Fire captain finds hazardous power surges follow Smart Meter installations

Matt Beckett is a fire captain who lives in Cameron Park, CA. He sent the following account of serious electrical problems that occurred after Smart Meters were installed on his house:

“My family moved into a 1982 built house approximately nine years ago and remodeled almost everything (including ALL electrical fixtures: lights, fans, switches, sockets, etc). Our home had what I believe to be it’s original analog meter at the panel. Two years ago PG&E replaced that meter with a “Smart Meter”. Immediately following we noticed power surges in the form of our refrigerator motor intermittently speeding up simultaneously with our lights becoming brighter. As a seventeen year veteran and current Fire Captain this caused me to become very concerned. We notified PG&E and called a licensed electrician to come out and assess. Both arrived at our house within one hour. The electrician checked “our side” and PG&E theirs. Nothing was found to be wrong or faulty, but PG&E decided to change out the connections at the power pole just in case. He also pulled the smart meter and replaced it with an analog. Two years have come and gone without any electrical problems. However, on 11/5/12 our analog was replaced with another smart meter. Within one week of this we noticed power surges once again in the form of lights becoming brighter, refrigerator motor becoming louder, motion light activating by itself in no wind conditions, and while vacuuming the motor increasing speed much like the refrigerator. This culminated on 11/25/12 with my wife noticing a plastic like burning smell coming from our office. Upon further inspection we noticed our computer, phone, and shredder were not working. They were plugged into a Belkin brand surge protector that fortunately did it’s job. This caused the carpet to become hot and melted underneath in a dime sized spot and burned up (inside) the surge protector. Immediately, we called PG&E and another electrician as in the past. Both were at our house within an hour and the same result was found. “Our side” checked out fine and PG&E did not notice anything wrong or faulty. The connections at our roof top power drop were changed by PG&E just in case (even though he thought they were fine). However, the smart meter was replaced with another smart meter. Later that evening our family room TV and components were working fine. However, the next morning they had no power. When I inspected the surge protector that they were plugged into, the same condition was found as in our office.”

Some homes just don’t work well with Smart Meters?

Matt spent four hours on the phone with PG&E, dealing with this problem and notifying them of his concerns. He demanded a rush on switching back to an analog meter. He says, “I’ve been met with multiple attitudes and accusations that I’ve not done everything I can do to make sure it’s not my house causing the problem.”  According to Matt, the only time there were electrical problems was when PG&E changed from the analog to the Smart Meter.

Although PG&E tells Matt he can file a claim for the damaged surge protectors, they say he now has to pay $75  plus $10 a month to keep an analog meter on his home.

Matt’s story is similar to the East Bay fire captain who reported electrical problems and a too hot to touch Smart Meter. Arcing Meter Hazards. Evidence is piling up against Smart Meter installations connected to burnt out appliances, fires and explosions.

Sandi Maurer, director of the EMF Safety Network has been compiling Smart Meter related fires stories since 2010. She says, “It is unthinkable that PG&E, other utilities, and regulators in California have neither publicly admitted to, nor squarely addressed this serious safety hazard related to Smart Meter installations. They are failing their statutory obligation to ensure safe and reliable utility service. ”

37 thoughts on “Fire captain finds hazardous power surges follow Smart Meter installations”

  1. Important advice from an insurance specialist:

    The Utility Company has a record of the billing information each time the meter(s) send the information to the Utility Company’s billing reception center.

    The property owners will need to send a written request to the Utility Company for a review of the records, they should review the records at least 24 hours before the fire for each meter.

    The property owner may also inquire at their local Legal Aid office concerning the possibility of securing legal assistance in filing legal action against the Co-operative. The legal aid office may take the case on a contingency basis.

    The property owner needs to have the opportunity to review the billing records for the meters that were installed. In addition they need to demand the right to examine the meters that were taken from their property to determine what the cause of the failure was. Perhaps the attorney from legal aid would be able to refer a local electrical engineer with no relationship to any Utility Company.

    Also, the insured needs to be ready to ask for a specific dollar amount for damages, as the Utility Company may want to bargain their way out of a pending lawsuit.

  2. I’m sorry for your terrible losses. It’s unconscionable the utility took the meter and refuses to be accountable. I suspect they may have voltage and maybe temperature readings from the smart meter. If you take your story to the public, to the news in VA that might help.

  3. On May 14 2019 we had a devastating fire on our small farm. In less than an hour our small barn, chicken houses, and home (which was a small rv until we slowly built our dream home, which we had had yet to start) all burned to the ground killing almost all of our animals. We lost our beloved Great Pyrenees, three inside cats who were like children to us and many birds. We believe 100 percent that the Smart Meter Southside Electric Cooperative installed caused our fire.
    In the three years that we had electric service, the power company installed a total of 4 different meters. The first was an analog meter and we had no problems. A couple months later they replaced with a smart meter, about a month later another new smart meter, and then about two months after that a third smart meter. No reason was ever given and they never informed us any time they changed the meter.
    Sometime after the first smart meter was installed we started having strange power surges exactly like others on this site have described. Light bulbs getting very very bright and then going out completely. We lost two TVs two power surges. At the time I knew nothing about smart meters and assumed it was other things. I blamed it on cheap LED light bulbs from the dollar store, cheaply-made electronics, the weather, overhead power lines, excetera.
    Our fire was so hot that it melted glass mason jars that were on the floor into glass sculpture. We lost absolutely everything and have no insurance. Most of my tools and equipment we’re in the barn and we’re destroyed. Anything outside within 20 feet or so was destroyed from the very intense heat.
    Southside Electric Cooperative was there in a flash the morning of the fire and took the smart meter. They will not take responsibility and refuse to restore power to our land so that we can start to rebuild our barn and chicken houses. The county we live in is no help and they did absolutely no fire inspection. A private fire inspection is a minimum of $7,500. I have a background in electrical work and I have done some of my own investigation. I have found very strong evidence that the fire was caused buy a high-voltage surge.
    We are financially devastated and facing bankruptcy now. A very kind soul donated an old RV to us to live in. We have small generators running for power and have been living like this ever since because we have no choice.
    Any advice would be greatly appreciated. It seems without money there’s not a whole lot you can do even when it’s so very clear that the electric company is at fault.if you have a smart meter on your house and especially if you experience these weird power surges please be careful and protect your family. We were extremely lucky that we weren’t home at the time.

  4. Check to make sure it is not a fake meter they are taking your ID and or stealing information or getting free TV/or computer or computer and or spying on your or in ground phone conversations! you! Also if you have a extra signal in it you bugged and or have electric harassment and you could be in a dangerous situation if allergic or have pets and their getting your information for later situations do to theft! A hand held regular radio will picks up those bug signals if that is what is happening! A real investigator told me this!

  5. I think someone is Powering in reverse up then letting it comeback big and like electric war!!!…back at USA to cause electric grid melt down! ..Check the hacker map it does not show computer or buildings being hacked it shows the colored lines hitting the ground!. They might be hacking under ground wires crossing the state or USA or targeting certain places!?
    or MAYBE ..someone down your own road for revenge maybe, using your IP and ID stealing… and “electric implant”s in them or you and reversed hacking for implant stalking’s and electric harassment! and it says electric can be allergy to humans also high pitch sounds! I wrote the FBI about this over in Wisconsin already and no one seems to listen so please take note!!

  6. Much thanks for your infinite patience in trying to educate those willing to change emf habits.
    My questions continue to concern those who seem to “choose” to stay passively and sometimes almost gratuitously in the grip of the global smart grid, often for possibly less educable reasons, driven toward self demise by (to me) unfathomable motives.

    Since 2011 I have known about and occasionally even witnessed so many heart and stroke incidents, some from wifi, many with brain fog, and especially mores after the installation of smart meters, so many that I have lost count.
    And many I know personally allow this to happen despite having alternative options. Why?
    I am back at square one, asking myself the same questions I have asked myself since I cured my own cancer (which btw, I see as and treated as a case of runaway fungus overgrowth and body ecology out of balance.
    knowthecause.com

    Why, I continue to wonder, are so many willing to die rather than change?

    Ever since the biggest threat ever to any home was first deployed via covert pilot smart projects, and then, a few years later, via the conspiratorial seeming global smart grid, what has stood out for me, even six years later, at least for here, is that most of what I see and read about is underpinned by an all too familiar pervasive sense of impotence, an unwillingness to tackle grid dependency, and a far reaching sense of mass helplessness, almost a case of self victimisation, examples of which one sees again and again, including in so many on line comments.
    If being a victim is now a calling, is feeling helpless worth dying for?
    In the mad search to take offence where none is intended, rampant everywhere these days, the urge to demand safe spaces free of micro aggressions, where is the common sense of outrage at being offended against by an aggressive damaging utility invading one’s own safe space? Are these people too digitally addicted to make obvious connections or do they simply not enjoy living?
    I grant that it is easier by far with 20/20 hindsight to assert that in this kind of war, one interim strategy one might have been to fully enclose one’s analogue meter inside the house envelope not simply a barricade, but a small locked addition, before it could be stolen by the power company.
    But even now, with escalating prices, increased surveillance, and growing illness, how many who could and can still afford to are prepared to do what is glaringly necessary, to find a way to leave their dangerously negligent utility, now that nearly every one of the utilities reveals itself as prepared to behave no differently than an enemy combatant?
    Of course it is the case that not everyone can afford to do so or even has a single family home or owns property. But what puzzles me is how many who can afford to go off grid still don’t.
    Statistically, at best 2% or the population choose to build or live off grid or are willing to go off grid.
    One can only suppose that this is why we hear not nearly enough about comfortable, stress free post grid life.
    I would love to see a website which would welcome the input of those who are either of a defiant frame of mind and/or who have figured out that smart meters lead to unaffordable power, or who are in a financial position to succeed in fighting this global assault by means of illegal electric shock, by doing what is urgently required, by leaving each one of these abusive power providers, by radically reducing energy usage in order to afford to become one’s own power contractors, if doable.
    Perhaps those who have done so do not bother to share their grid defections and successes on line. Or can find nowhere to do so. Sad, really, because what is needed right now is the other part of this story, balanced reporting. There seems to be a dearth of success stories to offset the tales of failure, a shortage of examples of strategic victories, a supply of happy outcomes where people do indeed manage to outwit the utility.
    Which of us does not want to be inspired by those who will do what it takes to leave energy dependency behind?
    Where are they hiding, those who are motivated to defeat this downward trend, rather than simply slowly succumbing to increasing utility abuse, electrical assault on private property, to accepting illegal encroaching electronic and wireless easements which have now shifted inside privately owned homes, taking over control of service panels, accepting as their lot more sickness, more fires, and even smart grid murders.
    Consider, at least in some cases, the many thousands of dollars some have already spent on trying, and then failing to benefit from repair damage at their own cost, after the fact, the source for which originates outside their control, from the power grid itself, thanks for global emf weaponised frequencies which will damage their properties yet again and again.
    Put differently, for the long haul, between this and exponentially raised costs to buy power form a utility, I have begun to wonder who can afford a smart meter at all, who can see far enough ahead to willingly continue to bear the escalating costs involved in staying on the grid, especially with these ongoing expenses?
    Who wants to keep on replacing multiple fried appliances, or to repeat hire electricians, ironically while making little difference, since pretty much anyone who stays on the grid will still remain at risk of a house fire, disease, even sudden or slow death.
    Common sense dictates that solving the problem at source is the only viable solution.
    Wouldn’t decoupling from an arson inducing grid just make sense for anyone who can afford to do so?
    Or, at a far lesser cost, would it not also make sense to try to locate any unavoidable smart meter well away from the house and trees, so that when these arson devices do catch fire or explode they will not take the house with them?
    Wouldn’t it be a logical choice to at very least install in one’s service panel or circuit box a suitable smart meter designed high grade industrial unit, the same kind used by commercial enterprises to save money by filtering out on-wiring surges and pulses? And then, in cases where a smart meter cannot be relocated well away from potential incendiary contact, would it not be a potentially worthwhile idea to at least install as much non flammable fire protection (brick? slate?) in a very wide area, all around, and especially above, and behind the meter wall, to whatever extent this is doable, inside and outside, if only to save the home from a future inevitable meter fires?
    It is only my opinion, but trying to solve the clear and present danger of arson risk which will not be going away, and which same risk is now built into the smart grid itself, by buying more electrical items which in turn will also burn out or catch fire may become necessary, sometimes over and over again, but this is not a solution.
    Even a small fraction of those sums which in essence may end up squandered on repeat replacement appliances should, wherever possible, go toward getting off this increasingly deadly smart grid altogether, getting out while the going is good, arranging to be disconnected after everything is in place.
    Otherwise, no ordinary surge suppressor will save any home, and any replacement appliances and electronic items will eventually in turn burn out too, because the root cause of the problem, which is the now completely corrupted smart microwave laden power grid itself, is a home invader who remains inside one’s home.
    Staying with a dangerous, indifferent, power abusing and customer abusive power company instead of getting off grid and turning one’s home into a safe house makes about as much sense as a dangerous decision to remain with an abusive spouse, even after they have very nearly killed you. Such a choice is the opposite of any survival instinct or any will to live.
    Smart meter blades are inherently too thin, the industry will not change this because they need those surges and pulses to enriched themselves. So the blades even when to installed incorrectly, will continue to cause arcing, they will never fit or ever become compatible with ay owner owned analogue meter base. These computer devices are inherently dangerous. But they will never change that fact, because, live or die, a smart meter makes a power company much more profitable. New meters bolted onto ageing infrastructure is not an upgrade. Utilities are no longer primarily in the energy delivery business, they are in the surveillance via data extraction business, so whether the customer lives or dies is irrelevant, since there will always be another data source to replace the data source which used ton e called a customer but is now called a consumer.
    And even if these computers – which are not meters, – were compatible, the fact is that analogue meters are grounded, while smart meters have no surge suppression and are not grounded. Ungrounded meters are inherently a threat, yet this is fully intentional. The design is done this way on purpose, in order to make more money from the unsuppressed pulses and surges. And if your house burns down, well, from their point of view, as with the Ford Pinto, the number of deaths is still manageable, pay outs here and there are factored into overall costs, simply collateral damage in this war.
    The only way to stop all of this is to get out, or try to stop all the pulses and surges as close to the distanced meter source as possible.
    The lack of suppression and the absence of grounding of pulses and surges is the main reason why people continue to get seriously ill, too. When you are connected to a smart grid, and worse, directly to a smart meter, your own bioelectrical body and brain and your spouse’s, children’s and pet’s bioelectrical bodies and brains become the involuntary conduits for power grid and power meter electrical currents. And that is what will eventually kill you. Everything innately electrical in your house, human, mammal, or otherwise, has instead been coupled to by the grid and has become forced into acting as the alternative ground wire route for the whole power grid. And neither you nor your appliances are designed to withstand this. If your appliances are frying, so are you.
    Still, it is heart breaking to read one story after another with so few significant grid shielding answers in sight after all this time, so much so that even reading about how this is continuing to happen to so many can vicariously increase one’s own sense of helplessness, even though of course the stories need to be told. But indignation and non solution only get us so far. Meanwhile, those who have been duped into living in totally unsafe and essentially illegally wired and uninsurable homes, all because either they either have no choice or feel they have none, or else they think they must stay on the grid, continue to throw money at the wrong end of this problem, after the fact, after the first and then second or third round of ongoing dangerous damages.
    That is money which perhaps in many cases could still be used, or could have been used, to buy a voltage regulator and a whole house professional surge protection solution. By which I do not mean shunt capacitors. Even an industrial grade suppressor in the service panel cannot save a damaged meter base from arcing and eating fire to house wires, but it would work to save the house itself from burning to the ground, by which I mean, installing an industrial grade smart meter specific Sine Tamer, which is a sine wave tracking device placed in the service panel, a device which attenuates surges and pulses before they can even surge and couple to the lines inside your home.
    This is the only truly effective way to filter out the surges coming from the smart grid power lines as well as from a smart meter or even from a cheaper solar power inverter. Better yet, since the owner’s own meter base is inescapably and hopelessly compromised by the presence of any smart meter, and even without a smart meter the house electrical system can remain at risk from the entire dirty power grid now in place nearly everywhere, the other option after reducing electrical needs, is that all of those sums spent to buy more appliances which in turn will burn out, could go toward a savings fund for the purchase of a generator sub panel and a good stationary or portable high end generator, as well as, or in place of, a small or medium sized portable or stationary off grid solar kit to used in conjunction with radically reduced energy usage, or to be put toward a larger whole house off grid system, anything is better than the “current” situation, of being repeatedly electrically shocked, over and over again.
    So what do you think stops so many who can afford it from acting on the urge to go off what has become a dangerous and often lethal privacy and home invading grid?
    Where are those who are willing and able to think far enough ahead to solve this by beating the power company at its own game?
    Why do even those able to afford to get off grid resign themselves to suffering instead, often needlessly?
    There is life after going off grid modestly, and I can attest that it is wonderful.
    Why is it still so rare?

  7. Hi my name is Renee and I live in Columbia Tn 45 minutes south of Nashville. I got sick in March of 2014 and in September I had to go out on disability from work. I have been to many Drs 4 ER’s and 2 specialists and the latter 2 diagnosed me with Fibromialsa (not sure how to spell that one) and Raynauds Disease. My next referral was to a neurologist which I never made because my short term ran out so my insurance did too. So I was left to my own resources to figure out why I was sick. My joints and muscles ache horribly my memory is not food anymore as well as my eyesight. My digestive system is bad and alot of the time my food tastes like metal and the list goes on. Myhair and skin has changed as well as my dogs. I had notice I said had 2 big oak trees in front of my home 1 was already cut down and the other died last summer along with 3 pine trees and alot of the plants in my home. I feel like I am full of static electricity. I also have those surges with my refrigerater along with flickering lights sometimes humming in the walls. I also hear a constant ringing in my ears which drives me nuts!!!! On one of my many nights of insomnia I stumbled across the smart meter on the internet and it wasn’t by accident either. I can’t feel most of my fingertips and they feel like plastic. Now I am into it with my electric company have been to 3 board meetings and they denied me my right to choose which totally makes me mad to say the leasswt because now I have astronimical bills and paying for something I don’t want I thought I lived in America where we had the right to make choices. I have been in my home since 1999 and I know this house better than my electric company which by the way my water is a smart meter too this monts water consumption $96 really and of course there are no leaks which I knew anyway but they are saying I must have had a running toilet again really and I wouldn’t notice that I felt like saying no I’m not stupid like you I check mine but I still HAVE to pay it cause they are always right with and I am always wrong. I need help please my mayor my legislatures and even the public utility review office asked me what a smart meter was well needless to say I called the commissioners office back in Washington and tole them that if they were going to give me names and numbers of people in my area that are put in a position to help consumers with issues like this that it would be nice to educate them about the products first what a joke Now I have to write a formal letter to Washington before they can even think about investigating it this is crazy!!!! Thank you for reading and I pray you contact me.

  8. According to research by TESCO smart meters are more prone to “hot socket” than analog meters. see http://emfsafetynetwork.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/TESCO-Lawton-on-Hot-Sockets.pdf
    If PGE will not fix this problem consider filing a formal complaint with the CPUC. A formal complaint would allow a hearing with a judge. The expedited complaint would be best avoided as there are no transcripts of the hearing. Here’s a description of their different complaint processes including forms: http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/43D7B57B-E8BA-4A04-B563-5F498548C536/0/ComplaintForm20121102.pdf

  9. Some ideas for you to check out. Excess voltage/ power surges the transformer cannot handle? Is there smart grid equipment on the pole near you? Have you looked into “hot socket” on your meter? Consider a whole house EMF filter? (contact Stetzer for more info +1 (608) 989-2571)
    I will also email you about going after PGE.

  10. While we do not have a SMART meter installed yet we are having the EXACT same issues as posted here. PGE has been trying to install a SMART meter and recently attempted to without our permission. We are rural with dogs and a locked gate so they cannot access our meter thank God. We had a fire out at our pole and we believe the transformer caught on fire. We looked outside heard crackling and something melting was dripping from the pole and PGE came out that night. Never really inspected our lines coming from the pole to our house, said “sometimes it happens” and said he replaced the connections at the transformer to the drop. A lineman came out next day, looked up at it where the drop attaches to the weatherhead (without a ladder) and said “the connections look fine” and left. At a later date they installed some “bird diverters” out on the high voltage line. Few months later our well pump went out. We never even thought it could have had to do with the PGE issue. $5000 out of pocket. Since then over the past few years we would have power outages, which PGE would recognize and stated they were working on the problem. Being in a rural area we kind of expect it every so often. However; in the last year we’ve had a power outage out here from a fatal car accident. Months later, another one from an accident. We looked outside, heard the sirens, etc. We noticed a few red lights glowing out on the high voltage lines that we have never seen before. The next day, our son’s tv literally blew up. Huge boom sound, smoke, cracked the screen. Convection oven went out, dvd player, high end coffee maker, now our newer fridge is out and our front loading washer and dryer aren’t working properly, etc. The list goes on. Brighter than normal lights, brown outs, etc. Called electrician out. Panel has to be replaced. Readings coming to our panel from PGE are 190+ on one side and 50 something on the other! We cannot use our appliances, lighting in most of the house, and are afraid to actually. We now have to have our entire panel replaced (to the tune of $2600 more). We are afraid PGE is going to jerk us around submitting a claim, but cannot take this any more! Has anyone been successful in submitting a claim? We are in a terrible position (using ice chests, etc) but have to have this work done asap and know this cant be a coincidence. Advice? Feedback?

  11. We had one leg of the 240v 100A service read 116v, while the other read 124. Our renters reported the power going out in part of the house, and there were no popped circuit breakers. Finally one day I was able to measure one leg going to zero volts. I figured that one of the connections must be corroded, so worked on them – no change. I finally called PG&E, and after explaining what I had done, the technician opened the panel and pulled the smart meter. One of the plug connectors was significantly discolored, and the meter pin was so hot you could not touch it. The technician and I worked on the connector enough to get it working, but I was told that I needed to replace the connector. It turns out that Eaton (the box manufacture) no longer makes the box or has any replacement parts. This means that I need to replace the entire box, which PG&E tells me requires a building permit. PG&E has not been very responsive or helpful concerning this incident, other than the technician getting the circuit back up. Note really sure what my next steps are.

  12. 4 major problems on 3 different major appliances in 3 months—not mathematically probable—-AC capacitor died in June, Refig evaporator died in July, AC blower died in Aug and now AC not starting up—-ALL EVENTS OCCURRED AFTER “SMART METER” was installed in MAY

  13. “Digital meters—whether or not “smart”—cause dirty electricity to flow through your home’s wiring. The problem is what is called the “switched mode power supply.” Switched mode power supplies are used to run the digital meter (whether a smart meter or DTE’s radio-off opt-out meter).In order for a smart meter to be powered, the 240 volts coming off the power line to the meter must be stepped down to 4–10 volts. A switched mode power supply is the device used to step down the voltage from 240 volts to 4-10 volts. This generates an enormous amount of what is commonly known as “dirty electricity” and referred to by electricians and electrical engineers as “voltage transients,” “voltage harmonics,” “line noise,” and “power quality issues.”

    “Dirty electricity is a spiky, pulsed, highly variable electrical current that rides through all the circuitry of a building. It has devastating health effects… ”

    http://www.smartmetereducationnetwork.com/index.php

  14. I have a duplex. A little less than a year ago, my downstairs neighbor allowed a smart meter to be installed. Shortly after that, her microwave went out, the stove’s electronic ignition went out, her computer went out, her electric drier went out. I had two electricians come out and check things out. The first found no problem. The second changed two circuit breakers and tightened up all the screws on all the outlets and switches. We thought that solved the problem. Now, however, she is reporting problems with her (new) microwave as well as her computer. As for my unit — no “smart” meter and no electrical problems!

  15. This attorney already won at least one case against a smart meter fire: Contact Brad Leigh at the Leigh Law Firm (281) 419-3476.

  16. Wow!, very interesting to bump into this website. I am with a Smart Meter in the ONCOR system in the DFW (Dallas) area and have lived in my home for almost 13yrs with no electrical problems with the analog meter.
    Problem with voltage in the house, surges in the form of our lights getting too bright when we turn on our kitchen compactor or microwave and breakers tripping off, my computer power supply replaced also replaced 2 Belkin surge protectors because of problem with voltage.
    I have independent certified electrician come over to check for problems and he found no problems with the wiring in the house. This is what the Master Electrician found:
    **When there is a LOAD added to any leg, the voltage drops to 89 on one leg and 138 on the other leg. Neutral and Ground tested and are correct**.
    My problems started shortly after the new digital smart meter was installed and did not realize it till now that I have the master electrician confirm it. I have replaced many electronics in my house, including my outside A/C unit compressor that cost me $1500 to replace and I am afraid it will go out again with the voltage in my house going up and down or worst yet my house may catch fire when no body home. My problem is with the smart meter and the electric company is responsible for my damages. I am considering hiring a lawyer. I need some advice please.

  17. Okay, I haven’t experienced any damage to equipment or PCs, but, I have now had two (2) unexplainable “drop outs” on clear, low wind days … going on the 2nd year with a Smart Meter in the ONCOR system in the DFW (Dallas) area … just for the record I thought I would post this.

    Further info: A front (rare for that to happen in July for us!) moved through last evening, and today skies are clear, temps are moderate (90 deg F at the moment) at about 3:45 PM CST in the afternoon with light to negligible winds.

    When this ‘drop out’ occurs, it is only for an instance, and then ‘things’ power back up. I think the last time this happened either the TV or the PC didn’t shutdown/reset so didn’t require a reboot when power came back. That event was also on a clear, low to no wind day.

    PS. I’m an engineer with wireless, embedded micro/firmware and some power electronics experience as was as being a longtime ‘ham’ radio operator. The event prior to today’s I also had a LW (about 250 kHz) receiver on and didn’t detect any arcing or ‘static’ (lightning) discharges taking place … I have noted ‘arcs’ or nearby lightning strikes when power has been lost in the past (storms, cars hitting power poles on this distribution circuit etc.) … One might say these ‘events’ were well-observed by myself when they took place.

    _Jim

  18. Chuck, Sounds really interesting. I don’t have that software. Perhaps there is another way to get the images to me. Rob States is nearby andI know him but is is always very busy. Have you checked with Dave Stetzer? Call me at 916-395-7336 PT Sacramento.

    Here is a video I made about DE & HFVT. https://www.dropbox.com/s/1xz9r2je2kftia3/00012.MTS

    Check this link to see what I have been doing with the local utility.
    http://stopsmartmeters.org/2013/05/13/sacramento-smart-meter-awareness-finally-wins-the-official-right-to-an-analog-after-much-blood-sweat-and-tears/

    Hope to hear from you soon!

    Eric

  19. Hi Eric,

    I have Fluke ScopeMeter 4 channel data from cow contact testing, if you have Fluke 5.1 software, I can send it to you.

    I am in Minnesota and wondering if the cows are telling us just exactly how sensitive they truly are.

    I have an email in to Rob States as well.

    We are simply looking for answers on how to mitigate this if the captures we have are truly from AMR (automatic meter readers). I must say the answers I have received from the AMR company and the utility make me far more curious and perhaps therefore more in need of good information.

    Thank you so very much for responding!
    Please let me know if you are interested in the data or how we could visit if you would be so kind.

  20. Chuck,

    What type of data have you captured? I have scope shots of the SMPS transients that the SM puts on the wiring. Where are you located? How can we collaborate? Please advise.

  21. I am wondering if anyone has connected a ScopeMeter to the power supply to look at and capture, if wanted, the waveforms and voltage sags and swells that may be occurring in the homes?

    We have captured some very interesting data but have not been able to determine if the automatic meter reader (ARM) may be the cause of this. Does anyone have expert knowledge of the different ARM’s and Smart Meters and is willing to share information to help us all understand them better?

  22. So this is interesting. At my last rental, they put in Smart Meters about a year or two after I moved in. I coincidentally blew a large number of surge protectors during the later years I lived there, so I bought power conditioning UPS’ and they kicked in several times a day. I hired an independent electrician to come check everything out, and he found 0 problems. Without understanding more about the inner workings of a Smart Meter, I can’t agree with the findings yet, but I find it interesting fire chiefs have noticed this as well.

  23. I too am a victim of a smart meter in Pennsylvania. The day my new smart meter was installed I was home and experienced a power surge like I’ve never seen before! There was literally electricity in the air, it had a sound and light bulbs exploded, fixtures were smoking, arcing occurred in the service panel, surge protectors burnt, appliances failed and even wire nuts in outlets, switches and junction boxes melted! To this date the electric company and it’s subcontractor have denied any responsibility for their product or their actions. I have had to file a homeowners insurance claim and estimated damage is in the several thousands and they are trying to settle for less than the amount of damage! I’ve also had to hire and attorney. I am looking to get into contact with other victims…WE all need our voices heard! Admin can you help?

  24. We have stories from two fire captains that smart meters are a fire hazard. A wrongful death suit was settled by PG&E in CA, that was smart meter related- Find an attorney who can help you recover your losses. They need to be held responsible for this. Document everything in writing. Sandi

  25. ON ABOUT 4/1/2013 I WENT TO USE MY MICRO WAVE AND MY POWER STARTED ACTING UP. LIGHTS WERE FLICKERING AND MICROWAVE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS STARVING FOR POWER. I REMEMBER THINKING IT HAD TO DO WITH THE SMART METER THAT NV ENERGY IN LAS VEGAS INSTALLED ON MY HOUSE WHICH I ADAMENTLY TOLD THE INSTALLER I DIDN’T WANT ON MY HOUSE. THEY WENT IN MY YARD ANYWAY WHILE I WAS AT WORK AND PUT IT ON. THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL DAYS IN A ROW. ON 4/5/2013 I CAME HOME FROM WORK AT JUST ABOUT SUNDOWN. WHEN I TURNED MY LIGHTS ON THEY WERE WORKING KINDA STRANGE GOING FROM BRIGHT TO DIM AND FLUXUATING. THEN I TURNED ON MY SWAMP COOLER AND IT WAS LIKE A BIG DRAW ON MY POWER, I TURNED IT BACK OFF AND GOT SUSPICIOUS ENOUGH TO GET ON THE INTERNET AND SEARCH SMART METERS. AS I WAS OPENING AN INTERESTING PAGE TITLED “SECRETS ABOUT SMART METERS”, THE LIGHTS ABOVE ME STARTED FLICKERING THEN GOING VERY VERY BRIGHT. IT GOT SO BRIGHT THEY WERE LIKE HOLOGEN LIGHTS AND IT SCARED ME ENOUGH TO TURN THEM OFF FAST. I KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG SO I OPENED MY BACK DOOR AND WAS SHOCKED TO SEE MY WORK SHOP WITH BILLOWING BLACK PUFFY CLOUDS OF SMOKE. HAVING ONCE BEEN A FIREFIGHTER IN THE PAST I KNEW THAT WAS A SIGN THAT IT WAS VERY VERY HOT AND THAT THIS WAS GOING TO BE A DEVASTATING FIRE. AFTER THE FIRE WAS OUT I WAS SITTING IN MY HOUSE WITH MY TWO DOGS DIGESTING THE FACT THAT MY SHOP WAS TOTALED ALONG WITH ABOUT 20K WORTH OF MY TOOLS, AND I HAVE NO INSURANCE, WHEN THE POWER WENT OUT. I KNEW THE FIRE WAS OUT SO I FIGURED THEY WERE WORKING ON IT FOR WHAT EVER REASON. THEN THEY CALLED ME OUTSIDE FOR A GUY FROM NV ENERGY TO EXPLAIN TO ME THAT THEY TURNED MY POWER OUT TO CHECK THE LINES THAT WERE ABOVE MY SHOP. THE GUY SAID THE LINES WERE FINE BUT THAT ONE OF THE CLIPS THAT THE METER PLUGS INTO WAS BROKE AND FOR HIM TO TURN MY POWER ON I HAVE TO GET THE THING FIXED CALL FOR AN INSPECTION THEN HE CAN TURN MY POWER BACK ON. HOW DID IT GET BROKEN? THEY BROKE IT AND NOW I HAVE TO FIX IT.. NOW TWO WEEKS LATER I AM STILL WITHOUT POWER, I HAVE TO APPLY FOR A PERMIT TO REPAIR MY ELECTRICAL AND IT’S STILL COSTING ME MONEY. THE ARSON INVESTIGATER TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THIS FIRE. I TOLD HIM ABOUT MY POWER SURGES PRIOR TO THE FIRE AND THIS MAN DID NOT EVEN LOOK AT THE METER. IN THE MEAN TIME NV ENERGY TOOK THE METER AND SENT ME MY FINAL BILL. THESE PEOPLE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MY 30 TO 40K LOSS AND I’M AFRAID I CAN NOT HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

  26. I’ve VERY INTERESTED in this! We just lost 8 major appliances and a surge protector, 2 light fixtures, and 2 wall outlets (one of them made us think our washer had burned up also). On two of these occasions we had to call the fire department! We have owned this house since it was built! It’s been remodeled over and over and kept up through the years. We only had to call the fire department once in all those years and it was because an older refrigerator was shorting out and smoking. These last two calls were just 2-3 months apart! And our house was on fire inside the walls because of power surges sent through our outlets. All of these other things occurred just after they installed the “smart meters!” We were not given a choice. They just knocked on our front door and said they were installing new meters for the electric department and if we had any compupters on that we should cut them off till they got finished. We were not even told that they were a different kind of meter! And now after I realized that no one has the kind of “Bad Luck” that we’ve been having, I remembered them installing the new meters. Then I heard about the “smart meters” on WNOX Radio Station. It was a talk show and they had one of the mothers that was arrested over the “smart meters.”

  27. Hi David- I am aware of this case which started with a burned out computer- humming noises in the home- and a fire that started in a swamp cooler that killed the occupant- all after a smart meter installation. Can you please keep us informed about this case? Thanks, Sandi

  28. This is stunning. Our house which was built in the 50’s is experiencing similar things. I’ve noticed our new energy star refrigerator has been running oddly – the motor speeding up and slowing down intermittently. Our lights are also dimming and brightening. We do not have a ‘smart meter’ exactly. I refused installation of one, however, recently found out that SMUD (Sacramento Municipal Utility District) had swapped out our analog meter in 2007 without our permission. They gave us a ‘digital itron meter’. Come to find out, this is a pre-smart meter. It was originally pinged by a drive by truck to be read, but I just found out via a public information request to SMUD, that it is sending out RF signals (emissions) every 30 seconds! Aha! It’s not as bad as the 13,000 and up emissions from smart meters, but still significant. No wonder I’ve suffered so many symptoms and believe my family is also experiencing health issues related to this dirty electricity and RF/EMF pollution. SMUD refuses to allow us to retain or regain our analog meters, unlike PG&E who is granting this to customers making this request. SMUD’s original opt out fee was $127 with a $39.40 per month thereafter charge. They also insist on installing a ‘radio free, non-communicating’ digital meter instead of allowing customers who have opted out to keep or return to analogs. I don’t trust them. Like PG& E, they originally said that their smart meters only sent out emission every 4 hrs. or 6 times/day. We knew that was a lie and got the SMUD board to admit the truth. Their smart meters send out RF blasts 13,000 to 240,000 times per day. SMUD has not informed all of their customers about their opt out. They told the 3,000 plus who originally refused smart meters that they had no choice. Of those that still said no, many were violated when meters were installed in spite of their requests not to have them. One of my friends intercepted the installers and stopped them. They came back later when she wasn’t home and did it anyway. This happened to others as well who had officially called and written letters stating they did not grant permission for installation of a smart meter. After the 3,000 who refused smart meters were informed of SMUD’s prohibitory opt-out charges, most capitulated and accepted smart meters. About 350 did not and defended their analog meters. Since the number of opt outs is now so low, SMUD has ‘benevolently’ lowered the monthly opt out fee to $14/month, but is still charging the $127 one time fee and has retroactively charged others who refused SM installations the $39.40/month. SMUD has still not informed ALL of their customers that there is an opt out. We are fighting SMUD on this and continue to push for our right to have an analog meter. I want my analog meter back. This is criminal. SMUD needs to be held accountable for such reckless and dishonest behavior.

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