analog – EMF Safety Network

Wonder what happened to PG&E’s analog meters?

The Division of Ratepayer Advocates (DRA) is a consumer advocacy division within the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC). The DRA’s statutory mission is “to obtain the lowest possible rate for service consistent with reliable and safe service levels. In fulfilling this goal, DRA also advocates for customer and environmental protections.”

The DRA asked PG&E to explain what they did with the analog meters after they removed them and installed Smart Meters. PG&E responded that although they could have gotten $1 each ($1 x millions of meters) but because the vendors wanted the meters “sorted, boxed, and palletized”, PG&E decided selling the meters was not cost-effective. Instead PG&E disposed of millions of analog meters for free to scrap metal recyclers.

“The chosen recyclers were able to pick up the meters at no cost to PG&E and the decision was therefore made to use the cost-free recycling approach to dispose of removed meters.”

See full response from PG&E here: PG&E analog meters.

PG&E supports analog meter option

In Reply Comments sent to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today PG&E declared its support of an analog meter option. “PG&E supports approval of an analog meter option, in addition to the non-communicating radio-off option, in response to customers’ and parties’ continued requests for an analog meter alternative in Opening Comments, as well as in customers’ direct communications to PG&E and the Commission.”

“PG&E has received the very clear message that some customers will only be satisfied with an analog meter option.”

This is a major concession from PG&E. However, we still need the CPUC to hear loud and clear that we need:

a no cost analog opt-out, no initial or monthly fees

meters co-located in banks banned and restored to analogs

immediate restoration of analog meters for people suffering health impacts

evidentiary hearings and investigation into RF health impacts

Community wide opt-outs and safe zones

It will be up to the Commission to decide what they do with PG&E’s concession and whether or not they will include an analog option, and whether or not that will apply to utilities statewide.

Listen to a short radio interview with Sandi Maurer from KSRO news.

How to remove the dumb meter

Dumb Meters are costing us money, privacy and our health and safety. People are getting sick from exposure to the microwave pulses dumb meters transmit. Experts are warning against them.

Many people have asked how to get rid of one, once it’s on their house. Some people took matters in their own hands, including Caitlyn Phillips. Caitlyn Phillips, a Santa Cruz resident recently had an analog meter successfully restored by PG&E. Caitlyn complained in person to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). She told them how she was deceived, threatened, had anxiety and headaches from the new meter and had subsequently changed back to the analog meter herself. Within a week PG&E made the switch to their own analog.

“The CPUC announced at its last public meeting that PG&E would provide an analog meter to this customer and we have worked closely with the customer to address their concerns,” said PG&E’s Greg Snapper.

If you want a dumb meter removed and your requests to the utility have failed, you may need to purchase an analog (707) 472-2407, hire an electrician and restore the meter, then follow up by attending a CPUC meeting. Here’s another source for analog meters: http://www.hialeahmeter.com/siphwame.html

The next CPUC meetings are scheduled for November 10, December 1 and December 15. Unless otherwise noted, meetings begin at 9 a.m. and are held in the CPUC Auditorium at 505 Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. Arrive by 8:45 to sign up to speak to the Commission, or sign up online before the meeting. You will be given between 1-3 minutes depending on how many people want to speak. Public comments start at the beginning of each meeting. Request the return of the analog meter, do not accept the “radio off” meter. Check the CPUC calendar for possible meeting changes.

For people outside of the bay area call the Public Advisor’s office at 866-849-8390 or 415-703-2074 and ask for accommodations to participate in the CPUC meeting by phone during public comments. Call at least three days prior to the meeting.

More on Caitlyn’s story from Stop Smart Meters!

Update: In the City of Glendale CA persistence pays off for a customer who was suffering heart palpitations and headaches after a “smart”meter was installed. Complaints to the local Glendale Water and Power Company brought relief as they restored the analog meter on her home.

Peevey OKs Analogs!

On Thursday September 22, at the California Public Utilities Commission business meeting, President Michael Peevey told Chandu Vyas, who’s been suffering from headaches, that he could talk to PG&E and they would provide that he “could go back to the analog meter”. President Peevey directed Mr. Vyas to contact Mr. Sidney Bob Dietz, whose number is: 415-973-5921.

If you want to remove your Smart Meter and have an analog restored, contact Mr. Dietz, or contact Thomas Bottorff, 415-973-3889.

President Peevey could not just allow Mr. Vyas his analog, without allowing others, right?

Woman restores analog meter to protect husband

Susan Beckman, a children’s TV show producer who lives near Lompoc in Santa Barbara County, has removed a Smart Meter from her home and replaced it with an analog meter to protect her husband. In response to this act Susan stated a PG&E representative has threatened to “bring the police and turn off her power.”

Misled by PG&E into thinking she could refuse the new meter when the installers arrived, a Smart Meter was installed without her knowledge. She started to hear a buzz and a loud hum in the house and noticed feeling extremely fatigued with aching joints, a rash and feeling flu-like. After some investigation she discovered the new meter on her house. She was also very concerned about her husband. She writes, “My 89 year old husband has had cancer removed and the smart meter installed a few feet from where he spends about 80% of his time in his den.”

Susan then called PG&E and spoke to several representatives with whom she said made “demeaning comments” and they refused to remove the meter. Finally, she talked with one who was actually sympathetic who told her she could buy an analog meter and replace it, which she did, with her own hands, with guidance from an electrician. She said she, “wore gloves, turned the main power off, clipped the lock, took the collar off and used a lot pressure to pull it off.” The electrician checked it out and verified it was done correctly.

She then sent registered letters, reviewed by her attorney to PG&E. In an email to the California Public utilities Commission Susan writes that PG&E Smart Meter agent “Dennis Weidman, before losing his patience and hanging up on me, said tomorrow he will bring the police and turn off our electricity.”

To be continued…

9/23/2011 PG&E has not turned off her power and a local newspaper wrote up her story:

Local woman confronts PG&E over ‘smart meter’

Tell the CPUC- Restore the Analog Meters!

If you are a California utility customer, please send this new letter- Restore the Analog Meters! to the California Public Utilities Commission. Its a quick and simple way to get the message to those who have mandated the program and who have the authority to fix the problem. Many people need immediate relief and the Commissioners are the decision makers that can provide it. In California there are five Commissioners:

Mike Florio 415-703-1840
Catharine Sandoval 415-703-2593
President Michael Peevey 415-703-3703
Timothy Simon 415-703-1407
Mark Ferron 415-703-2782

Please circulate this letter to others in California. If you do not live in Caifornia, feel free to copy and distribute for your own state PUC as well.

UPDATE: When you call the Commissioners they may tell you to call Harold Williams. Harold is not a decision maker, and do not be fooled into calling elsewhere. Ask to speak to the Commissioner adviser and tell them what you want.

Empowering choices

According to PG&E over 16,000 people have signed up to opt out of Smart Meters. Thousands more have posted signs, built cages or locked up their analog meters. Then there are thousands of people stuck with a Smart Meter who want it removed, and neither the utilities nor the utility regulators will help them. In some situations customers have had to make extreme, but empowering choices because they have been abandoned by the system.

After two months of heart attack symptoms and trips to the hospital, a utility customer took matters into his own hands. He bought an analog meter from a supply store, hired an electrician and replaced the Smart Meter with the analog. After all, neither PG&E nor the CPUC was listening, and this was a matter of life or death.

Another woman could no longer live in her home after a Smart Meter was installed. She experienced headaches, sleep and neurological problems. Unlike others, in similar situations who were forced to moved, she also purchased an analog, hired an electrician, and replaced the Smart Meter with the analog. She writes, ” I bought the “AC Killowatt-Hour Meter” from Real Goods (707) 472-2407. My electrician was hesitant, so I used a former Wellington employee who once installed Smart Meters. Then I locked up my new analog meter as shown on the picture. The chain goes around the meter, and around the pipe above and below the meter.”

Update October 9, 2011.

Earlier I wrote “Tampering with a utility meter is a crime , but isn’t it also criminal that serious Smart Meter health complaints are continuing to be ignored and people are suffering from these meters which are not only a health threat, but for some a daily nightmare.”

My mistake. Tampering is a crime, but we needed to define tampering. The EMF Safety Network has retained a lawyer and learned more about tampering laws. Please see Tampering defined.

In addition Christoper Myers, PG&E representative has asked us to include safety information about swapping meters, including that PG&E personnel are trained, and follow specific safety procedures when removing meters. They wear hard hats, goggles and fire retardant clothing. If you have any questions about the safety of meter removal PG&E asks you to contact them directly at 1-800-743-5000.

Call to Skip Smart Meters

All investor owned utilities in California have been ordered by the CPUC to provide a delay list. Call your utility to skip Smart Meters.

PG&E 877-743-7378
SCE 1-800-810-2369
SDG&E 1-800-411-7343
So Cal Gas 877-238-0090

You can counter their Smart Meter propaganda by insisting that you want to have the analog meter retained or restored at no cost!