Contact: Joshua Hart, StopSmartMeters.Org
Tuesday, November 1st 2011 info@stopsmartmeters.org
Widening Call for Immediate Return of Analogs; Disconnection of “Mesh” Wireless Network
SANTA CRUZ, CA—Just as PG&E enters the final phase of its deployment of wireless “smart” meters in California, the largest of the state’s Investor Owned Utilities (IOU’s) has reversed course, quietly beginning to replace the ‘smart’ meters of those reporting health impacts with the old trusty analog version. Consumer rights and health groups immediately seized on the news, demanding that millions of Californians unhappy with their new wireless meters get their analogs returned immediately at no cost.
‘Smart’ meters are new wireless utility meters being installed as part of the “smart” grid initiative, spearheaded by technology firms and backed by the Obama administration and the Department of Energy. Promises ranging from lower utility bills to enhanced renewable generation capacity have failed to materialize, with widespread reports of higher bills, privacy violations, fires and explosions, and commonly reported health impacts such as headaches, nausea, tinnitus, and heart problems associated with powerful wireless transmissions. Widely disparate political groups- from members of the Green Party to the Tea Party and Occupy protesters have attacked the program, and dozens of grassroots organizations have sprouted up over the past several months to fight what they call an undemocratic, unconstitutional and dangerous assault on people in their own homes and neighborhoods. Dozens of people have been detained or arrested for peaceful civil disobedience and even simply speaking out against deployments.[1]
In California, more than 47 cities and counties have demanded a halt to installation, and a dozen local governments have passed laws prohibiting the controversial technology. [2] The ‘smart’ meter issue has further angered a public already seething at the utilities over repeated gas explosions, safety breaches at nuclear reactors, and an increasingly extortionate rate structure. Word of California’s ‘smart’ meter nightmare has spread across the country and around the world, prompting some utilities to place smart meter plans on hold, and recently Nevada’s PUC to call for investigations into the health effects and other smart meter problems.[3]
Now in a dramatic turnaround that could signal the beginning of a widespread recall of wireless ‘smart’ meters, on October 28th PG&E re-installed a classic spinning disc analog meter on the home of Santa Cruz, CA resident Caitlin Phillips, who had been suffering headaches and other symptoms from her ‘smart’ meter. The move comes in response to verbal directives from the California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey, who recently told members of the public that the utility “will provide for you to go back to the analog meter if that’s your choice.” The CPUC has been slow to respond to thousands of ordinary citizens reporting health effects from the new meters.
When a Wellington Energy installer (contracted with PG&E) came to install a smart meter at her home, Caitlin asked the installer to get off her property and not install, because of what a neighbor had told her about possible health damage and privacy violations. “When I returned home later, I discovered a smart meter on my house. That night I awoke to severe anxiety, headache, and buzzing in my teeth, and realized the new smart meter was on the other side of the wall from my bed.” Caitlin reported her experience to PG&E and the CPUC, who both declined to rectify the situation. When the symptoms persisted, Caitlin sought the assistance of the Scotts Valley based group Stop Smart Meters! who provided an analog meter and referred her to a professional who could help her remove her ‘smart’ meter. As soon as the analog was installed, Caitlin’s symptoms disappeared.
Frustrated and outraged about her treatment by the utility and the PUC, Caitlin travelled to San Francisco to speak at a commission meeting on Oct. 20th. About a week later, PG&E crews were at her house replacing her temporary analog meter with a brand new official PG&E analog meter. This is believed to be the first time PG&E have willingly replaced an analog meter on the home of someone suffering from health effects.[4]
An “opt-out” proceeding overseen by an Administrative Law Judge is underway at the CA Public Utilities Commission, yet those suffering (in some cases severe) health impacts have been stuck in limbo as utilities refuse to remove the harmful meters upon request- until now.
“There are hundreds of thousands- if not millions- of people suffering in their homes from forced ‘smart’ meter radiation,” said Joshua Hart, Director of the grassroots organization Stop Smart Meters! “The utilities and PUC’s must respond promptly to all requests that analogs be returned. The alternative is that people will increasingly turn to independent professionals to remove unwanted ‘smart’ meters from their homes, a reasonable action we assert is within our legal rights. Protecting your family’s health is not tampering.”
PG&E and other utilities have also been responding to health complaints by replacing wireless ‘smart’ meters with digital meters that are “wireless-ready.” These digital meters have been associated with health problems from “dirty electricity” frequencies that pass into a home via the electrical wiring. These “trojan horse” meters have been roundly rejected by those who report continuing health impacts after installation. Susan Brinchman, Director of San Diego based Center for Electrosmog Prevention. said “At this point, the burden of responsibility is on the utilities to demonstrate that any new meter they want to install on our homes is safe. Communities have the right to retain analog meters at no extra charge. Period.”
~end~
[1] http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2010/12/29/2-arrests-at-pge-smartmeter-protest-in-marin-county/
[2] Full list of opposed local governments: http://stopsmartmeters.org/how-you-can-stop-smart-meters/sample-letter-to-local-government/ca-local-governments-on-board/
[4] Video of the switchout can be viewed at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IjC4BEZxLg
—
Joshua Hart
Director, Stop Smart Meters!
http://stopsmartmeters.org
Sky
Dec 02, 2012 @ 03:28:32
I’d like to help in any way I can. I have noticed health problems with my 4 and 1 year old since it’s been installed. I demanded it be removed and they did but only to replace it with one that looks just as suspicious. I don’t see the spinning disc on this one and was wondering how I know they didn’t just remove one model and replace it with another that does the same thing. Any help would be great
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brian allen
Sep 07, 2012 @ 12:22:57
i stopped them from putting a smart meter on my unit but within a week a cancer appeared on my head both my neighbors had them installed and they are close i live in geelong victoria
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escapefromobamastan
Nov 09, 2011 @ 05:16:34
I live in Dallas. I refused the Smart Meter installation THREE TIMES. They tried to get in my back yard and my dogs (2 pit bulls and a german shepherd discouraged them). I woke up early one morning to them putting a ladder up on the side of my house. Before I could get dressed and get my gun they had installed the meter and put a lock on it and hauled ass. Not long after the installation I started having muscle and joint aches (hurting badly), more headeaches than normal, dizziness, nausea and fatigue. I AM REALLY PISSED!
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Discerning
Nov 04, 2011 @ 13:41:55
My daughter posted one of your Stop Smartmeters stickers on her box in Attleboro,Mass and she just called me and told me the utility company had torn it off and installed a smartmeter against her will.How does she demand they re-install the analog back asap? Sample letter? Can you contact them? She has two little girls and this behavior by the utility is arrogant and illegal??
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Dan Martin
Nov 04, 2011 @ 00:24:44
Hooray! Another ‘conspiracy theory’ makes its way to the front page.
And, thanks to alternative news, it is taking less time than ever.
Kudos to all who spread the word.
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GOOD NEWS FROM CALIFORNIA: Joshua Hart, Stop Smart Meters Director: PG&E BEGINS REMOVING ‘SMART’ METERS DUE TO HEALTH EFFECTS « GREGORY PAUL MICHAEL HARTNELL
Nov 03, 2011 @ 17:27:52
Bill Woollam
Nov 03, 2011 @ 16:28:50
I also have compiled some additional research with links regarding the downside of smart meter installation.
Just search “Stop Smart Meter Installation – Legal Letter”
In the webpage is contained a number of video interviews with the experts.
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Ellen
Nov 03, 2011 @ 00:16:14
This should help us with out battle here in Texas. Yea! I am so happy for those folks that are getting to go back to their analog meter. People power is a good thing.
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azgirl7
Nov 02, 2011 @ 03:05:55
I don’t believe my eyes. Now I just have to demand that the 3 “Digital Meters” and one Smart Meter be removed from the wall behind my living room in my 4 plex apt! I hope that Unisource Energy in AZ will be as wise as PG&E, and change the same predatory course that PG&E was on! We’ll see what I can get done here.
I wrote a scathing article today about this, with the belief that I would never get relief. Thank you California freedom fighters and the 47 cities and counties who said NO for leading the way! Thank you Hawaii and Nevada for standing up for sanity and the people.
It still doesn’t change the fact that our government threw away a few more billion on a plan they SHOULD have known would push us over the edge, and the way the big shots were instructed to treat us!! And I won’t change my mind that they KNEW this would hurt us, and that was in fact their agenda. Yes, Agenda 21 and the desired de-population!
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John Houlgate
Nov 01, 2011 @ 22:57:49
Congratulations Joshua. Very nice victory for personal liberty!
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