Lachine, near Montreal Canada: A dramatic fireball moves along the power lines and knocks out power to thousands of customers. Is this possibly related to smart meters which are being installed in Lachine despite public protest?
Category: Fires and Explosions
Stick it to the Man: Smart Meter and Wireless Warning Stickers—Order Yours Today!
From Stop Smart Meters!
Due to popular demand, Stop Smart Meters! has created warning stickers to spread awareness about the hazards of ‘smart’ meters and other wireless technology. Much appreciation goes out to Zavier Cabarga for the design work.
What you don’t know CAN hurt you! By raising awareness with these visible and bold stickers, we hope to encourage people to take action to make their families and communities safer, and stand up for their rights.
The stickers are printed on high quality vinyl. They are easy to peel, scratch-proof, weather-proof, sun-proof, and last outdoors for 3-5 years.
Disclaimer: It is your responsibility to ensure that you affix these stickers in a legal and safe manner. Stop Smart Meters! is not liable for any misuse of these stickers.
For sizes, cost, and ordering information go to: http://stopsmartmeters.org/2013/10/09/stick-it-to-the-man-stop-smart-meters-launches-smart-meter-and-wireless-warning-stickers-order-yours-today/
Smart Meter Film- Take Back Your Power- Watch NOW!
Take Back Your Power, Josh Del Sol’s full length documentary film on Smart Meters is now available to watch online (72 hr. rental) or purchase.
Utility companies are replacing electricity, gas and water meters worldwide with new generation “smart” meters at an unprecedented rate. Take Back Your Power investigates the benefits and risks of this ubiquitous “smart” grid program, with insight from insiders, expert researchers, politicians, doctors, and concerned communities. Transparency advocate Josh del Sol takes us on a journey of revelation and discovery, as he questions corporations’ right to tap our private information and erode our rights in the name of “green”. What you discover will surprise you, unsettle you, and inspire you to challenge the status quo.
“Smart” Meters & Surveillance: What Are Your Rights Worth?
Smart Meter Fire in Oklahoma
Today the Red Dirt Report tells of a smart meter fire in Oklahoma, one day before a smart meter hearing is scheduled to come before the Oklahoma Corporation Commission.
According to writer Andrew Griffin, he was driving in a neighborhood in Oklahoma City when he spotted an OG&E utility truck. He writes, “The utility worker had a Smart Meter in his hand and when I asked him what had happened, he informed me that some wires had burned up, seriously limiting power to the affected home. And sure enough, the meter was damaged and when he took me to the backyard of the home the wire was burned up and melted in several spots. I asked the utility worker if a fire could have spread and burned the house down – as has been reported in other areas – and he said, “Anything is possible.”
The worker told Andrew that the smart meters are supposed to signal the utility of a problem, but notes, “in this case the sensor didn’t work.”
The homeowner also reported the air conditioner was not working.
According to the reporter, ” It was ultimately determined that the defective Smart Meter was to blame and would be replaced.”
Click here to read more smart meter fires.
PG&E denies smart meter fires
Despite evidence that smart meters cause fires and explosions, in the following Stop Smart Meters video, a PG&E spokesperson says, that of all the nine million smart meters deployed in California PG&E has no reports of smart meters causing fires.
KO says a smart meter exploded-with a pop-pop-pop, flames and a big KABOOM- on her house. She has pictures showing the fire damage.
In Bakersfield, media reports “a smart-meter blows up at a business”. The PG&E technician told the employee that he had replaced at least 15 meters around town due to the same problem.
Mr. Patrick Wrigley, a former PG&E meter reader told a Public Utilities Commission judge that he was fired because he was not wiling to be quiet about the smart meter problems he saw. He said, “These meters catch fire. They know it, and they are covering it up.”
The Berkeley fire department reported finding a smart meter “… hot to touch and smoking, with a orange glow inside the meter housing”.
Ms. Moskow, a PG&E customer stated, “I had terrible electric problems in my house once the smart meter was installed, fire coming out one of the outlets, many outlets not working.”
Two California fire department captains contacted the EMF Safety Network to report fire hazards associated with smart meters. We also know that PG&E settled out of court in a wrongful death suit where Larry Nikkel lost his life in a smart meter fire.
In January of 2010 PG&E admitted smart meters interfered with GFI’s and AFCI’s which are devices designed to protect from shock and fire. More smart meter fire stories here: http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=1280
Fires related to smart meters are reported in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Maine, Pennsylvania, Texas, Australia, and Canada.
Toward a Smart Meter RECALL!
Customers all across the United States have reported being harmed by utility smart meters. In Indiana, a mother of three small children can’t live in their home because a bank of smart meters gave her debilitating health problems. In California hundreds of customers have reported headaches, ringing in the ears, heart palpitations, sleep problems and more.
Customers report flames shooting from outlets, burned out appliances and fires after smart meter installation. Meanwhile in some states, the utility companies and their regulators response is to charge more money (opt-out fees) to avoid smart meters and they ignore the health and fire hazards.
The US Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) is a federal agency that will take complaints on utility smart meters from all US states.
Last year the CPSC recalled 1.3 million GE dishwashers due to “15 reports of dishwasher heating element failures, including seven reports of fires, three of which caused extensive property damage.”
If you’ve been harmed by smart meters or had safety problems call: (800) 638-2772 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET
or submit your complaint by email.*
Here’s the information you will need to provide:
- A description of the product;
- The name of the manufacturer;
- A description of the injury, or death, or the risk of illness, injury, or death related to use of the product;
- The date or estimated date when the incident occurred or when you first became aware of the potential for the product to act in an unsafe manner;
You will also need to provide a description of who you are, for example, consumer, health care professional, a government agency; your name and mailing address; and permission to publish your Report on SaferProducts.gov. Finally your verification that the Report is true and accurate to the best of your knowledge, information, and belief.
Record the time and date of the call and the name of the person who took your complaint. Write down the receipt number they give you. Keep this information for your records.
Once the CPSC receives your complaint they will send a report back to you for your review and consent. It will then go to the manufacturer where they will have to respond in ten days. After that depending on the number of complaints the compliance office receives, they will decide if the products should be recalled!
* PLEASE NOTE: If you hope, or plan to file a lawsuit for damages there is a two year statute of limitations, so registering and providing a date of harm will start that clock. (If so, you might also want to consult a lawyer regarding timing)
Initial smart meter complaints sent by email to the CPSC were troublesome. Calls to the CPSC today (6/25/13) confirmed that the CPSC is taking reports on smart meter harms. If your complaint was rejected please persist and follow up with a phone call. Also we learned in order to reach a decision for a recall they may work with other federal agencies such as the Department of Energy, or the FDA. Be assured however that the CPSC is handling smart meter complaints.
PG&E whistleblower speaks out about Smart Meter fires and fraud
On December 18, 2012 a PG&E meter reader whistleblower tells the California Public Utilities Commission judge that:
- Smart Meters CAUSE FIRES.
- PG&E is covering up the Smart Meter fire risk.
- PG&E fired him because he was unwilling to keep quiet.
- Smart Meter deployment cost not 2.2 billion, but ten billion dollars.
- *Smart Meter deployment is illegal because it is a crime of fraud against the consumers of California.
- No one does gas surveys but the meter readers.
Thanks to EON for this important video clip.
* Of interest to note that the CPUC description as stated on their website home page in 2008 (3/16-via wayback machine) included protection against fraud, today that’s been removed.
2008: “The PUC regulates privately owned telecommunications, electric, natural gas, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies, in addition to authorizing video franchises. Our five Governor-appointed Commissioners, as well as our staff, are dedicated to ensuring that consumers have safe, reliable utility service at reasonable rates, protecting against fraud, and promoting the health of California’s economy…”
2013: The CPUC regulates privately owned electric, natural gas, telecommunications, water, railroad, rail transit, and passenger transportation companies. The CPUC serves the public interest by protecting consumers and ensuring the provision of safe, reliable utility service and infrastructure at reasonable rates, with a commitment to environmental enhancement and a healthy California economy. We regulate utility services, stimulate innovation, and promote competitive markets, where possible.”