Canary In The Coal Mine: smart grid

Showing posts with label smart grid. Show all posts

Thursday, September 7, 2017

"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...

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:

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!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

"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: