7/26/2012 EMF Safety Network Files Lawsuit Against the CPUC over Smart Meters
3/3/2011 Scientists Urge Halt of Wireless Rollout
2/1/2011 EXPERTS COMMENT ON SMART METER STUDY
1/31/2011 TWO MORE WOMEN ARRESTED OVER PG&E SMART METERS
1/2011 CCST STUDY LEAVES SMART METER HEALTH QUESTIONS UNANSWERED
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Sandi Maurer EMF Safety Network emfsafe@sonic.net 707-824-0824
January 5,2011
EMF SAFETY NETWORK FILES SMART METER APPEAL FOR REHEARING AT UTILITIES COMMISSION
Network Calls on Commission to Take Responsibility For Smart Meter Mandate
Sebastopol- The EMF Safety Network- a Sonoma County based group dedicated to education about health and environmental impacts of wireless radiation technology, today submitted an Application for Rehearing on the issue of Smart Meters at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The group alleges that the RF from Smart Meters pose serious public health, safety and environmental impacts.
The CPUC- in a 4-1 vote- dismissed the group’s Application for Modification on December 2, 2010. This new document will be reviewed by Commission legal staff to determine if legal error was committed. The summary states: ”The Commission has an obligation to ensure safe delivery of gas and electric service and has committed legal error by neglecting and deferring its utility regulation duties to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)”.
Maurer states, “The CPUC has investigated radiation (RF) impacts prior to the Smart Meter mandate. In 1995 they recognized public perception of harm, warned that financial interests should not trump health impacts, and ordered follow up workshops on the subject. They also could not confirm or deny a health risk. We urge the CPUC to put public health before utility profits. Smart Meters are making some people very sick. Dismissing our application and the requests for a moratorium by tens of local jurisdictions was a wrong that must be righted.”
The EMF Safety Network alleges legal error by citing dozens of legal authorities, including the California Constitution Declaration of Rights. The Network also alleges violations of FCC Regulations, citing a study by Sage Associates that was released this week, entitled “Assessment of Radiofrequency Microwave Radiation Emissions from Smart Meters” (http://sagereports.com/smart-meter-rf/). The study documents RF levels associated with wireless Smart Meters.
The EMF Safety Network’s application calls for a smart meter moratorium, and evidentiary public hearings on the health impacts of the wireless meters.
The document can be viewed here: PG&E Smart Meters ARH 5-Jan-11
More information: http://emfsafetynetwork.org
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PG&E Smart Meters Violate FCC RF Exposure Compliance Rules
December 14, 2010
PG&E has based its radiation (RF) health and safety claims on their assertions that Smart Meters comply with all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) has upheld without question or investigation PG&E’s unproven claims. PG&E must be held accountable for following FCC RF compliance safety rules.
The EMF Safety Network alleges that PG&E Smart Meters violate one or more FCC conditions that determine RF exposure compliance. The FCC Grants of Equipment Authorization, which govern the rules upon which FCC compliance is based, warns that RF exposure compliance depends on specific conditions. The conditions include one or more of the following, depending on the specific make and model of Smart Meter.
• limited single module approval requires professional installation;
• antenna(s) must provide a separation distance of at least 20 cm from all persons;
• antenna(s) must not be co-located or operating in conjunction with any other
antenna or transmitter;
• end-users and installers must be provided with antenna installation and
transmitter operating conditions for satisfying RF exposure compliance
Network believes that completion of a few weeks of training does not qualify PG&E’s Smart Meter installers as “professionals.” Based on informal observations, Network has serious doubts about installer training and professional status. Network suspects that installers are also not given accurate information about RF operating conditions.
Many Smart Meters are installed within 20 cm of public access. In some cases the meters are installed inside homes and businesses. In many situations Smart Meters are easily accessible to the public. This rule is clearly violated.
Smart Meters are widely co-located in banks of multiple meters. Co-location also occurs within Smart Meters because electric Smart Meters include at least two internal RF antennas. One antenna is used for the mesh network system and the other is for the Home Area Network (HAN) systems.
Antennas are designed to work in conjunction with the HAN and RF appliances and with other Smart Meters in a mesh network. Antennas have separate Grants of Equipment Authorization, which suggests that manufacturers have tested antennas in isolation and individually, and not in combination, which is how the Smart Meter and the Smart Grid system were designed to operate.
Network believes “end users,” are the customers. PG&E has not provided end users with antenna installation and transmitter operating conditions for satisfying RF exposure compliance. FCC conditions that specify that end users are to have no manual instructions to remove or install the device confirm Network’s belief that the end user is the customer.
Network alleges one or more FCC exposure compliance violations for the following meters PG&E is deploying: FCC ID numbers: OWS-NIC514, OWS-NIC507, and LLB6327PWM.
Research into other Smart Meter Grants of Equipment Authorizations indicates there are similar violations in other utility districts in California. Network is calling for an immediate halt to the Smart Meter installation in California and a statewide investigation into these FCC compliance violations. Network further calls for copies of all Grants of Equipment Authorization for all Smart Meters installed under CPUC jurisdiction, with complete contact information for laboratory testing personnel responsible for performing RF compliance tests.
Sandi Maurer, EMF Safety Network
Cindy Sage, Sage Associates
