Judge says Peco customer can relocate a smart meter, but not get rid of it
In Pennsylvania a judge ruled that a woman could not refuse a smeter because it is making her ill, accepting Peco’s rebuttal that RF was the problem. But he did acknowledge that something about the smeter is affecting her health.
“A Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission administrative law judge has ruled that a New Hope customer who says a Peco smart meter made her sick can’t force the utility to replace the wireless device, but she can pay to move the equipment away from her house.
In a recommended decision posted Tuesday, the PUC hearing examiner, Darlene D. Heep, said that Peco had successfully rebutted Maria Povacz’s claims that radio waves from the meter had caused her health problems.
But the judge said, “The preponderance of the evidence does suggest that some other aspect of the Peco smart meters is inimitably perceptible by and contrary to the health and well-being of the individual, Ms. Povacz.””
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PRESS RELEASE February 14, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Education on Smart Meter Technology
WHY STOP SMART METERS?
Pennsylvanians are ANGRY! Awakened citizens are opposed to the implementation of intrusive devices called Smart Meters, set forth by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) through PA Act 129
— a law that was stealthily designed by our government to invade our privacy, mine our personal data, control and regulate our energy consumption, increase our electric bills, subject us to a potential fire-hazard, and intensify our exposure to potentially unhealthy levels of electromagnetic frequencies (EMF). All this without the expressed PERMISSION of Pennsylvania citizens!
PA ACT 129: Enacted in 2008, this law expanded the PUC’s oversight responsibilities and imposed new requirements on electric companies, with the overall goal of reducing energy consumption and peak electric demand. Why – is there a problem? Why should we reduce our consumption? Is there an actual and identifiable difficulty, or is this a capricious exercise in public domination? The pattern of control is repetitive; it starts with passing laws furtively under suspicious rationale, authorizes the adoption of objectionable technology, and then ends with massive deployment of a “good for you” program!
The PUC is implementing Act 129 in phases. Pennsylvania electric companies are mandated to install Smart Meter technology at homes and businesses according to a 15-year schedule. Why? This is clearly an imposition not requested by consumers. Like other states, Pennsylvania has since become a battleground where grass-root groups of awakened citizens are fighting against the deployment of Smart Meters. The government should not be imposing such a mandate on residents; this should be optional for the consumer. Many rightfully view the installation requirement a case of government over-reaching into consumer decision-making. Read on, it gets worse.
SMART METERS: A Smart Meter is a meter installed by your local electric company to replace your perfectly functioning analog meter. A Smart Meter uses Radio Frequency (RF) waves, which are electromagnetic fields. The Smart Meter, with RFID technology is able to record your electric usage on a continuous basis, communicating this information in real time directly to a central location. In addition, central operators can communicate in real time directly with the meter itself. So usage data is electronic, continuously extracted, recorded in real time at a remote location, with utility personnel able to remotely operate your electric meter. To make matters worse, all new appliances such as refrigerators, dishwashers, TV, clothes washer, clothes dryer, etc., contain an RFID Chip that can communicate with a Smart Meter. This whole system, using RFID Chips for 2-way communication between your appliances and Smart Meters, has been cleverly designed to give your utility company the ability to:
*ü Remotely turn your meter ON and OFF
*ü Remotely turn a specific appliance OFF *ü Harvest data to determine the gross and specific electric usage of your home *ü Extract a constant detail of electric usage in your home (when, how much, and for what) *ü Know what devices are being used in your home (TV, Dishwasher, Computer, etc.) *ü Know when devices are being used in your home
IMPLICATIONS: Your electric company is able to and will mine your usage data. It can invade your privacy by creating a portfolio of your lifestyle habits, and know when you are away from home, etc.
Invasion of privacy is a criminal offense, right? Because Smart Meters operate by RF waves, your personal and property safety is compromised when hackers peer into your private information to determine when you are away from home. Electronic eavesdropping can become a consequence of Smart Meters. Your electric company can pass your information onto third parties such as government agencies and insurance companies.
Electric companies are establishing peak usage hours with associated higher costs. Your costs will increase when you use an appliance during peak times. In fact, excessive billing has occurred from Smart Meters. This is what it means to “reduce energy consumption and peak electric demand.”
They can control your consumption by shutting off your electricity, or regulate your consumption by shutting down a specific appliance.
Smart Meters are not UL certified! They have not undergone independent safety testing that is required of all other electric devices. Where Smart Meters have been installed, there has been increasing concern over the meters combusting into flames, resulting into major fire damage. PECO actually stopped installation for a period of time due to these fires.
Smart Meters operate with the same electromagnetic frequency (EMF) used in all wireless devices that we are increasingly becoming concerned about due to its cumulative adverse effects on our health. In fact, because Smart Meters can adversely affect your physical health in an exponential manner, the actual amount of EMF broadcast from the new meters has been greatly downplayed by the utility companies. Tests have shown that Smart Meter readings are taking place every few minutes 24/7.
Because of the RF network necessary for Smart Meters to operate, the range of the RF waves is very strong and is designed to travel long distances. Smart Meters are designed to communicate with all ‘smart technology’ in the home, so the waves penetrate walls and windows. It has been reported that Smart Meters have interfered with medical equipment (i.e., monitors, pace-makers, c-pap equipment, wireless insulin pumps, pain pumps, ventilators), baby monitors, garage door openers, routers, Wi-Fi equipment, etc. Widespread physical ailments caused by Smart Meters have been reported as well:
Insomnia, agitation, headaches, dizziness, ringing in ears, nervous system effects, and leukemia. Such amount and intense exposure to EMF is particularly harmful to pregnant mothers and young children.
Who benefits? It appears that the utility companies benefit from increased profits and an accompanying decrease in payroll from cutting meter readers. They are embarking on a monstrous act of deception, and the forcible manner of Smart Meter deployment is indistinguishable from extortion.
2013 – 2014 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
LEGISLATIVE SPONSOR & BILLS: Three bills were introduced in the PA State Legislature’s Consumer Affairs Committee. These bills served to address issues stemming from PA Act 129. The main sponsor of these bills was PA State Rep. Mike Reese. House Bill 899 was intended to repeal the Smart Meter mandate. House Bill 902 was intended for a consumer Opt-Out of Smart Meters. House Bill 906 was intended for consumer consent before sharing Smart Meter information with third parties.
2015 – 2016 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
LEGISLATIVE SPONSOR & Bills: PA State Rep. Mike Reese announced January 14th & 15th that he intended to introduce all three bills once again (HB-899, HB-902, HB-906), while also adding a fourth new bill that would encompass all three issues, in the PA State Legislature. Reese put out a memorandum looking for additional co-sponsors for such bills. Monday February 9th, Rep. Mike Reese and his co-sponsors introduced four Smart Meter bills into the Consumer Affairs Committee as follows:
HOUSE BILL 393: Repeal Smart Meter Mandate (printer no. 430) – No government body should mandate the usage of any technology because it jeopardizes common principles of supply and demand.
This law would remove language that requires electric companies to provide smart meters, while still allowing them to offer the technology. The following members served as co-sponsors: REESE, BARRAR, BLOOM, DeLUCA, DIAMOND, DUNBAR, DUSH, EMRICK, EVANKOVICH, GABLER, GILLEN, A. HARRIS, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, MALONEY, MARSHALL, METCALFE, METZGAR, MUSTIO, PETRARCA, PICKETT, REGAN, SACCONE, SAYLOR, SNYDER, SONNEY, and TALLMAN.
HOUSE BILL 394: Consumer Opt-Out Smart Meter Usage (printer no. 431) – This law would (1) provide consumers the ability to “opt-out” of receiving a Smart Meter and (2) require the Pennsylvania Utility Commission to create a fair surcharge system that would be paid by consumers. This is similar to laws recently passed in Maine, Nevada, and California. The following members served as co-sponsors:
REESE, BENNINGHOFF, BISHOP, BLOOM, V. BROWN, DeLUCA, DIAMOND, DUNBAR, DUSH, EMRICK, EVANKOVICH, GABLER, GRELL, GROVE, A. HARRIS, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, LAWRENCE, MALONEY, MARSHALL, METCALFE, METZGAR, MUSTIO, PETRARCA, PICKETT, REGAN, SACCONE, SAYLOR, SNYDER, SONNEY, and TALLMAN.
HOUSE BILL 395: Consumer Consent to Share Smart Meter Information (printer no. 432) – This law would ensure that customer consent is required before information gathered by the Smart Meter technology can be shared with government agencies. The following members served as cosponsors:
REESE, BARRAR, BLOOM, DIAMOND, DUNBAR, DUSH, EMRICK, EVANKOVICH, GABLER, A. HARRIS, JAMES, KAUFFMAN, MALONEY, MARSHALL, METCALFE, METZGAR, MUSTIO, OBERLANDER, PETRARCA, PICKETT, and SACCONE.
HOUSE BILL 396: Combines All Three Proposals – This law combines all three proposals into one.
The following members served as co-sponsors: REESE, BLOOM, DeLUCA, DIAMOND, DUNBAR, EMRICK, EVANKOVICH, GABLER, GROVE, A. HARRIS, KAUFFMAN, KRIEGER, MUSTIO, PICKETT, SACCONE, SNYDER, and TAYLOR.
WHAT CAN I DO?
*ü Contact your PA State Representative and educate him/her about Smart Meters (use this press release).
*ü Get your PA State Rep. to co-sponsor the legislation NOW.
*ü Educate yourself: http://www.stopsmartmetersinpa.com ……….& GET INVOLVED!
Note: In researching bills listed in this press release, please be advised to look for the “printer number” of a bill, or the latest version of the suggested bill. Also be aware that when there is a re-introducing of an older bill (such may be the case with HB- 899, HB-902, HB-906) from 2013/2014, the newer 2015 version may have a newly associated Bill number.
SMART METER UNIVERSAL DEPLOYMENT PLAN
January 18, 2013
Below are the Press Releases I received and want to share with readers since the April 14th one talks about “Symptoms After Exposure to Smart Meter Radiation”and the April 16th PR advises “How to Bill Medical Insurance Companies for Smart Meter-Related Health Problems,” something every utility customer should know, plus keep in their medical files—just in case.
Contact: Tom McCarey
Telephone: 610-687-7607
PASMA HAS CONCERNS ABOUT “SYMPTOMS AFTER EXPOSURE TO SMART METER RADIATION”
Retired U.S. Government scientist Ronald M Powell, PhD (Applied Physics/Harvard) recently published a report of two surveys about health issues on individuals who have complained of poor health after having had a Smart Meter (SM) installed on their homes. The first survey included 318 respondents from 28 states (California to New York), while the second survey was done on 92 respondents in Victoria, Australia. A total of 410 adults and children were included in both surveys.
Participants in both surveys experienced six clusters of symptoms that were nearly identical in order of occurrence: (1) sleep disruption; (2) headaches; (3) ringing or buzzing in the ears; (4) fatigue; (5) loss of concentration, memory, or learning ability; and (6) disorientation, dizziness, or loss of balance. The Surveys Report stated, “The many symptoms found reflect the many body systems that are disrupted by such radiation. “
The radiation that causes those symptoms is Radio Frequency (RF) non-ionizing radiation produced by SMs collecting and transmitting information 24/7 from within each house upon which an SM is installed. Statistically, testing shows that the top ten health problems are associated with EMF (electromagnetic frequency) sensitivity and wireless meters (Smart Meters) installed on homes. 49% sleep problems; 43% stress, anxiety and irritability; 40% headaches; 38% ringing in ears; 26% heart problems. In Australia, 17% experienced heart palpitations, while another 10% experienced chest pain or pain in the heart.
Statistically, up to 2 percent of the population is allergic to something, which means it could be chemicals, food, pharmaceuticals, pollen, insect bites/stings, and electromagnetic frequencies like WiFi, RFs and EMFs. According to the U.S. CDC, allergies are the 6th leading cause of chronic illness in the USA, costing more than $18Billion a year!
Respondents in both surveys state they have made complaints to either their utility companies or Public Utility Commissions. 40% of those with SMs complained to their utility provider. 32% filed complaints with the public utility commission. 94% want to retain or restore their analog meters.
The paper “Electromagnetic Interference of Pacemakers” (Umashankar Lakshmanadoss, MD, etal, Johns Hopkins Medical Institution, Baltimore, MD) concluded with “New technologies have increased concern about interference with pacemaker function. It is important for physicians to remain vigilant about the potential risks of EMI [electromagnetic interference] from external sources with regard to pacemaker function.” SMs are new EMI technologies! Pennsylvanians need SM opt-out legislation.
http://www.naturalblaze.com/2015/04/health-effects-from-smart-meter.html
CAN I OPT OUT OF THE CHARGE IF I DON’T WANT A SMART METER?
No. State law does not allow a customer to “opt out” of their EDC’s smart meter program or surcharge.
http://www.puc.state.pa.us/General/consumer_ed/pdf/13_Smart%20Meters.pdf
https://www.facebook.com/smartmeteralert/
https://www.facebook.com/StopSmartMetersPA/
