CPUC delays smart meter opt-out proceeding – again

Photo by Isis Feral

The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) once again delayed the smart meter opt-out proceeding by another two months, until April 7, 2014.  The opt out proceeding started nearly three years ago, amid a strong customer backlash against the overcharging, privacy snatching, radiation emitting smart meters and demand for the return of the analog meters.

In 2012, customers were ordered to pay extortion fees to retain or restore an analog meter, even though the CPUC never held hearings on the legality of those fees, or investigated the safety complaints.

In 2012, briefs were filed arguing the fees were unlawful, testimony was taken, evidentiary hearings and five public hearings were held.   A second round of briefs, based on the testimony and hearings were filed in January of 2013.  Read the EMF Safety Network’s brief here.

The opt out proceeding is in the hands of CPUC judge Amy Yip-Kikugawa who said she would rule on the legal issues in January of 2013.  A full year later, no rulings or decisions have been issued and the discussion on the right for a community to opt out is still pending.  Nothing has happened for a full year, except delays.

The Commissioner overseeing the proceeding is Michael Peevey who cannot be trusted to care about utility customers when he is personally invested in a “green” technology economy.  Peevey is on the board of The California Clean Energy Fund, a multi-million dollar investment fund created to “spur investment and innovation in California’s clean energy economy.”

“With world-renown research universities and a supportive policy-making climate, California has proven to be a leader in developing clean energy innovations,” said Michael R. Peevey, chairman of CalCEF and president of the California Public Utilities Commission. “CalCEF’s investment strategy to help commercialize these innovations fills an important need in realizing California’s goal of becoming the world’s premier clean energy economy.”

Peevey is also an advisor for the UC Davis Energy Effiency Center, and the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy.

The CPUC states they need more time  on the opt-out proceeding because the issues are complex and require additional time to resolve.

Are you frustrated and fed up with the CPUC’s lack of safety oversight and extortion fees? The California State Auditor conducts investigations into improper governmental activities by state agencies.  They take anonymous complaints from the public and whistle blowers:

WHO KNEW? The Wireless Smart Meter Meltdown

Cindy SagePerspective by Cindy SageThe misguided program of mandatory ‘smart wireless meters’ has done more to undercut the gains in public support for energy conservation in this country than any other single factor. The national shift to embrace energy conservation in the face of climate change has been derailed by mandatory ‘wireless smart meter’ programs. And judging by the public outrage against the National Security Agency (NSA) spying program revealed by Edward Snowden last summer, Americans have come to understand that government mandates for smart meters is likely one more ‘deep drilling project’ on their personal habits, preferences, life styles and medical conditions.

The smart meter program is widely seen as a spying, snooping, expensive, potentially hazardous, involuntary and entirely unnecessary burden for which energy conservation is a mirage. It is unlikely that Americans will stand for public utilities spying on their homes using energy use and conservation as the ruse, and make money on these data by selling their personal information to third party information brokers for profit.

How could one bad idea so completely galvanize such enormous and widespread public resistance? And lead to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) review of radiofrequency radiation (RFR) wireless safety standards and general distrust for government ideas about energy conservation? And undercut public support for some national environmental groups? It is really quite stunning how a single failed corporate/governmental strategy could backfire so rapidly and so completely.

Some national environmental groups bought into the technology, mistakenly gave it a ‘green’ endorsement, and actively partnered with ‘smart’ technology corporations like the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Some have publicly promoted the ‘smart meter’ as a good way to achieve energy conservation. Other environmental groups have been silent. They have turned a blind eye and refuse to take a position.

Environmental group leadership and independence of scientific assessment has taken a huge blow and will take decades to recover. Donors will think twice about where they send their donations to protect the environment. They believed in false promises but didn’t look deep enough. The national priority to convince families to conserve energy for the good of the planet has taken a direct blow. Who can believe in them now?

It shows how little anyone really knew what these meters entailed in ‘unintended consequences’. And how immediate the adverse effects would become visible.

READ MORE…

Email Tag Lines- A Quiet Revolution

Taglines…

the lines you remember

A tag line is an automated saying at the end of an email. What started as a spoof on the familiar email tag line, “Sent from my iPhone” has become very creative way to educate about EMF safety.  Some examples below:

  • Sent from my wired computer
  • Sent from my hardwired computer with all wireless functions turned OFF
  • This email sent from my wired, non-bee-killing, computer
  • Body pollution. Reduce yours. Consider 1st-hand and 2nd-hand exposure before generating wireless radiation.
  • #PracticeSafeTech do it WITH wires
  • Sent from my hard-wired computer (with Ethernet cable and DSL modem), and airport card disabled.
  • “Sent from my iPhone – a cancer-causing device! Practice Safer celling. Text or email instead! Or just break free. Your brain and body will thank you.”
  • Sent while sitting in front of my old land line phone, next to my incandescent light bulb pole lamp, inside my no dish antenna, non microwave, WiFi free, analog powered home, loving every minute of my RF-free life style.
  • Sent from my iPhone synched with my iPad connected to Ultra-wi-fi via DAS and the smart meter on YOUR home, while snuggled under my cruelty live-plucked down comforter resting upon my endangered white tiger laptop case sipping panda milk and eating chocolate covered monarch butterflies

Activists confront FCC’s new chair Thomas Wheeler

EMF activists confronted the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) new head chairman, Thomas Wheeler in Mountain View and Oakland yesterday.  The FCC sets the standards on wireless safety. Wheeler is a wireless industry leader and has buried the science on wireless health impacts. With Wheeler at the head of the FCC, there’s little chance for safe oversight.

In Oakland, Wheeler was greeted by grim reapers.  “At one point, he [Wheeler] wandered the wrong way after being followed and questioned by an activist, and found himself surrounded by protesters shouting, “Wheeler buried the truth now we bury the dead.” He quickly scurried away, knowing that the truth was out there. He looked like a frightened animal and you could see the pain in his eyes. It can’t be easy to sacrifice people’s lives for profit.” Read the full story about the protests at Stop Smart Meters!

Photo taken by Stop Smart Meters!
Photo taken by Stop Smart Meters!

 

New documentary film: “Desperately Seeking White Zone”

A new French documentary, with English subtitles, about electromagnetic injuries.

Synopsis: “Thanks to the current explosion of artificial electromagnetic waves, some people are seeing their lives seriously affected – both socially and as far as their health is concerned. They are known as “electrohypersensitive”. They have to protect themselves against mobile phone technology but where can they go? Marc Khanne, the film’s creator, spent 3 years researching this issue and interviewed over 60 people affected. Before we question the validity of what they have to say, what if we took the time to really listen to them?”

To learn more about the film, order a DVD, or arrange a screening, go to: http://www.electrosensitive-white-zone-ehs-film.com

Greet FCC’s Wheeler with a mass funeral protest for wireless safety

Signs by Heidi

Join protests for wireless safety in SF bay area! Thurs. January 9!

Greet new FCC chair- wireless industry leader Thomas Wheeler with a mass funeral. People will be wearing black, carrying a coffin and reading the names of brain tumor victims.

Bring signs, friends, a trumpet, kids. Wear black! Protests held at two locations:

11:00 am in Mountain View at the Computer History Museum – 1401 N. Shoreline Blvd.

5:30 pm in Oakland at the Preservation Park Niles Hall at 1233 Preservation Park Way

Sponsored by: California Brain Tumor Association and Stop Smart Meters! Questions call 925-285-5437 or 360-201-3959 http://stopsmartmeters.org/2014/01/03/fcc/