - District phone (734) 731-4142 or email JosephBellino@house.mi.gov

• Donna Lasinski - District phone (734) 997-7265 or email DonnaLasinski@house.mi.gov

• Scott Dianda - District phone (906) 369-3338 or email ScottDianda@house.mi.gov

• Darrin Camilleri - District phone (734) 818-5516 or email DarrinCamilleri@house.mi.gov

• Brian Elder - Lansing phone (517) 373-0158 or email BrianElder@house.mi.gov

• Patrick Green - Lansing phone (517) 373-1772 or email PatrickGreen@house.mi.gov

• Tim Sneller - District phone (844) 763-5537 or email TimSneller@house.mi.gov 

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

Thank you!  Bless us all!