Are Smart Meters Smart?
Smart Meters are one part of the new ‘Smart Grid’ system. They are designed to allow the utility company and the consumer to track and control their energy usage.
The Utility Reform Network, State Senator Dean Florez, the City and County of San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Marin County Board of Supervisors, Sonoma County Supervisor Efren Carrillo, the cities of Sebastopol, Berkeley, Cotati, Fairfax, Santa Cruz, Piedmont, Scotts Valley, Capitola, Watsonville, Sausalito, Belvedere, Monte Sereno, Novato, Richmond, Ross, Bolinas, Camp Meeker, the Peace and Freedom Party, the Marin Association of Realtors and The EMF Safety Network are calling for a moratorium, a ban, or are opposing Smart Meters.
Smart Meters are radio transmitters, sending radiofrequency microwave radiation (RF) signals from both electric and gas meters. The electric meter has two transmitters. One RF signal is sent directly into your home (or business), and the other to a neighborhood data collector, which could be located on a lamppost, telephone pole, building or a home. Homes will also be used as repeaters for neighborhood RF signals.
Smart Grid proponents are expecting consumers to install a Home Area Network, which includes an RF interior display unit and either retrofit or purchase new RF ‘smart’ appliances to learn how to manage and reduce their electricity usage. Installing these interior devices will allow the Utility company to further control the electric grid, by turning off certain appliances during peak use time, if needed.
PG&E has been unable to give us a consistent, believable, straight answer about how often the meters transmit RF, or what the instantaneous peak power of the RF signal is at certain distances. They do not know what the RF exposure levels will be for a home with multiple meters installed. They claim the meters transmit RF six times a day, or they say once an hour. Other RF experts have measured RF transmissions every 45 seconds. Why is PG&E hiding the numbers? Do they know what they are doing?
There are no RF warning signs and at this time you cannot opt out. Vulnerable groups include the EMF Sensitive, people with medical implants, children, pregnant women, seniors and the immune compromised. If you have a pacemaker PG&E is now warning you to adhere to the SIX INCH RULE. For your safety stay 6 inches away from a Smart Meter.
Health impacts include sleep disturbance, headaches, nausea, anxiety, heart palpitations, tinnitus and ear pain, concentration and memory problems, dizziness, speech (loss of words), immune, nervous and hormonal system impacts, behavior problems in children, DNA strand breaks, and long term risk of cancers.
Smart Meters don’t run backwards, and are therefore incompatible with solar panel installations. PG&E has reported over 43,000 Smart Meter problems of one kind or another. Over three thousand complaints have been received by the CPUC for safety, RF impacts, EMF’s, opting out, moratorium, requests to remove, and for other numerous reasons. (that doesn’t include billing complaints)
Media reviews and consumers report numerous complaints prior to or following installation of Smart Meters for a variety of reasons.
(1) cost, billing overcharges, and reliability The Utility Reform Network
(2) health impacts EMF Safety Network Application for Modification with CPUC
(3) interference, billing, other complaints Smart Meter Public Comments
(4) privacy Joint Comments of the Center for Democracy & Technology and the Electronic Frontier Foundation
(5) security ‘Smart’ meters have security holes
(6) fire hazards Smart Meter Fire Risk
Learn more about Smart Meters in this Southern California Edison briefing by the co-editor of the Bioinitiative Report, RF expert Cindy Sage: Briefing Letter on Electric Utility Smart Meters
See this Silver Springs Network Smart Meter video: watch: “How it Works”
SEND Opt Out letter to CPUC For all utility districts in California: SEND THIS LETTER!
Watch three short videos: public comments on Smart Meters:
Are Smart Meters Smart? Part 1 of 3
Are Smart Meters Smart? Part 2 of 3
Are Smart Meters Smart? Part 3 of 3
MORE Videos:
TIME IS UP for Smart Meters Doctors and professionals speak to the Commission July 29, 2010
Marin County Supervisors call for a moratorium
Residents from several counties speak at CPUC protest: Smart Meters Aren’t Smart
Scotts Valley -Wellington installs Smart Meters despite request for a moratorium
Sonoma County Public Smart Meter Forum: Smart Meters Dumb Idea Pt 1 of 3, ‘Smart’ Meters- Dumb Idea? Pt. 2 of 3, ‘Smart Meters’- Dumb Idea? Pt. 3 of 3
COMMENTARIES:
Commentary by Blake Levitt: award-winning journalist who has specialized in medical and science writing for nearly two decades. She has researched the biological effects of nonionizing radiation since the late 1970’s. A former New York Times writer, she has written widely on medical issues for both the lay and professional audience.
Commentary by Joshua Hart How Smart Is Brain Cancer?
Smart Meters and Smart Regulation by Steven Weissman UC Berkeley Law
NO Thanks PG&E , Article by Sandi Maurer
SMART METER Moratorium KRCB Interview
Smart Meter Health impacts- comments
Commentary by Dr. Jeffry Fawcet “When an Assurance is a Lie”
EMF Safety Network Smart Meter Questions
PG&E Answers to EMF Safety Network’s Smart Meter Questions
County and City Actions
City of Piedmont asks PG&E to halt installations
City and County of San Francisco CPUC filing for a Smart Meter moratorium
Supervisor Efren Carillo Letter to CPUC
City of Sebastopol letter to CPUC
City of Cotati Letter to the CPUC
City of Fairfax letter to CPUC
Fairfax seeks Ban on Smart Meters! see video of city council discussion.
FAIRFAX ORDINANCE Bans Smart meters Ordinance 752
NEWS FLASH! The Cities of Capitola and Scotts Valley vote to join the SF and EMF Safety Network CPUC filings calling for a moratorium on Smart Meters!
Media Articles
PG&E Smart Meters make home appliances go snap crackle pop
Ross Council supports PG&E SmartMeters delay
Watsonville joins Smart Meter fight in a big way
Belvedere officials, residents criticize early smart meter installations
Protesters to hand ‘dumb meter’ to PG&E’s Darbee SF Examiner
PG&E CEO confronted by Smart Meter Opponents at Forum KTVU News
Stop Smart Meters Blog, Sorry Darbee, No Opting Out!
Fairfax Votes to BAN Smart Meters
Former CIA Director- Electricity Grid Vulnerability tops National Security Concerns
Residents Express Concern over Smart Meter Radiation (ABC TV- CPUC protest)
HAWAII REJECTS SMART GRID TECHNOLOGY
City to PG&E: Delay Meter Installations (Sausalito)
Smart Meter Forum Encourages Citizen Action
PG&E Smart Meters Raise Concerns in Petaluma
Capitola to Ask for a Smart Meter Moratorium
KION Smart Meter Debate Hits Scotts Valley, Capitola
Marin County Board of Supervisors call for a moratorium and public hearings on health and safety impacts Marin to PG&E “Smart Meters a Dumb Idea”
In this news story: 4 children died, after candles were used to light a home- which burned down- where PG&E had remotely disconnected power using the Smart Meter. Power shutoffs increase with rise in SmartMeters
Reporter Caitlin Esch East Bay Express well researched article: Are Smart Meters Dangerous Too?
PG&E SmartMeter Critics Protest in SF
Maryland Regulators deny smart meters
Vacumn Shop Fire Raises Smart Meter Questions
Marin Real Estate Agents Call for a Moratorium on Smart Meters
Scotts Valley Group Protests Smart Meter Program
Fairfax says no to PG&E Smart Meters
Fairfax seeks ban on smart meter installations
No Prime Time Meters- letter to the editor, (Smart Meter trouble in S. CA )
Santa Cruz Mayor, Smart Meters Not too Bright
New PG&E Meters Raise Concerns The City of Berkeley calls for a moratorium
NBC Editorial: Smart Meters Rollout Not So Smart
Smart Meter Program Signals Health Concerns for Customers: Exposure to Electromagnetic Radiation 24/7 throughout our homes The Green Team
Say No to Smart Meters! Why Smart Meters are Dangerous and What You Can Do to Protect Your Family’s Health. Teens Turning Green
A New Advocacy Crisis: Radio frequency Sickness National Council on Independent Living
Smart Meters- A Dumb Idea? Transition West Marin
Residents outline concerns about new PG&E meters
Smart meter concerns PG&E says wattever
PG&E customers in Mountain View refuse to pay bill over smart meter
Benefit of Smart Meters in Doubt
Oncor Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Smart Meters
Money Trumps Security in Smart Meter rollouts- Experts Say
Battle in California Over Potential Health Risks of Smart Meters
Third Texas lawmaker Urges a Smart Meter Moratorium
San Francisco seeks immediate Halt to PG&E’s Smart Meter Program
Man Refuses Smart Meter Installation
Fire Prone Meter Boxes Causing Concern
Smart Meters raise Ire of Some PG&E Customers
Oakland neighborhood resisting Smart Meters
Smart Meter Forum, hosted by Sonoma County on April 21, 2010- See the KTVU News Video
Concerns over smart meter security
PG&E acknowledges SmartMeter Problems (over 43,000)
State lawmakers attack SmartMeter billing practices
The Scandal of PG&E’s New Meters
Experiment raises questions about SmartMeters
CBS 5 Investigates Smart Meter Complaints
Sebastopol crowd decries PG&E SmartMeters
Texas utilities admit billing errors with Smart Meters
CA State Senator Florez Demands PG&E Explain Smart Meter Problems
New “Smart Meters” for Energy Use Put Privacy at Risk
Field-Test Smart Meters Before More Installed
‘Smart’ meters have security holes
PG&E’s New Power meters? Here come the Dumb Meters
Tracking Electric Use Could allow Utilities to Track You
Terrorists ‘could hijack new meters to cause blackouts’
PG&E Smart Meter ‘Rebellion’ Growing
PG&E customer refuses to take smart meter, locks up old meter
Some shocked by high electric bills balme Oncor’s ’smart meters‘
Battle heats up over Southern California Gas smart meter proposal
A Rough Rollout for Smart Meters in Texas
Fear and Loathing in Sebastopol
State Regulators to Test Smart Meters
Dominion’s smart meter rollout delayed in Northern Virginia
Sebastopol residents lash out against PG&E plan for ’smart meters’
“Horror stories include bill increases and threats to shut off power”
Realtor Sounds Billing Alarm over Smart Meters
Pge Smart Meters Worries Residents
Transmitting Smart Meters Pose a Serious Threat to Public health
Smart Meter Blows Up At Business
PG&E lawsuit spreads down Smart Grid supply chain
Does the “Smart Grid” Have a Smartest-Guys-in-the-Room Problem?
Class Action Accuses PGE of Overcharges
Green ‘Big Green Brother’ Wants ‘Smart Meters’
PGE customer questions intelligence of new smart meters
San Francisco fighting PGE over Smart Meters
New ’smart’ electrical meters raise privacy issues
Alabama Power responds Quickly to Consumer Complaints
Smart Grid: California Senator Questions Value of PG&E Smart Meters
PGE Smart Grid Comes to Twain Harte
‘Smart Grid’ Raises Security Concerns The Washington Post
Smart grid saves power, but can it thwart hackers?
How Smart Are PG&E’s Proposed “Smart Meters”?
Security Pros Question Deployment of Smart Meters
Letter to PGE from State Senator Dean Florez: