THE SMART METER REBELLION
What everyone should know about those new energy efficient light bulbs
Across the United States a growing rebellion is starting to gain momentum as reports about SMART METERS have begun to find their way into to local newspapers, radio, and television news. In California, as Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), began to roll-out their SMART Meter installation program, residents began to learn more about these meters, in many cases learning this lesson the hard way as some of their bills skyrocketed upward at alarming rates.
Health questions began to increase, not only about the meters themselves, but the cell towers needed for transmission of the SMART Meter signals, and the SMART Meter Relay Antennas that have begun to show up along rural roads in California. Many are asking their local, city, and state elected representatives to stop this process until all impacts can be evaluated. We know that these types of SMART Meter signals may disrupt pacemakers and other similar medical devices. And it should be clear that hospitals, which ask cell-phone users to turn off their cell phones when inside, should protected from these types of signals.
The rebellion, here in California, started in Southern California where local residents began protests that have spread across California. This issue has spread throughout California and many other states are getting involved in this debate. The SMART Meter rebellion has been gaining momentum as the big push to put SMART meters on every home, business, school, apartment, and every place where electricity or natural gas is metered. (The change-out has also included the installation of natural gas SMART meters to replace the older existing meters.) It is a topic we all need to know more about as the installation of SMART meters sweeps across California and the United States.
PG&E in California has rolled out the program with $Millions in television, radio, and print media advertising (being paid by ratepayers in California). Their goal is to SMART Meter the entire State of California without residents having the option to permanently “opt-out”. This issue will be decided this September by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). (In other states different options may be available for residents-for information on how to “opt-out” in California see[7] below or file a complaint with the California PUC.) [8]
PG&E in California and Texas [16] have also been having problems with defective Smart Meters [14] [15], overbilling problems, questions about privacy, and ease of hackers hacking into the system.[17] The list of Smart Meter problems keeps growing. In California, the latest revelation in the S.F. Chronicle on May 3, 2011, is that PG&E has installed some SMART Meters that overcharged customers when the SMART Meter interior temperature reached 100 degrees.[18] PG&E has agreed to remove these defective meters put will only rebate customers $40.00+/- even though the meters may have overcharged each customer over time hundreds or thousands of dollars.
In addition, PG&E is being forced into an customer “opt-out” position because people are refusing these meters. The California Public Utility Commission will make a ruling for California residents in September 2011, on whether there will be an “opt-out” option for PG&E customers. The problem is that PG&E wants huge amounts of money paid to them for a possible “opt-out” option and also may elect to encumber our property in the event we want to sell, in order to collect additional money from ratepayers. California residents are not in favor of these “opt-out” options. Also it means that middle, low, and those on fixed incomes (like seniors), would not be able to afford to “opt-out” of the program.
What is an Analog Meter which most people in the U.S. have at this time? PG&E, on their website, made the following statement about analog meters: “…Gas and electric meters record the total amount of gas or electricity consumed, just as a car's odometer records mileage. Meters are highly accurate instruments. In fact, our accuracy record is measured and found to be correct more than 99 percent of the time….”[2] With analog meters so accurate why should PG&E have to move to SMART meters?
What is a SMART Meter? PG&E, on their website describes Smart Meters and their operations: “…The SmartMeter™ system uses programmable solid-state meter technology that provides two-way communication between the meter at your home or business and the utility, using secure wireless network technology….”[2] We question how “secure” this technology is at this time as hackers may be able to easily intercept these signals and charge their own utility bills to your account. And other problems may be generated, like human health problems, from using this type of wireless network technology.
PG&E also states on their website: “…The solid-state digital SmartMeter™ electric meter records hourly meter reads and periodically transmits the reads via a dedicated radio frequency (RF) network back to PG&E. Each SmartMeter™ electric meter is equipped with a network radio, which transmits meter data to an electric network access point (pictured below). The system uses RF mesh technology, which allows meters and other sensing devices to securely route data via nearby meters and relay devices, creating a "mesh" of network coverage. The system supports two-way communication between the meter and PG&E. SmartMeter™ electric meters can be upgraded remotely, providing the ability to implement future innovations easily and securely….”[2] It will also enable PG&E to turn off your electricity at any time.
This technology increases our RF exposure and could lead to increased health problems from this type of technology. Thus, residents of California and other states are asking for more studies and are using existing studies to obtain this type of information prior to installation of more Smart Meters in California.
The SAGE report, released on January 1, 2011, is now online and should be required reading with regard to this subject.[4]Human health issues are one of the main reasons that most people cite as a reason not to deploy these meters without more research.
PG&E also is promoting an Energy Partners Program. Their Energy Partners Program offers free services (allegedly billed to ratepayers), to help reduce energy usage. The PG&E Energy Partners Program offers qualified customers who own or rent a home free energy education and energy-efficient measures which may include: Refrigerator replacement, door replacement and weather-stripping, attic insulation, and compact fluorescent lighting.[5] [6]
This Energy Partners program was rolled out in Plumas County, California in 2010-2011, with plans for future installations in California. There are several problems with this program:
A. The replacement refrigerators are alleged to have all been made in Mexico, many had reported defects or failed to keep food at proper temperatures, they were all one size and one color fits all, and required the purchase of an expensive warranty. In addition, some of these refrigerators, and other appliances, may have built-in RF antennas which could increase human exposures in our homes.
B. The PG&E Contract for these items, which residents were required to sign, was allegedly designed to protect PG&E and not the customer from defective refrigerators.[6]
C. The energy efficient light bulbs installed by PG&E, without Proposition 65 hazard warnings, could turn any residence into a HAZMAT site if broken or when a fire occurs due to Mercury and/or Mercury vapor being released into the room. PG&E allegedly failed to notify residents of this HAZMAT problem or the fact that disposal of these bulbs required a HAZMAT site. PG&E did not allegedly did not provide their customers with U.S. or California EPA information regarding these types of energy efficient light bulbs and the hazards associated with their usage and disposal. And they allegedly did not inform customers that improper disposal could lead to fines being issued by the EPA or other government agencies.
D. PG&E customers were not warned by PG&E that introducing a HAZMAT item (light bulbs), into their homes might mean that their home insurance policies may not cover the homeowner or renter in a broken bulb accident or fire involving these types of light bulbs.
E. PG&E did not provide receptacles for HAZMAT waste disposal, for broken or burned out bulbs and tubes, in the areas near where these light bulbs were installed by PG&E, nor did they warn the local sheriff, hospitals, fire departments, or other emergency workers that they were installing these hazardous light bulbs in Plumas County, California.
It should be noted that the EPA has announced (December 2010), that older fluorescent light bulb ballasts may be leaking PCBs (or oils), in our schools, homes and businesses. The EPA in December 2010, issued new home, school and business clean-up rules for broken bulbs which contain mercury; some types also contain arsenic and lead. The range of light bulbs this covers include fluorescent light tubes and bulbs, high intensity discharge (HID), metal halide, sodium and neon bulbs, LEDs, CFLs, and other new types of energy efficient light bulbs. We are required to take them to a HAZMAT site for disposal.[9] [11]
Footnotes:
The California Public Utilities Commission won't vote on PG&E's "OPT-OUT" proposal until mid-September, at the earliest. Until then, customers who have not yet received a SmartMeter can call the company at (877) 743-7378 and ask to "OPT-OUT" until this decision is made. If this number does not allow for the PG&E “OPT-OUT” option either write a letter to the address below or call PG&E Headquarters in San Francisco: (415) 267-7070
© 2011 - Rosalind Peterson - All Rights Reserved
In 1995, Rosalind, now retired, became a certified California United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency Agriculture Crop Loss Adjustor working in more than ten counties throughout California. Rosalind has a BA degree from Sonoma State University in Environmental Studies & Planning (ENSP), with emphasis on using solar power, photosynthesis, agriculture, and crop production.
Between 1989 and 1993 Rosalind worked as an Agricultural Technologist for the Mendocino County Department of Agriculture. After leaving Mendocino County she took a position with the USDA Farm Service Agency as a Program Assistant in Mendocino, Sonoma, and the Salinas County Offices, where she worked until becoming certified as a crop loss adjustor for the State.
E-Mail: info@californiaskywatch.com
Website: Agriculturedefensecoalition.org/
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