{"id":3514,"date":"2011-08-22T17:22:36","date_gmt":"2011-08-23T00:22:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?page_id=3514"},"modified":"2018-06-20T11:56:25","modified_gmt":"2018-06-20T18:56:25","slug":"smart-meters-fires","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?page_id=3514","title":{"rendered":"ISSUE &#8211; Fires"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/SuperReportSmartMetersKW2.pdf\">Fire Report July 2017<\/a><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>TWO ITRON Smart meter fires on the same street in Michigan<\/h2>\n<div>By:\u00a0<a>24HourNews8 \u00a0\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0Jun 08, 2018<\/div>\n<div>BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) \u2014 Fire crews are asking people living in Battle Creek\u2019s Washington Heights neighborhood to be vigilant as authorities try to determine what caused a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=13242\"><strong>pair of electric meter fires<\/strong>. \u00a0\u00a0<strong>The fires happened within a half hour of each other<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0in the 100 block of Oaklawn Avenue. \u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.woodtv.com\/news\/kalamazoo-and-battle-creek\/electric-meter-fires-spark-warning-from-battle-creek-crews\/1226527081\">woodtv.com\/news\/kalamazoo-and-battle-creek..<\/a><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another power meter catches fire at Regina home<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/power-meter-fire-regina.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"power-meter-fire-regina\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/power-meter-fire-regina.jpg\" width=\"620\" height=\"465\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><em>The charred remains of a power meter after a fire at a home on Pettingell Street in Regina Monday evening. (Adam Hunter\/CBC)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>&#8216;I&#8217;m glad it happened today,&#8217; says homeowner just back from holiday<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/cbc-news-online-news-staff-list-1.1294364\">CBC News<\/a>\u00a0Posted: Jul 31, 2017 9:45 PM CT\u00a0Last Updated: Jul 31, 2017 9:45 PM CT<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Ground shifting due to the dry conditions caused yet another power meter fire in Regina on Monday evening.<\/p>\n<p>This time the meter caught on fire at a home on\u00a0Pettingell\u00a0Street in north Regina.<\/p>\n<p>Homeowner Paul Schubert said he was sitting in his backyard on Monday evening, just back this week from holiday, when he heard what sounded like a garage door opener.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Then when I went and looked, it was the meter caught in flames and burning up one side of the house.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He got a fire extinguisher from the house to try and fight the flames. He said a neighbour had to call the fire department for them as Schubert&#8217;s home had lost power.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/saskatchewan\/saskpower-meter-fires-1.4226974\">SaskPower repairs meter boxes in &#8216;several hundred&#8217; homes, expands inspections<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/saskatchewan\/power-meter-fire-regina-1.4230044\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Watch Video\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/08\/sask_fire_2017.jpg\" width=\"605\" height=\"321\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>This would be about the sixth meter to catch fire in Regina in recent weeks. SaskPower\u00a0said the fire was caused by the same\u00a0situation as the others: extreme dry conditions causing\u00a0ground shift that pulled wires out from behind the power box.<\/p>\n<p>SaskPower has been urging residents to check\u00a0their power meter boxes to see if they have tilted, and check for significant gaps between the\u00a0house and the ground.<\/p>\n<p>Schubert said he had heard about the fires while he was away.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;While we were on holidays I&#8217;m going &#8216;I don&#8217;t want anything like that to happen while my daughter&#8217;s taking care of the house,'&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;And for it to happen today, well, I&#8217;m glad it happened today and not while they were here.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>He said SaskPower told them they may have power back tonight.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/saskatchewan\/power-meter-fire-regina-1.4230044\">http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/saskatchewan\/power-meter-fire-regina-1.4230044<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Smart Meter Fire in Owen Sound<\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>Wednesday, March 23, 2016 6:15 PM\u00a0by\u00a0Matthew Sanderson<\/p>\n<div>Fire officials say a number of electrical issues could have caused the small fire.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/owensound_march2016.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" style=\"border: 0px;\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/www.bayshorebroadcasting.ca\/images\/news\/page_Smart_Meter_Fire.jpg\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" border=\"0\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/IAFF531\">A picture of the damage caused by a fire in a smart meter in Owen Sound. (photo from @IAFF531)<\/a><\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>A smart meter caught on fire at a home in Owen Sound.\u00a0It happened around 1:30 AM on Wednesday at a home on 6th Avenue West. \u00a0A member of the family inside the home was up and noticed the lights flickering.\u00a0Once the family member noticed the fire on the smart meter, the rest of the family escaped the house unharmed.\u00a0Owen Sound Fire Prevention Officer Greg Nicol tells Bayshore Broadcasting News a number of electrical issues could have caused the fire inside the meter.\u00a0Nicol says the home was equipped with working smoke alarms and a carbon monoxide detector.\u00a0There was very minimal damage done to the side of the brick house.\u00a0He does say however, that if the house had siding in the area of the meter \u2014 it would have caught the house on fire.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=7446\">https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=7446<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109-b.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6885\" alt=\"20150814-185109-b\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109-b.jpg\" width=\"445\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109-b.jpg 445w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109-b-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Farnham, Quebec <\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">A smart meter in flames<\/span> First published August 14, 2015 at 6:51 p.m. A fire in a smart meter could have serious consequences earlier this week Farhnam in the Eastern Townships. According to firefighters, it is almost that the house is on fire. \u00a0The fire caused damage to electrical installations. Fortunately, the coating of the building was brick which prevented the flames from spreading. If the house was made of another material, the damage could have been much worse. \u00a0Firefighters Farnham had never had to answer a fire like this. &#8220;In 34 years, I&#8217;ve never had an electrical fire base like that,&#8221; says Director of Fire Services, Mario Nareau. A worrying situation when no fewer than 3.4 million smart meters have been installed in the province. Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec reaffirms that its facilities are not involved. &#8220;In all cases, the fire services have concluded that the fires were linked to the electrical installations in homes, that is to say the bases, because there was damage to these facilities,&#8221; says Serge Abergel, spokesman for Hydro Quebec. <a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109-a.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6886\" alt=\"20150814-185109-a\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109-a.jpg\" width=\"445\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109-a.jpg 445w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109-a-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px\" \/><\/a> (Credit: VAT News) The corporation encourages its subscribers to verify the bases every five years. In addition, Hydro advised to consult the website for details. &#8220;Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec defends itself by saying that it Is the owner&#8217;s responsibility to ensure that the connection or the base is quality, but there is no one who knows that enough. When they came to change the meter, they should suggest or recommend the owner to verify its base, &#8220;adds Nareau. Because of the risk of fire, Ontario decided to withdraw 5,400 meters and Saskatchewan 105 000. However, Hydro says that in his case, different technology. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/tvanouvelles.ca\/lcn\/infos\/regional\/sherbrooke\/archives\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109.html\">http:\/\/tvanouvelles.ca\/lcn\/infos\/regional\/sherbrooke\/archives\/2015\/08\/20150814-185109.html<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>\u00a0Nevada Smart Meter Fires<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div>\u201cIn June of 2015, two black outs occurred in busy Las Vegas Nevada restaurants, believed to be caused by smart meter failures.\u00a0 Nevada Energy has removed the meters and as of this day the meters have still not been examined, although the claims are in the process of loss evaluation and will be paid by the insurance company.\u00a0 However, the real issue as to why all the meters are failing is not being dealt with.\u201d \u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/smartgridawareness.org\/2015\/07\/28\/utilities-remove-burned-smart-meter-evidence-from-fire-scenes\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">read full story here<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/skyvisionsolutions.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/07\/nv-smart-meter-fire-photo.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/skyvisionsolutions.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/07\/nv-smart-meter-fire-photo.jpg\" width=\"508\" height=\"512\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>Could Smart Meter be Responsible For Close Call at Meaford Residence?<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div>Thursday, 25 June 2015 18:59 By Stephen Vance, Staff <a href=\"http:\/\/www.themeafordindependent.ca\/news\">News\u00a0<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Submitted photo\" alt=\"smart meter near fire 468\" src=\"http:\/\/www.themeafordindependent.ca\/images\/stories\/smart_meter_near_fire_468.jpg\" \/> Arural Meaford resident is feeling fortunate after discovering that the wires running to his in-house Smart Meter were heating up, and beginning to smoke. \u201cOn the morning of June 24, I became aware of a very strong odour of what seemed to be hot or burning metal in my house. I traced the source to my Smart Meter located inside my house,\u201d recalled Meaford resident David Mason. \u201cI for some reason, put my hand on the box the Smart Meter was plugged into and it was extremely hot!\u201d Mason, his wife and their two dogs were all in the home at the time. He told The Independent that after finding the source of the burning odour, he phoned an electrician, who advised him to call the hydro company who in turn advised him to call an electrician while awaiting a hydro crew to arrive. \u201cThey took my info and said they would have a crew respond as soon as possible, but that I should call an electrician as\u00a0their responsibility ended at the glass in the meter,\u201d Mason told The Independent. Both the electrician and Hydro One arrived at the home quickly, Mason said. When the electricians removed the Smart Meter from the panel box, it was clear that Mason&#8217;s home had narrowly escaped a much more serious situation. Mason said that the Smart Meter was in-tact, and undamaged, however the wires leading to the meter were burned. \u201cThe Smart Meter itself was not replaced as it in fact was not damaged. The damage was to the wiring in the box the meter plugs into. The box was replaced by Ormsby Electrical who responded very quickly after I contacted them,\u201d Mason told The Independent. <img decoding=\"async\" title=\"Submitted photo\" alt=\"smart meter near fire 468 2\" src=\"http:\/\/www.themeafordindependent.ca\/images\/stories\/smart_meter_near_fire_468_2.jpg\" \/> Mason contacted The Meaford Fire Department the following day (June 25) to advise them of what had happened, and they attended the residence later that afternoon to begin an investigation, and they advised Mason that the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) will be called in to conduct an investigation. A recent incident in Collingwood, initially blamed on a faulty Smart Meter was later determined to have been the result of other, unknown causes according to the Electrical Safety Authority who investigated that incident along with the Collingwood Fire Department. \u201cIt is clear from the pattern of the fire and damage to equipment that the fire originated outside the electrical meter,\u201d the ESA said in a press release earlier this month. In January of this year, the ESA ordered the removal of 5,400 meters in Ontario which were similar in design to the Smart Meters thought responsible for several house fires in Saskatchewan. Last year Saskatchewan replaced every Smart Meter that had been installed in the province \u2013 105,000 of them &#8211; at a cost of several million dollars. The meter in C0llingwood was not the same make and model as those ordered removed by the ESA. When asked how safe he feels with a potentially dangerous Smart Meter inside his home, Mason said that the incident has caused he and his wife some anxiety. \u201cAs far as feeling safe in my home, I guess my wife and I are now somewhat paranoid about it. Even though it&#8217;s a new installation, I have found myself touching the box to see if it is getting hot. As well, my house is wood framed with wood siding, and we are bordered on two sides by forest. My neighbour on the east is surrounded by pine forest as are the next two homes. The potential here for a major disaster is disturbing,\u201d said Mason who added that he is more concerned now about the province selling a controlling interest of Hydro One to a private company. \u201cGiven the fact that the present government is going to sell off a good chunk of Hydro One to an unaccountable private entity, I am more concerned than ever about the chances of a major problem arising,\u201d he said. The Meaford Fire Department had not responded to a request for comment at the time of publication on Thursday evening (June 25), however we will be following up on this story over the next few days as more information comes available, and the Fire Department has had an opportunity to respond to questions from The Independent.<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.themeafordindependent.ca\/news\/community-news\/4676-could-smart-meter-be-responsible-for-close-call-at-meaford-residence\">http:\/\/www.themeafordindependent.ca\/news\/community-news\/4676-could-smart-meter-be-responsible-for-close-call-at-meaford-residence<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Collingwood Ontario<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theenterprisebulletin.com\/2015\/06\/10\/smarten-up-on-smart-meters\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6895\" alt=\"1297710835561_ORIGINAL\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/1297710835561_ORIGINAL.jpg\" width=\"399\" height=\"450\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/1297710835561_ORIGINAL.jpg 399w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/1297710835561_ORIGINAL-266x300.jpg 266w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Smarten up on smart meters<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p><time title=\"June 11, 2015 at 9:14:47 AM PDT\" datetime=\"2015-06-11T16:14:47Z\">Thursday, June 11, 2015 12:14:47 EDT PM<\/time> UPDATE: In a June 10 press release the Electrical Safety Authority stated that the smart meter of Veronica Onyskiw and Jim Pulcine is &#8220;definitively ruled out as the source&#8221; of the fire which occurred May 31 and added that &#8220;It is clear from the\u00a0pattern of the fire and damage to equipment that the fire originated outside the electrical meter.&#8221; &#8212;- When you\u2019re lucky, a small unfortunate event can help avoid a bigger disaster in the future. Collingwood resident Veronica Onyskiw\u2019s hydro smart meter going up in a \u201cball of fire\u201d on May 31 could be one of those cases. Because Onyskiw and her husband\u2019s home is brick, the fire didn\u2019t spread and the gas line didn\u2019t ignite. Next time we might not be so lucky. It\u2019s high time the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) got back with answers and, if necessary, the government should order a complete review of both the safety and supposed cost-saving facets of smart meters. At the time of this writing, there is still no answer. Collus VP of Operations Larry Irwin wrote in a June 9 e-mail to the\u00a0<em>Enterprise-Bulletin<\/em>that the meter appears to have melted from a heat source and added \u201cI\u2019m not an explosive expert, but to me, the meter in question does not appear to have exploded. That said, I\u2019m sure the ESA and the manufacturer will likely give a thorough explanation after they have completed their respective reviews.\u201d Onyskiw said she saw it exploding and a large burn mark was clearly visible on the side of their home the next day, indicative of an explosion and intense fire. Irwin further said \u201cit appears that the heat source was somewhere below the meter and the meter base adapter and was not the meter itself.\u201d First of all, what happened to letting the ESA reach official conclusions before speculating? Secondly, as Onyskiw said previously in comments for our story, the idea that the problem could be related to another facet of the smart meter\u2019s installation is not reassuring. These devices were put in by government mandate and people have every right to know if they are being exposed to potential danger (not to mention unfairly increased hydro rates) because of a supposedly innovative piece of technology. Innovative schemes have been known to eat up money like a well-attended political function eats up food. \u201cI just don\u2019t have enough information to comment on it at this point,\u201d Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne said of the smart meter fire June 6 in response to a question from the\u00a0<em>Enterprise-Bulletin<\/em>\u00a0following her remarks at the Ontario Liberal AGM at Blue Mountain. Granted, the ESA must do its own investigation and due diligence, but when you\u2019re required to use a product without a choice, you have every right to know it will not endanger you. Wynne\u2019s deferral of comment characterized the AGM as a whole, which was full of self-congratulatory hyperbole and partial truths, presenting canned narratives on tough choices to mask the political fallout of recent decisions unpopular on Ontario\u2019s left and right. There weren\u2019t a lot of answers on anything. For one thing, a Hydro One sale will likely kill a planned review of the program. In her remarks, Wynne told attendees: \u201cWe won\u2019t kick the can down the road.\u201d \u201cCan,\u201d or smart meter?<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1297708084306_ORIGINAL.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-6611\" alt=\"1297708084306_ORIGINAL\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1297708084306_ORIGINAL.jpg\" width=\"403\" height=\"520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1297708084306_ORIGINAL.jpg 403w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/1297708084306_ORIGINAL-232x300.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 403px) 100vw, 403px\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2>Collingwood Ontario<\/h2>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=6608\">Crisis averted as Ontario smart meter explodes next to gas line<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<figure><figcaption id=\"photoCaption\"><strong>Jim Pulcine (left) and his wife Veronica Onyskiw look at the damage where their hydro smart meter was formerly attached to their home, June 3, 2015. (PAUL BRIAN\/Postmedia Network)<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside>\n<section>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<div>\n<p>COLLINGWOOD, Ont. \u2013 Veronica Onyskiw woke up to the sound of her dog growling and a loud noise like a revving engine coming from outside her Collingwod, Ont., home early in the morning last Sunday. She found the source when she went outside \u2014 her hydro smart meter had become a \u201cball of fire.\u201d \u201cThe meter is about three feet from the main gas line into the house,\u201d she said outside her home Wednesday. \u201cIf that wall had gone and then the car parked right beside it would\u2019ve been very, very bad.\u201d Thousands of smart meters attached to homes across the province were ordered removed earlier this year after similarities were found between the structure of those meters and a similar model used in Saskatchewan that was implicated in several fires in that province. Onyskiw\u2019s meter was not among those considered a fire threat. Larry Irwin, the vice-president of the local utility \u2014 Collus PowerStream \u2014 said the company has never used those meters. Onyskiw said she has been told that the way in which the meter was installed on her home might be to blame. If that\u2019s the case, it\u2019s just as much cause for alarm, she said. In her case, firefighters put out the flames, and nobody was injured and there was no structural damage. But a happy ending might not be repeated for the next person. \u201cThere are people all over this town with wood structures and they have these so-called smart meters attached to their houses,\u201d she said. \u201cI really think this is a very serious threat \u2026 I think it\u2019s something people should know about.\u201d Collus said it is investigating. Smart meters have been the target of criticism since the province ordered them installed on homes across Ontario several years ago. In a December report, the auditor general found the $1.9-billion rollout cost has not led to the expected savings to customers. <strong>A Hydro One sale will likely kill a planned review of the program.<\/strong> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.torontosun.com\/2015\/06\/03\/crisis-averted-as-ont-smart-meter-explodes-next-to-gas-line\">http:\/\/www.torontosun.com\/2015\/06\/03\/crisis-averted-as-ont-smart-meter-explodes-next-to-gas-line<\/a> \u00a0 <strong>RADIO : \u00a0Smart Meters are EXPLODING! Homeowner Veronica Onyskiw discusses &#8211; Jun 4th 2015<\/strong> Collingwood and Shelburne\u00a0Ontario Fires <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/am640\/mcarthursmart-meters-are-exploding-homeowner-veronica-onyskiw-discusses-jun-4th-2015\">https:\/\/soundcloud.com\/am640\/mcarthursmart-meters-are-exploding-homeowner-veronica-onyskiw-discusses-jun-4th-2015\u00a0<\/a><\/strong> \u00a0 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=dSPd3BatctM&amp;feature=youtu.be<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Smart Meter Fires in BC &#8211; Sharon Noble<\/h2>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=K313_K1cvvs <strong>Nov 4, 2015<\/strong> \u00a0 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jjk_46-sPJU<\/p>\n<div id=\"watch-uploader-info\"><strong>May 14, 2015<\/strong><\/div>\n<div id=\"watch-description-text\">\n<p id=\"eow-description\">Sharon Noble, Director, Coalition to Stop Smart Meters, has been\u00a0<span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">investigating whether <strong>ITRON&#8217;s smart meters are causing and contributing to fires<\/strong>. \u00a0Electrical engineers have identified several design flaws that could lead to fires . For example each meter has a <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?page_id=6682\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">lithium metal battery<\/span><\/a><\/span> that explodes when heated or exposed to moisture. Laws have been broken. For example, the meters have not been certified to be safe. \u00a0<\/span><span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">Meters have failed, melted and burned, but BC Hydro and the government continue to deny these incidents have occurred. No agency has the authority to investigate and demand changes because the government has demanded that the BC Utilities Commission and BC Safety Authority stay out of the smart meter program. If this program is so beneficial and the meters are safe, why is the government preventing investigations by the agencies responsible for our safety?<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Melted Itron Meters in BC\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=5723\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-5827\" alt=\"3\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/3.jpg\" width=\"594\" height=\"652\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/3.jpg 2356w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/3-273x300.jpg 273w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/3-931x1024.jpg 931w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 594px) 100vw, 594px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Quebec City firefighters ask Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec to leave smart meters alone <\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec says smart meters belong to the utility and aren&#8217;t the cause of fires CBC News &#8211; March 05, 2015: &#8211;\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/montreal\/quebec-city-firefighters-ask-hydro-qu%C3%A9bec-to-leave-smart-meters-alone-1.2983309\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/montreal\/quebec-city-firefighters-ask-hydro-qu%C3%A9bec-to-leave-smart-meters-alone-1.2983309<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"aolmail_leadmedia\">\n<div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec reimbursed Bob Aubertin for the cost of hiring his own master electrician, who found the utility was charging him for the wrong usage.\" src=\"http:\/\/i.cbc.ca\/1.2777112.1411603196%21\/fileImage\/httpImage\/image.jpg_gen\/derivatives\/16x9_620\/hydro-smart-meters.jpg\" width=\"NaN\" height=\"314\" \/><\/p>\n<p id=\"aolmail_yui_3_11_0_1_1425597058322_29\">Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec reimbursed Bob Aubertin for the cost of hiring his own master electrician, who found the utility was charging him for the wrong usage. (CBC)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>Quebec City\u2019s fire department says <strong>Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec has been too quick to remove smart meters from the scenes of fires<\/strong> where faulty wiring may be an issue. The fire department says the meters are sometimes gone before investigators can look at them to find out whether their wires might have been damaged, which could lead to a short circuit and a fire. \u201c<strong>A fire is considered a crime scene and at a crime scene evidence should be left alone<\/strong>,\u201d said France Voiselle, a department spokeswoman. But Patrice Lavoie, a spokesman for Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec, said the meters belong to the public utility and the meters don&#8217;t cause fires. \u201cWe are totally entitled to bring them back to our office,\u201d he said. \u201cBut in that case has it been too quick? That&#8217;s what we&#8217;re trying to figure out.\u201d The more likely culprit is the box that holds the smart meter, if it\u2019s not properly installed, Lavoie said. He said Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec doesn\u2019t install the\u00a0boxes and aren\u2019t its responsibility. \u201cThat belongs to the client that doesn&#8217;t belong to Hydro Quebec,\u201d he said. \u201cIt&#8217;s your own electrician.&#8221; Lavoie said a professional association of electricians in Quebec has sent a letter to all their members reminding them to check up on their clients&#8217;\u00a0boxes. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/montreal\/quebec-city-firefighters-ask-hydro-qu%C3%A9bec-to-leave-smart-meters-alone-1.2983309\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/montreal\/quebec-city-firefighters-ask-hydro-qu%C3%A9bec-to-leave-smart-meters-alone-1.2983309<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Family blames Smart Meter for Fire that killed 74-year-old<\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>DALLAS &#8212; Monica Hernandez, WFAA \u00a01:40 p.m. CST \u00a0 <strong>February 3, 2015\u00a0<\/strong> A family believes an Oncor electrical meter sparked a fire that killed a man in South Dallas Tuesday night.\u00a0Now, investigators are working with Oncor to see whether that&#8217;s the cause. The fire happened in the 4000 block of Spring Avenue around 10:30 Tuesday night.\u00a0The next morning, family members still trying to process their loss looked over the charred remains of James Humphrey, Jr.&#8217;s home. Relatives who live next door tried to rescue him, but the flames pouring out of his bedroom window were so heavy, no one could get in.\u00a0Firefighters found him dead on his bedroom floor. &#8220;He had lived his life, and he had a good life, but he just didn&#8217;t deserve to lose his life like this,&#8221; said Alfreda Johnson, Humphrey&#8217;s cousin and caregiver. Johnson, who lives next door, went to check on Humphrey just before the fire broke out &#8212; never expecting it would be the last time she&#8217;d see him.\u00a0She says Humphrey&#8217;s arthritis probably made it difficult for him to escape, but believes none of this would have happened if Oncor hadn&#8217;t installed a new smart meter on the home three weeks ago. She believes the home&#8217;s wiring is too old for the new meter, claiming that&#8217;s also the reason a fire broke out at her home next door three years ago. &#8220;When are they going to own up and take responsibility for these old houses? They&#8217;re putting these smart meters out here and these old houses cannot carry the weight of those smart meters with the wiring,&#8221; said Johnson. Firefighters are still investigating the cause, which won&#8217;t be released until the Medical Examiner&#8217;s Office releases a cause of death. Damage has been estimated at $7,000 in structural loss and $2,000 in contents. The Public Utilities Commission says it has not received safety complaints about smart meters before, but\u00a0smart meter installations were blamed for two house fires in Arlington back in 2010. The issue wasn&#8217;t with the meters themselves, but a fire investigator there says that when the old meters\u00a0were pulled out, the main electric feeds to the houses were accidentally pulled as well. In a statement, Oncor said: &#8220;Our thoughts are with the family in this difficult time. We are working closely with the Dallas Fire Department to understand the cause of the fire. While we understand the concerns regarding the meter, it is important to note that due to the nature and function of the advanced meters, there has been no prior instance where such a meter has caused a fire in a dwelling. Nevertheless, we look forward to completing a full investigation.&#8221; A spokesman added that the new digital meters don&#8217;t use any more electricity than traditional meters. Oncor will allow customers to opt out of the smart meters, for a price. According to a company spokesperson, depending on the customer&#8217;s individual set up, there is a one-time fee to swap to a &#8220;regular&#8221; meter, then a monthly opt-out fee. For residential customers, the one-time swap fee ranges from $169 to $211. For commercial customers, it ranges from $244 to $564. Then, the monthly reoccurring fee ranges from $26.69 to $31.38, and includes a small charge for a smart meter &#8212; even though the customer no longer has one. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wfaa.com\/story\/news\/local\/dallas-county\/2015\/02\/03\/74-year-old-killed-house-fire-dallas\/22786269\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/www.wfaa.com\/story\/news\/local\/dallas-county\/2015\/02\/03\/74-year-old-killed-house-fire-dallas\/22786269\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>ONTARIO : Thousands of smart meters to be removed over safety worries<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=5411\">Some 5,500 of Ontario\u2019s 4.8 million smart meters are being removed and replaced because of a risk they could heat up, cause an <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">electrical short and possibly spark a fire.<\/span><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><b>01\/22\/2015<\/b><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4721\" alt=\"saskexpl\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/saskexpl.jpg\" width=\"620\" height=\"349\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/saskexpl.jpg 620w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/saskexpl-300x168.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2><strong>SaskPower Removing Smart Meters<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2><a style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;\" href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/1483691\/saskpower-removing-smart-meters\">http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/1483691\/saskpower-removing-smart-meters<\/a><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/1483134\/saskpower-ordered-to-remove-all-smart-meters-in-the-province\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/1483134\/saskpower-ordered-to-remove-all-smart-meters-in-the-province\/<\/span><\/a><\/span> Wed, Jul 30 \u2013 A major development for the troublesome SaskPower smart meters. The government is ordering the crown utility to remove each of the 105 thousand units already installed in the province. It comes after <strong>eight reported fires<\/strong> linked to smart meters. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=cFyF9U1hOOE\">Mike McKinnon explains how much this is going to cost.<\/a><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff; line-height: 1.5em;\"><a style=\"font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.5em;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.vancouversun.com\/technology\/Unusual+number+fires+smart+meters+linked\/7040191\/story.html#ixzz22m347gF2\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Related Stories :<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.metering.com\/smart-meter-fires-saskpower-and-sensus-hit-again-as-10th-unit-overheats\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">December 19, 2014 &#8211;\u00a0<b>SaskPower and Sensus hit again as 10th unit overheats<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.leaderpost.com\/technology\/Another+smart+meter+fails\/10662052\/story.html\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">December 18, 2014 &#8211;\u00a0<strong>Another smart meter fails by Clare Clancy<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=5345\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">December 18, 2014 &#8211; <strong>Smart meter overheats and melts<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/1659728\/smart-meter-catches-fire-on-residents-eastend-home-the-9th-failure-so-far\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">November 7, 2014 &#8211; <strong>Smart meter catches fire in Regina, 9th failure so far<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.alaskahighwaynews.ca\/saskatchewan-ndp-criticizes-government-s-smart-meter-deal-to-recoup-costs-1.1478500\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">October 28,2014 &#8211; <strong>Saskatchewan NDP criticizes government&#8217;s smart-meter deal to recoup costs<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theprovince.com\/technology\/Smart+meter+project+inherently+flawed+report+finds\/10328454\/story.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_medium=twitter\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">October 28, 2014 &#8211; <strong>Watson out at SaskPower after critical smart meter report<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/saskatchewan\/saskpower-says-smart-meter-company-will-pay-back-24m-in-cash-1.2760793\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">September 9, 2014 &#8211;<strong> SaskPower says smart meter company will pay back $24 Million in cash<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/regina.ctvnews.ca\/sask-revoked-exemption-for-smart-meter-contractor-over-supervision-issue-1.1963145\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">August 16, 2014 &#8211; Sask. revoked exemption for smart meter contractor over supervision issue<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.durhamregion.com\/news-story\/4753750-smart-meters-linked-to-fires-not-in-ontario\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">August 11, 2014 &#8211;\u00a0Utilities in Philadelphia and Oregon also decided to remove the Sensus meters after fires<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/saskatchewan\/10th-smart-meter-fire-hits-home-in-regina-1.2733628\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">August 11, 2014 &#8211; 10th Smart Meter Fire hits Saskatchewan<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.am980.ca\/2014\/08\/08\/london-hydro-calms-smart-meter-safety-concerns\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">August 8, 2014 &#8211; Ontario towns using Sensus Meters are concerned after Sask Fires<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/1498426\/smart-meters-timeline\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">August 7, 2014 &#8211; Saskatchewan Timeline on replacements<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cjme.com\/story\/medicine-hat-follows-saskatchewan-pauses-smart-meter-program\/397926\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">July 31, 2014 &#8211; Medicine Hat Alberta follows Saskatchewan, pauses smart meter program<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.metering.com\/smart-meters-saskpower-denies-installation-problems-as-two-more-units-catch-fire\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">July 30, 2014 &#8211; &#8220;Grid One Solutions&#8221; installed SaskPower Smart Meters<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=4720\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">July 26, 2014 &#8211; SaskPower Meter Explodes<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cbc.ca\/news\/canada\/saskatoon\/saskpower-identifies-2-more-smart-meter-failures-1.2720359\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">July \u00a026, 2014 &#8211; SaskPower Identifies 2 more smart meter fires (CBC)<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/news\/1452741\/saskpower-halting-smart-meter-installations-after-several-fires\/?fb_action_ids=10203496038754870&amp;fb_action_types=og.comments\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">July 15, 2014 &#8211; SaskPower halting smart meter installations after several fires (GlobalNews)<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.leaderpost.com\/news\/Basement+fire+linked+installation+smart+meter\/9841203\/story.html\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">May 15, 2014 &#8211; Basement Fire linked to installation of Smart Meter<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/CIC_SmartMeterReview2014.pdf\">Saskatchewan Smart Meter Fire Review &#8211; Official Report (PDF)<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/01\/CIC_SmartMeterReview2014.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-5372\" alt=\"SASK_FIRE\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/SASK_FIRE.png\" width=\"955\" height=\"527\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/SASK_FIRE.png 1591w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/SASK_FIRE-300x165.png 300w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/SASK_FIRE-1024x565.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 955px) 100vw, 955px\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stopsmartmetersbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/TruthAboutFires-TheReport.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter\" alt=\"firepdf\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/firepdf.jpg\" width=\"634\" height=\"185\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=AkL0uP7iyME\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-5470\" alt=\"sooke\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/sooke.png\" width=\"672\" height=\"507\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/sooke.png 1600w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/sooke-300x226.png 300w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/sooke-1024x773.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/a><\/h2>\n<h2>Fire in Langford, BC<\/h2>\n<div>firefighter : &#8221; <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>when we arrived the hydro meter was on fire<\/strong><\/span> &#8221; August 27, 2014 \u00a0 &#8211; \u00a0CHECK TV<\/div>\n<p>http:\/\/www.cheknews.ca\/fire-sooke-lake-road\/<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.cheknews.ca\/fire-sooke-lake-road-10519\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/www.cheknews.ca\/fire-sooke-lake-road-10519\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8036\" alt=\"LANGFORD_BC-Hydro-smart-meter-fire\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/LANGFORD_BC-Hydro-smart-meter-fire.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/LANGFORD_BC-Hydro-smart-meter-fire.jpg 640w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/LANGFORD_BC-Hydro-smart-meter-fire-300x225.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/BC-Hydro-smart-meter-fire.jpg\">http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/BC-Hydro-smart-meter-fire.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8037\" alt=\"BC-Hydro-fire-Sooke-rd\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BC-Hydro-fire-Sooke-rd.jpg\" width=\"360\" height=\"480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BC-Hydro-fire-Sooke-rd.jpg 360w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BC-Hydro-fire-Sooke-rd-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 360px) 100vw, 360px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/BC-Hydro-fire-Sooke-rd.jpg\">http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/BC-Hydro-fire-Sooke-rd.jpg<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-5785\" alt=\"revelstoke2\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/revelstoke2.jpg\" width=\"480\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/revelstoke2.jpg 480w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/revelstoke2-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 480px) 100vw, 480px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2>Burned meter, Revelstoke, May 25, 2014<\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>City on the hook if smart meter starts fire: IBA<\/h2>\n<div>BY GILLIAN SLADE ON JULY 30, 2014. <a href=\"http:\/\/medicinehatnews.com\/news\/local-news\/2014\/07\/30\/city-on-the-hook-if-smart-meter-starts-fire-iba\/\">http:\/\/medicinehatnews.com\/news\/local-news\/2014\/07\/30\/city-on-the-hook-if-smart-meter-starts-fire-iba\/<\/a> Wilbur McLean, communications for the Utility department, holds one of the Sensus smart meters being installed in Medicine Hat.&#8211;NEWS PHOTO GILLIAN SLADE \u00a0 \u00a0<a href=\"mailto:gslade@medicinehatnews.com\">gslade@medicinehatnews.com<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/MHNGillianSlade\">@MHNGillianSlade<\/a> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The City could be held\u00a0<strong>responsible if a smart meter results in a fire<\/strong>, and should therefore be diligent about the associated risks, says the Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cThe City has to take a hard, hard look at this. They now know that there are problems and if they continue to install them they are increasing their liability,\u201d said Gord Cowan, president of the Insurance Brokers Association of Alberta. \u201cIf there is a meter installed that does fail, and the house burns down, the City\u2019s insurers are going to have to pay for that. I would venture to say the City\u2019s insurers are taking a pretty hard look at this.\u201d<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Saskatchewan halted installation of its Sensus smart meters after eight devices malfunctioned, causing the meters to melt or catch fire.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Coun. Bill Cocks, who chairs the energy committee, is not concerned about liability based on the information he\u2019s been given to date.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cNot based on what I have been told to date,\u201d said Cocks. \u201cI\u2019m assured by my department, the people that I rely on, that our equipment is state-of-the-art and that we haven\u2019t had these problems. As I understand it they have to be properly installed and we have not had any such issues here. It is something I think we need to be aware of but we have had no problems here at all.\u201d<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">In Medicine Hat, 29,000 meters have already been installed, and the project is almost complete.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">A total of 15 smart meters have had to be replaced so far, said Wilbur McLean communications for the energy division.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Medicine Hat\u2019s Utility decided on Monday to contact SaskPower to clarify the situation and determine if its Sensus meters also have an alarm that triggers if the device reaches a temperature of 80 degrees, said McLean. Whether that contact has already been made was not clear Tuesday.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The temperature alarm is one of three possible triggers, that would alert someone to a potential problem, said McLean.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The<i>\u00a0News<\/i>\u00a0asked Sensus for information about the alarm component in the device and whether this would alert the homeowner if there was an issue. The\u00a0<i>News\u00a0<\/i>was referred to McLean for details.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">SaskPower is offering to change smart meters for the original meters for any of its customers that request this.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWe (in Medicine Hat) are not offering that at this point,\u201d said McLean.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">There are four prongs on the reverse side of a smart meter. Those prongs go into jaws of sockets located on the existing meter base, which is generally located on the side of a house, said McLean.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Disturbing those jaws in the process of removing an old meter has the potential to cause the sockets and prongs to overheat. There is the potential for this to occur even if an old style meter is installed, McLean said.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cWe\u2019ve been led to believe there is no reason for concern,\u201d said Coun. Julie Friesen, vice-chair of the energy committee. \u201cIf there continues to be evidence of problems we need to do our due diligence and re-examine this.\u201d<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Philadelphia suspended its $650-million smart meter installation program in August 2012. It ultimately replaced the Sensus meters with ones manufactured by a Swiss company, Landis &amp; Gyr AG.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Portland experienced three smart meter fires and will refit 70,000 installed residential meters. It\u2019s rollout of Sensus meters began in 2008.<\/span><\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u2018Unusual\u2019 number of fires, smart meters linked<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Ontario Fire Marshal says faulty base plates could be the cause, similar to Mission blaze<\/span><\/h2>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By SCOTT SIMPSON, Vancouver Sun<\/span><\/div>\n<div style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4614\" alt=\"meltedmeter\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/meltedmeter.jpg\" width=\"620\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/meltedmeter.jpg 620w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/meltedmeter-300x193.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 620px) 100vw, 620px\" \/><\/div>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">FULL STORY <\/span>: <\/strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vancouversun.com\/technology\/Unusual+number+fires+smart+meters+linked\/7040191\/story.html#ixzz22m347gF2\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/www.vancouversun.com\/technology\/Unusual+number+fires+smart+meters+linked\/7040191\/story.html#ixzz22m347gF2<\/span><\/a><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cA lot of times, when you pull something apart, if it\u2019s been there for 30 years it\u2019s probably going to be rusted in or hard in. So they have to give it a little bit of a jerk or a twist. That jerk or twist may be what sets the whole thing in motion,\u201d Strain said Friday. <strong>If there\u2019s a problem, he added, it\u2019s possible that a contractor without formal electrical training may miss it.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Smart_Meter_Fires.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>PDF AVAILABLE HERE<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/coquitlamfirectv.jpeg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4608 alignnone\" alt=\"coquitlamfirectv\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/coquitlamfirectv.jpeg\" width=\"496\" height=\"279\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/coquitlamfirectv.jpeg 620w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/coquitlamfirectv-300x168.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 496px) 100vw, 496px\" \/><\/a><\/span><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">2 home fires probed where new smart meters were set up<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bc.ctvnews.ca\/2-home-fires-probed-where-new-smart-meters-were-set-up-1.905587\">http:\/\/bc.ctvnews.ca\/2-home-fires-probed-where-new-smart-meters-were-set-up-1.905587<\/a> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">CTV British Columbia <\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Published Monday, Aug. 6, 2012 4:04PM PDT <\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">BC Hydro says it\u2019s not yet clear what caused a <strong>fire at a Coquitlam home where a smart meter had been installed one month earlier.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The cause of the blaze that broke out early Sunday morning at the house on Darwin Avenue is under investigation.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">BC Hydro says smart meters are safe and that inspections are carried out before the devices are set up.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">\u201cIn the vast majority of cases we actually find problems when we actually pull the old meter off. It\u2019s extremely rare that there is any kind of incident after a meter is installed,\u201d BC Hydro spokesperson Cindy Verschoor said.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The Crown corporation also says it has repaired about 1,000 meter bases around the province.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">In June, a fire also began at a home in Mission where a smart meter had recently been installed. BC Hydro says the BC Safety Authority is investigating that blaze.<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>BC Hydro doubts smart meter to blame for Coquitlam fire <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>COQUITLAM \u00a0\/ \u00a0CKNW (AM980) <\/strong><\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">CKNW News Staff <\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">8\/5\/2012 <\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cknw.com\/Channels\/Reg\/NewsLocal\/Story.aspx?ID=1751148\"><strong>http:\/\/www.cknw.com\/Channels\/Reg\/NewsLocal\/Story.aspx?ID=1751148<\/strong><\/a> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Could a newly installed BC Hydro smart meter be partially to blame for an early morning fire in Coquitlam?<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Hydro crews don&#8217;t believe so, but they are investigating\u00a0after a small fire broke out on the outside of a home on Darwin Avenue.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Spokesman\u00a0Greg Alexis says it appears the cause was likely a faulty meter base.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;The meter base is the piece of the customer&#8217;s equipment that we plug the smart meter into. The smart meter is the end of our grid and the meter base is the piece of customer equipment.&#8221;<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Alexis says damaged sockets are blamed for a series of recent electrical fires, but\u00a0stresses the smart meter itself isn&#8217;t the problem.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sparwood fire fighters respond to the Sparwood post office<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?attachment_id=12542\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-12542\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-12542\" alt=\"sparwoodfire\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/sparwoodfire.jpg\" width=\"507\" height=\"677\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/sparwoodfire.jpg 725w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/sparwoodfire-224x300.jpg 224w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 507px) 100vw, 507px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #000000;\">By\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefreepress.ca\/staff_profiles\/161475225.html\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Jonathan Arenson &#8211; The Free Press<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<div><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Published:\u00a0<strong>August 01, 2012 1:00 PM<\/strong> <\/span><\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Sparwood fire department responded this afternoon to a call from Sparwood Post Office, where workers were concerned about<strong> seeing smoke rising from a recently installed smart meter.&#8217;<\/strong><\/span> <strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.thefreepress.ca\/news\/164647876.html\">FULL STORY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Smart meter swap a flop in Alberni<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?attachment_id=12544\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-12544\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-12544\" alt=\"alberniAug2\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/alberniAug2-673x1024.jpg\" width=\"471\" height=\"717\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/alberniAug2-673x1024.jpg 673w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/alberniAug2-197x300.jpg 197w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/alberniAug2.jpg 725w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 471px) 100vw, 471px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">A Corix technician inspects a damaged electrical meter base on Margaret Street on Tuesday afternoon after an attempted smart meter swap-out went wrong.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">By <a href=\"http:\/\/www.albernivalleynews.com\/staff_profiles\/13771607.html\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Wawmeesh G. Hamilton &#8211; Alberni Valley News<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Published: <strong>July 31, 2012 9:00 PM<\/strong> <\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"> A technician changing out a BC Hydro meter for a smart meter sparked a minor incident at a Port Alberni\u00a0 business on July 31.\u00a0The Port Alberni Fire Department responded to an incident at the 4600 block of Margaret Street at approximately 4:30 p.m.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Witnesses reported seeing a technician wearing blue overalls working on a meter beside a business when they heard a loud \u201cBzaap\u201d sound and saw sparks coming from near the top of a power pole across the street, and smoke rising along one end of the power line.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.albernivalleynews.com\/news\/164542326.html\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong>FULL STORY<\/strong><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vancouversun.com\/news\/Fire+guts+Mission+home+after+Hydro+smart+meter+installed\/7033882\/story.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_%C2%A0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4609\" alt=\"fire_ownerpays\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_ownerpays.jpg\" width=\"951\" height=\"377\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_ownerpays.jpg 951w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_ownerpays-300x118.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 951px) 100vw, 951px\" \/><\/a>Full Story<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.vancouversun.com\/news\/Fire+guts+Mission+home+after+Hydro+smart+meter+installed\/7033882\/story.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&amp;utm_%C2%A0\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-4610 aligncenter\" alt=\"mission2\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/mission2.jpg\" width=\"680\" height=\"445\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/mission2.jpg 680w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/mission2-300x196.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 680px) 100vw, 680px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Mission BC house fire, Brand New Smart Meter suspected cause<\/strong><\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Q9TcTIqipPw\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-4611\" alt=\"fire_mission_june2012x\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_mission_june2012x.jpg\" width=\"607\" height=\"342\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_mission_june2012x.jpg 1011w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_mission_june2012x-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 607px) 100vw, 607px\" \/><\/a> <strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Q9TcTIqipPw\" rel=\"author\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Watch Video<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>CTV Video Coverage \u00a0<\/strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">http:\/\/www.ctvbc.ctv.ca\/servlet\/an\/local\/CTVNews\/20120616\/bc_mission_fire_120616<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h2><em>&#8220;<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>They had a <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">new smart meter<\/span> installed a day ago, so that&#8217;s the only thing that changed. So they are suspicious of that&#8221;<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/h2>\n<h2><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4612\" alt=\"16232missionfire_trish\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/16232missionfire_trish.jpg\" width=\"468\" height=\"311\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/16232missionfire_trish.jpg 468w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/16232missionfire_trish-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" \/><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mission house fire started around meter &#8211; <a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=6954\"><em>Read Full Article<\/em><\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Port Hardy<\/strong> \u2013 JULY 12, 2012 &#8211; Residents and retail shops that share the same electrical room are concerned after a smart meter had an internal fire or short in Port Hardy. The meter was about a year old and no longer was working correctly. Meter blew the compressor in the Store Cooler. <a href=\"http:\/\/citizensforsafetechnology.org\/Oops-there-goes-another-Smart-Meter,25,2360\"><em><strong>Full Story\u00a0&#8220;Opps there goes another Smart Meter&#8221;<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/span> <a href=\"http:\/\/www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca\/html\/?p=4747\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/www.citizensforsafetechnology.org\/images\/content\/burnt_porthardy.jpg\" width=\"517\" height=\"300\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Nanaimo home has Fire after new Smart Meter is installed<\/strong><\/span> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4616\" alt=\"fire_nanaimo_bc\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_nanaimo_bc.jpg\" width=\"515\" height=\"378\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_nanaimo_bc.jpg 515w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_nanaimo_bc-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 515px) 100vw, 515px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9NO6wlx8UFc\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">www.youtube.com\/watch?v=9NO6wlx8UFc<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca\/html\/?p=2304\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca\/html\/?p=2304<\/span><\/a><\/span> \u00a0 \u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4968\" alt=\"firemeter2\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/firemeter2.jpg\" width=\"864\" height=\"640\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/firemeter2.jpg 864w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/firemeter2-300x222.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 864px) 100vw, 864px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">Cumberland &#8211; August\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><strong><span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">2013<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.comoxvalleyrecord.com\/news\/219629111.html\" target=\"_blank\">www.comoxvalleyrecord.com\/news\/219629111.html<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-4992\" alt=\"FIRE2a\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/FIRE2a-768x1024.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/FIRE2a-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/FIRE2a-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/FIRE2a.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-4993\" alt=\"FIRE1a\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/FIRE1a-768x1024.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/FIRE1a-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/FIRE1a-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/FIRE1a.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/comox.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-12622\" alt=\"comox\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/comox.jpg\" width=\"633\" height=\"473\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/comox.jpg 633w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/comox-300x224.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 633px) 100vw, 633px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-4997\" alt=\"BCFIRE1\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE1-1024x781.jpg\" width=\"717\" height=\"547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE1-1024x781.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE1-300x229.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-4998\" style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\" alt=\"BCFIRE2\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE2-1024x777.jpg\" width=\"717\" height=\"544\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE2-1024x777.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE2-300x227.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-4996\" style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\" alt=\"BCFIRE3\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE3-1024x774.jpg\" width=\"717\" height=\"542\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE3-1024x774.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/BCFIRE3-300x227.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 717px) 100vw, 717px\" \/><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>Vernon, BC<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/embed\/825052\/\" height=\"437\" width=\"670\" allowfullscreen=\"\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe> September 6 2013 9:01pm<\/p>\n<div>\n<h2>Smart meter sparks fire?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div>Did an electricity smart meter start a fire that destroyed two Vernon homes? The device is being laboratory tested to try to find out. Robert Buffam reports.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/825052\/smart-meter-sparks-fire\/\">http:\/\/globalnews.ca\/video\/825052\/smart-meter-sparks-fire\/<\/a> \u00a0 https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=whlefbjP-AE<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pickering Ontario smart meter explodes.\u00a0Worse, couple may have to pay for replacement<\/span> <\/strong>BY\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.torontosun.com\/author\/kevin-connor\" rel=\"author\">KEVIN CONNOR<\/a> ,TORONTO \u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"\" src=\"http:\/\/storage.canoe.ca\/v1\/dynamic_resize\/sws_path\/suns-prod-images\/1317333031141_ORIGINAL.jpg?quality=80&amp;size=650x\" width=\"520\" height=\"293\" \/><\/p>\n<p>SUN \u00a0OCT 4, 2011<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hydro says owner must pay $3000 repair bill &#8220;because there was nothing wrong with this meter&#8221;<\/strong> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.torontosun.com\/2011\/10\/04\/pickering-smart-meter-explodes?utm_source=facebook&amp;utm_medium=recommend-button&amp;utm_campaign=Pickering+smart+meter+explodes\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">www.torontosun.com\/2011\/10\/04\/pickering-smart-meter-explodes<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<div data-mode=\"normal\" data-oembed=\"1\" data-provider=\"youtube\" id=\"arve-youtube-tlglxzo8m0w\" style=\"max-width:900px;\" class=\"arve\">\n<div class=\"arve-inner\">\n<div style=\"aspect-ratio:500\/281\" class=\"arve-embed arve-embed--has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"arve-ar\" style=\"padding-top:56.200000%\"><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<iframe allow=\"accelerometer &apos;none&apos;;autoplay &apos;none&apos;;bluetooth &apos;none&apos;;browsing-topics &apos;none&apos;;camera &apos;none&apos;;clipboard-read &apos;none&apos;;clipboard-write;display-capture &apos;none&apos;;encrypted-media &apos;none&apos;;gamepad &apos;none&apos;;geolocation &apos;none&apos;;gyroscope &apos;none&apos;;hid 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referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/TlgLxZO8m0w?feature=oembed&#038;iv_load_policy=3&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;autohide=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autoplay=0\" title=\"\" width=\"900\"><\/iframe><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"http:\\\/\\\/schema.org\\\/\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/emrabc.ca\\\/?page_id=3514#arve-youtube-tlglxzo8m0w\",\"@type\":\"VideoObject\",\"embedURL\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/TlgLxZO8m0w?feature=oembed&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&autohide=1&playsinline=0&autoplay=0\"}<\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\" http:\/\/stopsmartmeters.org\/fire-at-160-santa-rosa-sf-due-to-smart-meter-installation\"> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4617\" alt=\"fire_dec62011\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_dec62011.jpg\" width=\"940\" height=\"421\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_dec62011.jpg 940w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_dec62011-300x134.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" \/>http:\/\/stopsmartmeters.org\/fire-at-160-santa-rosa-sf-due-to-smart-meter-installation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\/<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4618\" alt=\"fire_california_SEPT2011\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_california_SEPT2011.jpg\" width=\"614\" height=\"499\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_california_SEPT2011.jpg 614w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_california_SEPT2011-300x243.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 614px) 100vw, 614px\" \/>USA &#8211;<\/strong> <strong>Power surge raises questions about SmartMeters <\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong> <\/strong><em>East Palo Alto electricity surge burnt out digital meters<\/em><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>80 PG&amp;E SmartMeters caught on fire<\/strong> and burned out after a power surge on Aug. 25<\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.paloaltoonline.com\/news\/show_story.php?id=22378\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/www.paloaltoonline.com\/news\/show_story.php?id=22378<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4619\" alt=\"USAmeterfire\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/USAmeterfire.jpg\" width=\"559\" height=\"346\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/USAmeterfire.jpg 559w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/USAmeterfire-300x185.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 559px) 100vw, 559px\" \/><\/strong> <strong>Usa \u00a0&#8211; Meter causes fire <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Xtcw4hgvgU8\">http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Xtcw4hgvgU8<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ah3nNo89-NU <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Ah3nNo89-NU\">Youtube.com\/watch?v=Ah3nNo89-NU<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>USA : Houston Texas Smart Meter Fires <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\" http:\/\/www.click2houston.com\/news\/Local-2-Investigates-Smart-Meter-Fires\/-\/1735978\/2838190\/-\/ord40l\/-\/index.html\"> www.click2houston.com\/news\/Local-2-Investigates-Smart-Meter-Fires\/-\/1735978\/2838190\/-\/ord40l\/-\/index.html<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><strong>USA : Dallas Texas <\/strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wfaa.com\/news\/local\/Fires-Spark-During-Smart-Meter-Installations-101115429.html\" target=\"_blank\">Fires-Spark-During-Smart-Meter-Installations<\/a> &#8211; <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><a href=\" http:\/\/www.wfaa.com\/news\/local\/Fires-Spark-During-Smart-Meter-Installations-101115429.html\"> www.wfaa.com\/news\/local\/Fires-Spark-During-Smart-Meter-Installations-101115429.html<\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>USA : Texas\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bantexassmartmeters.com\/smart-meter-installation-fires\/\" target=\"_blank\">Smart-meter-installation-fires<\/a> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/www.bantexassmartmeters.com\/smart-meter-installation-fires\/\">www.bantexassmartmeters.com\/smart-meter-installation-fires\/<\/a> <a title=\"(No click)\" href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/go.php?http:\/\/www.bansmartmeters.com\/blog\/2011\/07\/centerpoint-leaves-grandma-3-kids-without-power-its-not-our-fault\/\">www.bansmartmeters.com\/blog\/2011\/07\/centerpoint-leaves-grandma-3-kids-without-power-its-not-our-fault\/<\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>USA: Missisippi &#8211; \u00a0Cutting costs at expense of safety<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"http:\/\/mississippicoal.wordpress.com\/tag\/smart-meter-fires\/\" target=\"_blank\">http:\/\/mississippicoal.wordpress.com\/tag\/smart-meter-fires\/<\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-4620\" alt=\"fire_califorina_drycleaner\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_califorina_drycleaner.jpg\" width=\"580\" height=\"425\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_califorina_drycleaner.jpg 967w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_califorina_drycleaner-300x219.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/strong> <strong>USA : California &#8211; Man says Smart Meter caught fire and shut down his business<\/strong> <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><em>VIDEO<\/em><\/span> :\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.kget.com\/news\/local\/story\/Man-says-SmartMeter-caught-fire-and-shut-down-his\/gsY46Ea_oEK4kPHBl4dkYg.cspx\" target=\"_blank\">www.kget.com<\/a><strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\">USA : East Palo Alto\u00a0California &#8211;<\/span><span style=\"font-family: Calibri;\"> <a href=\"http:\/\/news.heartland.org\/newspaper-article\/2011\/10\/03\/power-surge-destroys-palo-alto-smart-meters\" target=\"_blank\">Power Surge Destroys Palo Alto Smart Meters | Heartlander Magazine<\/a><\/span><\/strong> <strong> <\/strong>\u201c<strong>Power Surge Destroys \u2018Significant\u2019 Number of Smart Meters<\/strong>,\u201d Bonnie Eslinger, Palo Alto Daily News, August 27, 2011:\u00a0<a title=\"http:\/\/www.mercurynews.com\/peninsula\/ci_18769012\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mercurynews.com\/peninsula\/ci_18769012\">http:\/\/www.mercurynews.com\/peninsula\/ci_18769012<\/a><\/p>\n<div>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Smart Meter Almost Burns Fire Captain\u2019s House<\/strong> <a title=\"(No click)\" href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/go.php?http:\/\/www.bansmartmeters.com\/blog\/2011\/07\/smart-meter-almost-burns-fire-captains-house\/\">http:\/\/www.bansmartmeters.com\/blog\/2011\/07\/smart-meter-almost-burns-fire-captains-house\/<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Australia :\u00a0Angry owners blame smart meters as costly gadgets blow <\/strong> by Karen Collier\u00a0Herald Sun \u2013 June 04, 2011:\u00a0<a title=\"(No click)\" href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/go.php?http:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/news\/more-news\/homes-in-a-fix-after-getting-smart-meters\/story-fn7x8me2-1226069016155\">www.heraldsun.com.au\/news\/more-news\/homes-in-a-fix-after-getting-smart-meters\/story-fn7x8me2-1226069016155<\/a> HOUSEHOLD appliances are breaking down just hours or days after smart meters are installed.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Australia : MFB probes smart-meter safety | Metropolitan Fire Brigade <\/strong><\/p>\n<div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theage.com.au\/victoria\/mfb-probes-smartmeter-fire-risk-20111107-1n2po.html\">www.theage.com.au\/victoria\/mfb-probes-smartmeter-fire-risk-20111107-1n2po.html<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>Australia ; Fire investigators probe link between smart meters and house fires <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/news\/more-news\/fire-investigators-probe-link-between-smart-meters-and-house-fires\/story-fn7x8me2-1226187300199\">www.heraldsun.com.au\/news\/more-news\/fire-investigators-probe-link-between-smart-meters-and-house-fires\/story-fn7x8me2-1226187300199<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Explosion in Naples during smart meter installation<\/h2>\n<p>by Andre Senior &#8211; WFTX-TV Fox 4 &#8211; December 15, 2011: <a href=\"http:\/\/www.fox4now.com\/news\/135706693.html\">www.fox4now.com\/news\/135706693.html<\/a> by Andre Senior\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 December 15, 2011 NAPLES, \u00a0Florida An electrical explosion in Naples during the installation of a smart meter raises questions about the safety of the devices. On Thursday morning, an FPL contractor was putting one of the devices in at the Naples Bay Resort when the incident happened. &#8220;There was a severe arching and it ignited some combustible material in the room,&#8221; said Larry Bacci, a City of Naples fire marshal. The contractor suffered second and third degree burns during the blast and nearly 30 people were forced to evacuate. Debris inside an electrical room where it happened caused a fire, but was quickly put out by the indoor sprinkler system. City of Naples fire investigators are still looking into what caused the electrical explosion, and so is FPL. &#8220;The incident is still under investigation but we have established that it was definitely not caused by a smart meter.&#8221; But there are others across the country who would disagree. Across the country, there have been protests by people claiming the devices cause explosions and videos popping up online supposedly show smart meters going up in flames. In addition, you&#8217;ll find many websites devoted to claims that smart meters are not safe. FPL says smart meters are safe in every possible way. As for the fire at Naples Bay resort, a company spokesperson says that this is the first time they are aware of a fire breaking out during the process of installing a smart meter.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><strong>FPL worker burned, Naples Resort without power<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>by Eric Maze\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 December 15, 2011 http:\/\/<a href=\"http:\/\/www.fox4now.com\/news\/135664073.html\">www.fox4now.com\/news\/135664073.html<\/a> NAPLES, Fla. &#8211; A subcontractor hired by Florida Power and Light suffered severe burns after a mishap at a Naples resort Thursday morning that left the hotel without power. The State Fire Marshal&#8217;s Office says the worker was switching out an electrical meter inside the Naples Bay Resort on 5th Avenue South\u00a0sometime before 9\u00a0a.m.\u00a0when a small explosion ignited a small fire that left the worker with at 2nd and 3rd degree burns.\u00a0 He was taken to a local hospital for treatment.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>Smart Meter Blamed for Causing Fire and Killing Dogs<\/h2>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Bs8f1bPowec<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Exploding smart meters are endangering householders and workers: claim<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">by Karen Collier and Aleks Devic &#8211; Herald Sun &#8211; February 23, 2012<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">http:\/\/<a href=\"http:\/\/www.heraldsun.com.au\/news\/more-news\/exploding-smart-meters-are-endangering-householders-and-workers-claim\/story-fn7x8me2-1226278664780\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">www.heraldsun.com.au\/news\/more-news\/exploding-smart-meters-are-endangering-householders-and-workers-claim\/story-fn7x8me2-1226278664780<\/span><\/a><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>ENERGY Safe Victoria is investigating claims that exploding smart meters are endangering householders and workers.<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The watchdog says companies should review testing procedures after power surges amid revelations of seven recent malfunctions in Pascoe Vale.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another smart meter was damaged in Noble Park in November.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Details emerged today when a whistleblower claimed there were serious safety concerns about meters blowing up, sparking calls for a rollout suspension.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Distributor Jemena&#8217;s managing director Paul Adams denied the claims, saying meters had failed and &#8216;flashed&#8217; due to a high voltage injection, but did not explode.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">ESV director Paul Fearon said all types of meters were potentially vulnerable to damage during power surges.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Pascoe Vale grandmother Brenda, 91, was standing inside her front door watching a worker reconnecting power on Tuesday when suddenly she heard a loud &#8220;bang and boom&#8221;.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;I thought &#8216;Oh my goodness&#8217;, he had his head blown off.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;I could see he got a bit of a shock &#8211; I was just happy that I was on the other side of the door.&#8221;<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mr Adams said six meters failed in early January due to what was thought to be lightning strikes hitting overhead lines.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;There can be a loud noise when this happens and black marks emitted, but this is not an explosion,&#8221; Mr Adams said.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The company is investigating this week&#8217;s incident.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">The ESV will examine whether smart meters are more susceptible to damage from power surges than other meters.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mr Fearon said there was no concrete evidence to date, and noted that switchboard fires had decreased since the rollout.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Mr Adams insisted there was no risk of house fires or injury, and that meters were usually replaced before reconnecting power following high voltage injections.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">But Electrical Trades Union state secretary Dean Mighell said safety doubts were being swept under the carpet.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">It was harder for workers to tell if digital meters were faulty after surges compared with older mechanical models, he said.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Another Pascoe Vale resident, Leanne Moss, attached a sign to her meter box to say she did not want one installed.<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">&#8220;When we had those storms on Christmas Day everyone in the street that had the smart meters lost power while the others didn&#8217;t,&#8221; she said.<\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Jemena says no smart meter blasts in its patch<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\">by Cathy Nilbett &#8211; Moreland Leader &#8211; February 22, 2012:<\/span> &#8211; http:\/\/<a href=\"http:\/\/moreland-leader.whereilive.com.au\/news\/story\/jemena-says-no-smart-meter-blasts-in-its-patch\/\">moreland-leader.whereilive.com.au\/news\/story\/jemena-says-no-smart-meter-blasts-in-its-patch\/<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Smart meter blasts covered up<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>by 3AW Radio &#8211; February 22, 2012: &#8211; http:\/\/<a href=\"http:\/\/www.3aw.com.au\/blogs\/breaking-news-blog\/smart-meter-blasts-covered-up\/20120222-1tmqr.html\">www.3aw.com.au\/blogs\/breaking-news-blog\/smart-meter-blasts-covered-up\/20120222-1tmqr.html<\/a> The hotel did not sustain any serious damage but it\u00a0was left without power.\u00a0 About 30 people evacuated at the time of the incident. No word yet on what caused the fire.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>New Smart meter Explodes<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Posted July 2012 on the <strong><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/smart-meters\/smart-meter-fires-and-explosions\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">EMF Safety Network website<\/span><\/a><\/span>: <\/span><\/strong> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">Our new smart meter exploded\u00a0yesterday causing half our circuits to stop working. The men from the\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000;\">electric company asked if I had any work done recently and I told them\u00a0the electric company had upgraded the meter. He rolled his eyes at me\u00a0and said, \u201cyeah, some people CALL it an upgrade\u201d and preceded to tell\u00a0me of other smart meters catching fire. He said we were extremely\u00a0lucky our house did not go up in flames. Now, I\u2019m going to be a\u00a0hesitant activist in order to get the word out that these smart meters\u00a0are DANGEROUS!<\/span> <span style=\"color: #000000;\">I don\u2019t feel I have to put my family\u2019s lives in danger\u00a0in order to make my electric company\u2019s job easier. There is NO opt-out\u00a0program where I live and DTE told one woman who wanted to opt out that\u00a0they would just shut her electricity off. Time to put the gloves on\u2026 <\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Fire_Report_for_Fire_Chiefs_and_Insurers.pdf\">Message for Fire Fighters and Insurers (PDF)<\/a><\/strong><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/smartmeterharm.org\/2014\/08\/09\/peco-lies-about-fire-problems-and-fast-tracks-smart-meter-installations-in-pennsylvania\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">PECO lies about fire problems and fast-tracks <\/a><\/h2>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/smartmeterharm.org\/2014\/08\/09\/peco-lies-about-fire-problems-and-fast-tracks-smart-meter-installations-in-pennsylvania\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Smart Meter installations in\u00a0Pennsylvania<\/a><\/h2>\n<div>Posted on\u00a0<a title=\"6:12 pm\" href=\"http:\/\/smartmeterharm.org\/2014\/08\/09\/peco-lies-about-fire-problems-and-fast-tracks-smart-meter-installations-in-pennsylvania\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">August 9, 2014<\/a>by\u00a0<a title=\"View all posts by admin\" href=\"http:\/\/smartmeterharm.org\/author\/smartmeterharm\/\" rel=\"author\">admin<\/a><\/div>\n<div>http:\/\/smartmeterharm.org\/2014\/08\/09\/peco-lies-about-fire-problems-and-fast-tracks-smart-meter-installations-in-pennsylvania\/<\/div>\n<div>PECO\u00a0says they\u2019ve had no more problems with <strong>Smart Meter fires<\/strong> since they switched over to Landis &amp; Gyr Smart Meters, according to a <strong>Canadian newspaper<\/strong> account That\u2019s simply not true. Two fires were reported by the news media since PECO\u00a0converted over. The first\u00a0one happened\u00a0February 27, 2013 in Tredyffrin Township. Lowden said she was preparing dinner at about 6 p.m. on Feb. 27 when the lights flickered, the appliances buzzed and the meter mounted outside burst into flames. \u201cI just grabbed my kids with no shoes on and got them out of the house,\u201d she said. Assistant Fire Chief Eamon Brazunas\u00a0said there was sparking and arcing around the Smart Meter and \u201cencouraged homeowners to have an electrician inspect the interior once a Smart-Meter is installed on the exterior.\u201d The latest one happened on February 6, 2014 in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, caused by a Smart Meter that exploded and caught fire.<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"watch-headline-title\">Fire in Bensalem &#8211; thunder hollow apartments &#8211; 2\/6\/2014<\/h2>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=Vn0-Xnp6ZOU \u00a0 If PECO lies about this, what else are they hiding from the public? PECO\u00a0completed their replacement of Sensus\u00a0Smart Meters by October 2012. These are Landis\u00a0&amp; Gyr Smart Meters. Have there been other L &amp; G Smart Meter fires since the change-over? How many PECO\u00a0customers have experienced burned outlets or wiring, overheating Smart Meters, malfunctioning appliances and electronics, tripped ground fault circuit interrupters that they haven\u2019t reported to the news media or they wouldn\u2019t directly attribute to the meters? Last year, Pennsylvania PUC Chairman Robert Powelson said at a PA\/NJ Sustainability Symposium that fears about smart meters are unfounded. Really? That\u2019s not what the data shows. That\u2019s not why utility officials and elected officials in <strong>Portland, Oregon<\/strong> and the <strong>province of Saskatchewan<\/strong> are removing Smart Meters. Chairman Powelson said he had a Smart Meter installed on his home and \u201cit hasn\u2019t caught fire.\u201d Is that supposed to be reassuring? Late last year, PECO announced they were accelerating Smart Meter installations. Are they doing it to stay ahead of the public opposition? P.S. The Bensalem fire is an illustration of why an opt-out doesn\u2019t work. Your neighbor\u2019s Smart Meter could destroy your home or business and harm your family. <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/smartmeterharm.org\/2014\/08\/09\/peco-lies-about-fire-problems-and-fast-tracks-smart-meter-installations-in-pennsylvania\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/smartmeterharm.org\/2014\/08\/09\/peco-lies-about-fire-problems-and-fast-tracks-smart-meter-installations-in-pennsylvania\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"blox-asset-title\"><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Electric meter blamed for Bensalem apartment fire<\/span><\/h2>\n<div id=\"blox-story-frame\">\n<p>Posted:\u00a0Friday, <strong>February 7, 2014<\/strong> 2:30 pm\u00a0|\u00a0<em>Updated: 6:24 am, Tue Feb 11, 2014.<\/em> By Jo Ciavaglia Staff writer<\/p>\n<div id=\"blox-story-text\">\n<div id=\"paging_container\">\n<div>Thursday night\u2019s fire, which displaced 30 residents at Bensalem\u2019s Thunder Hollow apartments, was electrical and began in a utility shed, a fire investigator said. The fire affected 16 units in the Bristol Road complex\u2019s \u201cY\u201d Building, Bensalem Battalion Chief Robert Sponheimer said. No residents were injured, but a Feasterville firefighter was treated at a local hospital for dizziness and then released. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.buckscountycouriertimes.com\/news\/local\/electric-meter-blamed-for-bensalem-apartment-fire\/article_93cf65bb-a298-5978-a88e-464c2f4451e1.html\">http:\/\/www.buckscountycouriertimes.com\/news\/local\/electric-meter-blamed-for-bensalem-apartment-fire\/article_93cf65bb-a298-5978-a88e-464c2f4451e1.html<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>New &#8220;Smart Meters&#8221; Can Overheat, Cause Fires<\/h2>\n<p>PECO to replace new technology because utility says new meters can overheat if hooked up to existing wiring that isn&#8217;t up to date By Terry Ruggles and Dan Stamm \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Friday, Aug 17, 2012 \u2022 Updated at 9:44 AM EDT <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcphiladelphia.com\/news\/business\/PECO-Smart-Meter-Replace-Fire-166466686.html\">http:\/\/www.nbcphiladelphia.com\/news\/business\/PECO-Smart-Meter-Replace-Fire-166466686.html<\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"at_0\" itemprop=\"articleBody\">\n<p data-pnum=\"1\">PECO&#8217;s smart-meter program was put on hold after 15 of the units overheated &#8212; two causing fires, according to the power company.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"2\">PECO, like many other utilities, put in new meters that allow two-way communication between the customer and power company &#8212; think of your home computer telling you it&#8217;s time to install an update.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"3\">All 15 of the units that overheated were among about 186,000 units installed in Bucks County and parts of Northeast <strong>Philadelphia<\/strong>, PECO said.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"4\">The Upper Makefield Fire Marshall says a newly-installed smart meter recently\u00a0put in\u00a0by PECO caused the fire that made Mike Cappeto&#8217;s Upper Makefield home unlivable.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"5\">\u201cThere was a hole in the side and a hole where the flames went up the side of the house,&#8221; Cappeto said.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"6\">\u201cPECO came in and took out the old charred box and meter. It was melted and just burned to a cinder.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"7\">An initial investigation of the first six cases investigated showed a problem occurred when\u00a0the new\u00a0smart meter\u00a0was hooked up to a house that preexisting conditions at the home like bad wiring, PECO spokeswoman Cathy Engel Mendendez said.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"8\">\u201cWe want to understand what&#8217;s going on and stop it regardless of the cause,\u201d said Engel Mendendez.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"9\">PECO is installing new software into existing smart meters and replacing the bad meters with new meters from a different manufacturer.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"10\">\u201cWe have stopped installing devices to additional customers,\u201d Engel Mendendez said.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"11\">PECO says that within two weeks all that new software will be installed in an attempt to try and pinpoint the problem.<\/p>\n<p data-pnum=\"12\">If you have concerns or questions you can\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.peco.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\">contact PECO online<\/a>\u00a0or call 1-855-741-9011.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Read more: \u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nbcphiladelphia.com\/news\/business\/PECO-Smart-Meter-Replace-Fire-166466686.html#ixzz3AEgv62zS\">http:\/\/www.nbcphiladelphia.com\/news\/business\/PECO-Smart-Meter-Replace-Fire-166466686.html#ixzz3AEgv62zS<\/a><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><b>OREGON : PGE replacing 70,000 electricity meters because of fire risk<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>By\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/connect.oregonlive.com\/staff\/tsicking\/posts.html\">Ted Sickinger| tsickinger@oregonian.com\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0July 24, 2014 at 12:29 PM, updated\u00a0July 24, 2014 at 7:18 PM Portland General Electric is\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/pacific-northwest-news\/index.ssf\/2014\/07\/pge_recalls_70000_residential.html\">replacing 70,000 residential &#8220;smart&#8221; meters<\/a>\u00a0that run the risk of catching fire, many of them installed at rental properties in East Multnomah County. PGE says three small meter fires have been reported in its service territory, with minor property damage in one case. It mailed out letters to affected customers this week and aims to have the affected meters replaced by the end of October. The electrical component failures are limited to a subset of smart meters that it installed between 2010 and 2012. The affected model number is the Sensus\u00a02S\u00a0Gen3\u00a0RD, mostly installed in rental units where PGE needed the ability to turn them on and off remotely. Customers can call PGE at 877-835-1435 or check online at pgemeterexchange.com\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pgemeterexchange.com\/en\">to check if they have one of the affected meters<\/a>. PGE embarked on a major smart meters installation program in 2008, and the other 785,000 meters installed with residences and businesses don&#8217;t have the same issues, it says. Bill Nicholson, PGE&#8217;s Senior Vice President of Customer Service, said PGE first became aware of potential problems in 2013 and hired two separate consultants to evaluate the meters. Its initial testing was inconclusive, but it shared its results with the manufacturer,\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/sensus.com\/web\/usca\">North Carolina-based Sensus,<\/a>\u00a0and asked for help. &#8220;They are not recalling these,&#8221; Nicholson said. &#8220;This is our choice. This is our decision based on our assessment and our tests. We believe this risk is small, but it&#8217;s totally unacceptable to us.&#8221; Nicholson said swapping out all the meters would take three months because PGE and its suppliers don&#8217;t have adequate replacements in inventory. Reports of smart meter malfunctions, explosions and fires, meanwhile, have cropped up around the country and the world, including some meters manufactured by Sensus, a leading manufacturer of the technology. SaskPower, a utility in Saskatchewan, Canada, is in the midst of a province-wide smart meter program using Sensus meters. But it suspended that initiative\u00a0two weeks ago following six fires tied to meters in the last two months. PECO Energy in Philadelphia also\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/articles.philly.com\/2012-10-10\/business\/34343946_1_sensus-meters-sensus-devices-new-generation-meters\">replaced all its Sensus smart meters<\/a>\u00a0in 2012 after several of them overheated and caught fire, two of them resulting in serious house fires, according to the Philadelphia Inquirier. Sensus was also sued in 2010 in Alabama for false claims by an employee who alleged he\u00a0was fired after refusing to remain silent about the company&#8217;s defective meters. The suit alleged that Sensus and two electric utilities sought federal grant funding despite knowing the meters were faulty. The suit was dismissed after the employee settled the case in 2011, according to Law360. Sensus spokeswoman Linda Palmer did not respond to the Oregonian&#8217;s query on whether the company felt the meter in question was safe. In an emailed statement, she said it was working with PGE to understand what led to &#8220;the issue&#8221; and engaging with them on a solution. &#8220;The industry, as a whole, has experienced meter issues for years.&#8221; she said. &#8220;Given that there are more than 40 million meters deployed to date in North America, the failure rates are very low. &#8220;There are approximately 10 million Sensus meters in North America operating safely and reliably. We are evaluating the small number of issues and we remain committed to providing safe products&#8230;&#8221; Smart meters are touted as a critical technology to modernize the electrical grid, promote distributed generation and help customers use energy more efficiently. Ratepayer advocates in Oregon questioned whether smart meter technology was ready for prime time when PGE first proposed spending $135 million of ratepayers money to replace all its meters in 2008. Those reservations had to do with functionality, not safety, however. PGE had already been down the smart meter path, installing 3,500 earlier in 2001 that it junked in favor of the new models. Besides slashing meter reading costs, PGE said the new meters, with two-way communications, would provide a platform for future programs to better manage electricity demand. Data from the meters does allow customers to get on line and check yesterday&#8217;s energy use. But other, more sophisticated demand response programs, with real time date that allows customers to adjust their usage on the fly, have yet to arrive. PGE says it is working with Sensus on the meter replacements and it&#8217;s not clear at this point whether ratepayers, as a group, will be asked to cover the capital or installation costs of the replacements. &#8220;What we&#8217;re focused on right now is the replacement of these meters,&#8221; Nicholson said. &#8220;The commercial issue with these meters will be an ongoing discussion with Sensus we&#8217;re keeping the (Oregon Public Utility Commission) informed of what we&#8217;re doing along the way.&#8221; &#8212; Ted Sickinger <a href=\"http:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/business\/index.ssf\/2014\/07\/pge_replacing_some_electricity.html\">http:\/\/www.oregonlive.com\/business\/index.ssf\/2014\/07\/pge_replacing_some_electricity.html<\/a> \u00a0 \u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n<h2>Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec<\/h2>\n<p>Steve Sauv\u00e9 Mercredi 18 mars 2015 08:49:17 HAE <a href=\"http:\/\/www.hebdosvalleyfield.ca\/2015\/03\/18\/salaberry-de-valleyfield-imitera-t-elle-quebec\">http:\/\/www.hebdosvalleyfield.ca\/2015\/03\/18\/salaberry-de-valleyfield-imitera-t-elle-quebec<\/a> Statement of a neighbor who claims to have seen a smart meter ignite Monday, March 16 at 43 rue Saint-Louis in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield has revived the debate on the equipment installed by Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec. Even if in the present case the cause of the fire was not related to meter, but rather to water infiltration, controversy over social networks is palpable. Moreover, many readers believe that the corporation never publicly will say only that its counters include fire hazards. C\u00e9dric Grenier is categorical in his commentary. &#8220;Mine has been on fire. I had to pull it out with a hammer. Hydro came to analyze my counter and disappeared, &#8220;said Mr. Grenier. <span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Quebec firefighters at war with Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec<\/strong><\/span> The situation declared by the man would not be a precedent. In Quebec City, a letter was sent to all members of the General Staff of the Fire Protection Service in which the Assistant Director of Strategic and Administrative Affairs calls on the fire to ensure that the employees of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec not leave the premises without first met with an investigator. Michel M\u00e9nard, director of the Fire Department Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, confirms that it is not ideal that Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec is leaving with the meter before the investigation is completed. However, according to Mr. M\u00e9nard this would never have happened in the territory of Salaberry-de-Valleyfield Quebec Hydro act this way. &#8220;I have heard that in Quebec, there disharmony. For cons, I can not move me on the record because I do not know all the details, &#8220;says Michel M\u00e9nard. The Director of Fire Service Salaberry-de-Valleyfield confess that if Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec leaves with a counter, it affects dramatically the future investigation. &#8220;It is unfortunate if this is real. How to make an inquiry, if we do not have all the information, questions Mr. M\u00e9nard. I would also like to know, is that Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec superior to other rights to do this? &#8221; Strong reaction of the protest movement On the side of the movement &#8220;Refuse counters,&#8221; Marie-Michele Fish, spokesman says saddened the lack of transparency of Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec in this folder. &#8220;Fires have occurred in the Montreal area, Saguenay, Quebec and Ontario. California, where we find the same counter model as that used by HQ at the moment (Landis &amp; Gyr-Focus), many fires have occurred and there has been loss of life. There are currently criminal investigation for collusion and corruption in California and, thanks to this survey, we now discover that the leaders wanted to hide facts to the California population, &#8220;growls Mrs. Fish, adding that the disappearance of counters in a fire is common.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2>Utility Smart Meter Fire Hearing Affects All Maryland Residents<\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/talbotspy.org\/utility-smart-meter-fire-hearing-the-affects-all-maryland-residents\/\">http:\/\/talbotspy.org\/utility-smart-meter-fire-hearing-the-affects-all-maryland-residents\/<\/a> August 27, 2012\u00a0by\u00a0<a title=\"Spy Desk\" href=\"http:\/\/talbotspy.org\/author\/desk\/\" rel=\"author\">Spy Desk<\/a> The Maryland Public Service Commission will be holding a hearing in Baltimore on August 28th at 2:00 PM regarding a <strong>series of fires caused by newly installed smart meters<\/strong>. Each of the four utilities involved with the smart meter installations is expected to testify. No other parties or private citizens will be allowed to testify. Because of the fire hazard, and the threats these meters pose to our health and privacy, Maryland Smart Meter Awareness (MSMA) is joining with the Anne Arundel County Council for the Environment (AACCE) in calling for a moratorium on all smart meter installations. Citizens of Maryland are urged to contact both the Public Service Commission and their state legislators to request a moratorium. MSMA is joining with AACCE in seeking a moratorium on all smart meter installations in Maryland in the wake of the growing number of smart meter related fires around the country. Four Maryland utilities, BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power &amp; Light, and SMECO, are in various stages of replacing all the current meters with wireless smart meters. Wireless smart meters use a fundamentally different approach in monitoring energy usage than the traditional analog meters. No smart meter design has ever been tested and certified for safety by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) or any other similar agency accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). There are two main reasons why the smart meters are causing fires around the country. The first is that the radiation they emit interferes with ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) sockets and similar devices by not letting them trip when there is an electrical problem, thus causing fires. The second problem is that due to design defects, their terminal lugs that plug into the meter box sockets tend to corrode. Due to the thermal resistance created by the corrosion, the electricity begins to arc and these arcs ignite the main insulation wiring causing electrical shorts that start fires. In traditional analog meters this is not an issue because they are manufactured to much higher standards. Traditional analog meters employ higher quality materials, thus have a useful life of fifteen to twenty years. The useful life of the typical smart meter is only three to five years. Just recently PECO, a utility in <strong>Pennsylvania<\/strong>, halted its entire smart meter installation program after a <strong>series of fires<\/strong>. These meters are essentially the same meters SMECO intends to install in its Maryland service area. While the smart meters Pepco, BGE and Delmarva Power &amp; Light are different, they all share the same defects. MSMA President Jonathan Libber stated \u201cThese wireless meters have never been tested by competent independent laboratories to determine if they are safe. We need a moratorium because these smart meters are jeopardizing the health, safety, security and privacy of every man, woman and child living in the Pepco, Delmarva Power and Light, SMECO and BGE service areas.\u201d For more info from Maryland <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/marylandsmartmeterawareness.org\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/marylandsmartmeterawareness.org<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span> \u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022 Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Quebec : Smart meters that take fire?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>First published November 6, 2013 at 4:53 <a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_que.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-5984\" alt=\"fire_que\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_que.png\" width=\"626\" height=\"353\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_que.png 894w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_que-300x169.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/><\/a> Photo credit: Courtesy \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong><span style=\"line-height: 1.5em;\">Meters which caught fire<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Ewan Sauves | QMI Agency Residents of a duplex in the borough of St. Leonard in Montreal had a scare last Saturday when four counters Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec would have caught fire, requiring rapid intervention of firefighters. Tenants of 6157 Lavoisier Boulevard were evacuated from the site immediately. Since the incident, they live in a hotel room, paid for in part by the Army Hi. According to the owner of the building in question, Tony Di Minno, Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec would have settled in mid-October four new smart meters. <a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_que2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-5986\" alt=\"fire_que2\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_que2.png\" width=\"623\" height=\"354\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_que2.png 890w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/fire_que2-300x170.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 623px) 100vw, 623px\" \/><\/a> (Credit: Courtesy) Before the fire takes, power outages in the area were found on at least two occasions, he said. &#8220;When I arrived home on Saturday, I told my wife that smelled burned. We knocked on my door and tenant told me that the fire is taken, &#8216;he recalls. I came out, I wanted to put baking soda on the fire, but when I opened the door counters, everything started to jump. I called 911. &#8221; Tony Di Minno Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec blame in this matter and demand an explanation. &#8220;People who come to the facilities are usually students, that are not master electricians, he commented. My house is 35 years old, my boxes were in good condition and it is Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec has decided to play it. &#8221; Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec has conducted investigation and concluded that the counters are not the cause of the fire. Patrice Lavoie spokesman says as it is &#8220;practically impossible&#8221; that a meter ignite. &#8220;A counter, whether ancient or new generation, can not explode. It may not be the fault of the counter, he said. Our engineers have concluded that a contact between two son in the customer&#8217;s electrical system is causing a short circuit, which caused the fire. &#8221; Mr. Lavoie adds that all new meters installed are functional. Several physical and electrical tests are performed before installation. &#8220;It is beyond the earth, we send them electric shocks, they are subjected to temperature variations, etc. They are highly tested and comply with the standards, &#8220;says the spokesperson for Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec. <a href=\"http:\/\/tvanouvelles.ca\/lcn\/infos\/national\/archives\/2013\/11\/20131106-045307.html \">http:\/\/tvanouvelles.ca\/lcn\/infos\/national\/archives\/2013\/11\/20131106-045307.html\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>VIDEO COVERAGE (ENGLISH)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>Smart Meters cause stir in St. Leonard Quebec (CTV NEWS)<\/strong><\/span> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/montreal.ctvnews.ca\/smart-meters-cause-stir-in-st-leonard-1.1531571\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/montreal.ctvnews.ca\/smart-meters-cause-stir-in-st-leonard-1.1531571<\/span><\/a><\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Quebec_StLeonard.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-7214\" alt=\"Quebec_StLeonard\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Quebec_StLeonard.png\" width=\"644\" height=\"650\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Quebec_StLeonard.png 2983w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Quebec_StLeonard-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Quebec_StLeonard-297x300.png 297w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Quebec_StLeonard-1014x1024.png 1014w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 644px) 100vw, 644px\" \/><\/a> \u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Fire_StLeonard2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-7216\" alt=\"Fire_StLeonard2\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Fire_StLeonard2.png\" width=\"1034\" height=\"577\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Fire_StLeonard2.png 2871w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Fire_StLeonard2-300x167.png 300w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Fire_StLeonard2-1024x571.png 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1034px) 100vw, 1034px\" \/><\/a> \u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n<h2><b>You\u2019ll Never Trust A Smart Meter Again After Learning Of This Man\u2019s Death\u2026.<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Written by: <a href=\"http:\/\/beforeitsnews.com\/r2\/?url=http:\/\/www.offthegridnews.com\/author\/danieljennings\/\">Daniel Jennings <\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/beforeitsnews.com\/r2\/?url=http:\/\/www.offthegridnews.com\/category\/current-events\/\">Current Events<\/a> February 12, 2015 <b>A fire that caused the death of an elderly Dallas man is being blamed on a so-called \u201csmart meter,\u201d a new electronic device that is on millions of homes in America and records power usage.<\/b> <b>James Humphrey Jr. died in a fire on Feb. 3, less than a month after the utility Oncor Electric Delivery installed a new smart meter outside the front bedroom of his home.<\/b> <b>\u201cThey came out and changed that meter three weeks ago, and the house caught on fire from that meter,\u201d Humphrey\u2019s cousin, Alfreda Johnson, told TV station <i>WFAA<\/i>.<\/b> <b>Fire investigators told the station that the <\/b><a href=\"http:\/\/beforeitsnews.com\/r2\/?url=http:\/\/www.wfaa.com\/story\/news\/local\/dallas-county\/2015\/02\/03\/fatal-dallas-fire-puts-scrutiny-on-smart-meters\/22821335\/\"><b>fire<\/b><\/a><b> did indeed start near the meter.<\/b> <b>\u201cOncor comes out here and they post those meters out there on these old houses,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cThese houses are not equipped to carry those smart meters.\u201d<\/b> <b><i>WFAA<\/i> reporter Jason Wheeler said that two unidentified \u201cnational electric providers\u201d told him that they had seen smart meters overheat when connected to homes with older electrical wiring.<\/b> <b><i>\u00a0<\/i><\/b> <b>Smart meters use wireless technology to send data back to the power company.<\/b> <b>He \u2018Didn\u2019t Deserve\u2019 To Die This Way<\/b> <b>Humphrey, 75, suffered from arthritis and had trouble moving, and Johnson believes he was unable to get out of his house in time. Johnson blames not only this fire but one at her house three years ago on smart meters.<\/b> <b>\u201cWhen are they going to own up and take responsibility for these old houses?\u201d Johnson asked. \u201cThey\u2019re putting these smart meters out here and these old houses cannot carry the weight of those smart meters with the wiring.\u201d<\/b> <b>Johnson added, \u201cHe had lived his life, and he had a good life, but he just didn\u2019t deserve to lose his life like this.\u201d<\/b> <b>The Dallas Fire Department is still investigating the <\/b><a href=\"http:\/\/beforeitsnews.com\/r2\/?url=http:\/\/thescoopblog.dallasnews.com\/2015\/02\/elderly-man-dies-in-house-fire-in-south-dallas.html\/\"><b>fire<\/b><\/a><b> and has not yet released its findings. Oncor is assisting the fire department with the investigation.<\/b> <b><i>Story continues below the video<\/i><\/b> <b>\u201cWhile we understand the concerns regarding the meter, it is important to note that due to the nature and function of the advanced meters, there has been no prior instance where such a meter has caused a fire in a dwelling,\u201d an Oncor press release to <i>The Dallas Morning News<\/i> stated.<\/b> <b>Other Deaths Blamed On Smart Meters<\/b> <b>It\u2019s not the first time smart <\/b><a href=\"http:\/\/beforeitsnews.com\/r2\/?url=http:\/\/www.offthegridnews.com\/2014\/10\/01\/this-womans-death-may-confirm-all-your-suspicions-about-smart-meters\/\"><b>meters<\/b><\/a><b> have been blamed for causing a fatal fire. In September, Reno, Nevada, Fire Chief Michael Hernandez, and Sparks, Nevada, Fire Chief Tom Garrison told reporters that they suspected a smart meter caused a blaze that killed 61-year-old Michelle Sherman.<\/b> <b>\u201cBased on physical evidence \u2026 the Sensus meter cannot be eliminated as the ignition source,\u201d forensic investigator Andrew Thoresen wrote of the fire. \u201cData tends to suggest the meter may have failed.\u201d<\/b> <b>The city of Reno hired Thoresen to investigate the fire responsible for Sherman\u2019s death. Hernandez and Garrison, in fact, blamed smart meters installed by NV Energy for a dozen fires in the Reno area.<\/b> <b>A number of utilities in the US and Canada have removed or replaced smart meters because of potential fire danger, <i>The Reno Gazette Journal<\/i> reported last year. Six fires in Lakeland, Florida, and three fires in Portland, Oregon, were also blamed on smart meters.<\/b> <b>An investigation by Nevada\u2019s Public Utilities Commission found that heat sensors in smart meters may be malfunctioning and causing firings, <i>The Gazette Journal<\/i> reported on Feb. 5. The commission has been investigating smart <\/b><a href=\"http:\/\/beforeitsnews.com\/r2\/?url=http:\/\/www.rgj.com\/story\/news\/2015\/02\/05\/regulators-order-independent-smart-meter-safety-tests\/22906495\/\"><b>meters<\/b><\/a><b> since the fire chiefs made their allegations last year. The commission is investigating at least 77 cases in which smart meters caught fire.<\/b> NESARA- Restore America \u2013 Galactic News Source: <a href=\"http:\/\/beforeitsnews.com\/r2\/?url=http:\/\/nesaranews.blogspot.com\/2015\/02\/youll-never-trust-smart-meter-again.html\">http:\/\/nesaranews.blogspot.com\/2015\/02\/youll-never-trust-smart-meter-again.html<\/a> \u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022 \u00a0 <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4999\" alt=\"phillidelphia_2013_Jan\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/phillidelphia_2013_Jan.jpg\" width=\"521\" height=\"295\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/phillidelphia_2013_Jan.jpg 521w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/phillidelphia_2013_Jan-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 521px) 100vw, 521px\" \/> \u00a0 <strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Network-PD-comments.pdf\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/11\/Network-PD-comments.pdf<\/span><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/strong> At the Santa Rosa PPH Mr. Patrick Wrigley stated he was a former PG&amp;E meter reader for nine and a half years in the Marin office when he was fired because he was not willing to conceal smart meter problems he witnessed. Mr. Wrigley said,\u00a0<i>\u201c<strong>The fact that PG&amp;E knows that<\/strong><\/i> <strong><i>they do catch on fire when they are remotely turned back on when a customer who is delinquent<\/i><\/strong> <strong><i>in their bill finally pays their bill. These meters catch fire. They know it, and they are covering it<\/i><\/strong> <i><strong>up<\/strong>.\u201d<\/i>32\u00a0Another speaker, Ms. Moskow stated,\u00a0<i>\u201c<strong>I had terrible electric problems in my house once<\/strong><\/i> <i><strong>the smart meter was installed, fire coming out one of the outlets, many outlets not working.<\/strong>\u201d<\/i><i>\u00a0Pg, 7<\/i> <i>\u00a0<\/i> \u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n<h2><b>Sensus IConA has serious defect and causes Fires<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>According to Don Baker who worked for Sensus, the meters are not safe and have caused at least two homes to burn down in Alabama (2010) &#8220;meters were installed in Alabama and Georgia without ever undergoing performance testing&#8221; Plaintif made numerous reports to Sensus management regarding iConA quality and safety issues. \u00a0He was completely ignored and eventually fired.<\/p>\n<p>A- Electrical Fast Transient Failures,<\/p>\n<p>B- Flux Contamination and Inaccuracy Issues,<\/p>\n<p>C- Faulty Components,<\/p>\n<p>D-\u00a0<span style=\"color: #000000;\"><strong>&#8220;Hot&#8221; Socket Alarm &#8211; internal thermometers were registering and reporting temperatures in excess of 200 degrees Fahrenheit.\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\" http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/03\/Sensus-Qui-Tam-Complaint.pdf\">Sensus-Qui-Tam-Complaint.pdf<\/a>\u00a0 <\/span><\/strong><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">emfsafetynetwork.org\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Sensus-Qui-Tam-Complaint.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Sensus-Qui-Tam-Complaint<\/span><\/a> <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikibooks.org\/wiki\/Professionalism\/Don_Baker_and_Smart_Meters\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">https:\/\/en.wikibooks.org\/wiki\/Professionalism\/Don_Baker_and_Smart_Meters<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n<h2><b>Linesmen reported that the utility had \u201ctwo pallets of Burned up (Itron) meters\u201d.\u00a0 Pg. 8<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>&#8220;Childers told Reed that the loose connection caused heat, which, in turn, caused an electrical arc, which resulted in <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>&#8220;two pallets of burned up meters&#8221;<\/strong><\/span> in CenterPoint&#8217;s meter shop.<\/p>\n<div title=\"Page 13\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<p>Childers also told Reed that when CenterPoint technicians pulled the meters out, the meters were creating arc flashes, which could burn the customers&#8217; wiring and create &#8220;hazardous conditions.&#8221; (Tr. 267, LL. 16-21; 274, LL. 9-20). These hazardous conditions include potentially causing arc flashes, which could result in anything from minor to third degree burns to technicians who remove the meters &#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stopsmartmetersbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Reed_Answering_Brief-1.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">stopsmartmetersbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/Reed_Answering_Brief-1.pdf<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/Reed_Answering_Brief-1.pdf\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">Reed_Answering_Brief<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?page_id=6719\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?page_id=6719<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p>\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n<h2><b>Council Members Prepare For Fight Over Smart Meters<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.abc24.com\/content\/bios\/story\/Mike-Matthews\/DLtxQ4yOPkOBxjLL-cO2hw.cspx\">Mike Matthews<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a006\/09\/2015 05:50 PM MEMPHIS, TN (localmemphis.com) &#8212; Memphis City Council members are preparing for a big fight over spending $240 million for smart meters. Memphis Light, Gas, and Water wants to replace all of its old electric meters with the smart meters. Meters that are controversial. $240-million dollars is a lot of money, especially when critics say smart meters are dangerous. Fire is a cruel thing. Burning everything it can find. It has a voracious appetite that can spread quickly. A house burned this past weekend next door where Marilyn Hancock and family live. I was in my bedroom and I heard my next door neighbor screaming. I looked out the window. I saw the blaze coming from the storage house on top of the vehicle. And that&#8217;s when I immediately got my family out of the home,&#8221; Hancock said. Lester and Lula Miller said their house caught fire after a power surge. Hancock said she did not notice any power surge. Her place caught fire after the Miller&#8217;s van with gas in the tank blew up. &#8220;A lot of damage inside the house. Water damage inside the house. A lot of my furniture got damaged inside the home from the water. And the weather storm that took place last night,&#8221; Hancock said. The Miller\u2019s fire was caused by an electrical problem. They said they have a smart meter. Smart meters have been criticized for possibly causing fires. MLGW said the Millers do not have a smart meter. We could not find a house in the neighborhood with one. But it&#8217;s an argument Marilyn Hancock isn&#8217;t joining. &#8220;We\u2019re doing fine. My family has been very supportive and they&#8217;ve been there for us,&#8221; Hancock said. <i>Copyright 2015 localmemphis.com Nexstar Broadcasting, All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.<\/i> <span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.localmemphis.com\/story\/d\/story\/council-members-prepare-for-fight-over-smart-meter\/31292\/4bwkkqD15Ei1it1Zc8qjHA\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/www.localmemphis.com\/story\/d\/story\/council-members-prepare-for-fight-over-smart-meter\/31292\/4bwkkqD15Ei1it1Zc8qjHA<\/span><\/a><\/span> \u00a0 \u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022 <a href=\"http:\/\/www.wmcactionnews5.com\/story\/29270362\/family-claims-mlgw-smart-meter-was-on-burned-house\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-6651\" alt=\"memphis\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/memphis.jpg\" width=\"529\" height=\"323\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/memphis.jpg 1260w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/memphis-300x183.jpg 300w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/memphis-1024x625.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 529px) 100vw, 529px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Family claims MLGW smart meter was on burned house<\/h2>\n<p><em>Posted:\u00a0Jun 08, 2015 6:41 PM PDT<\/em><em>Updated:\u00a0Jun 08, 2015 8:29 PM PDT<\/em><\/p>\n<div id=\"WNStoryByline\">\n<div>By Jason Miles\u00a0MEMPHIS, TN (WMC) -Members of a Whitehaven family made it out alive when their home went up in flames over the weekend. Now, they suspect a controversial smart\u00a0meter may have sparked the blaze.&#8221;Nine people got out of the house,&#8221; said relative Sherry Mackey. &#8220;My cousin, her six kids, my aunt and my uncle,&#8221; she added. &#8220;It&#8217;s just by the grace of God,&#8221; she said.The house first caught fire before a van in the carport exploded. The fire department determined the cause was electrical in nature, and the family wonders if an electrical meter played a role.&#8221;They put a smart meter on the house,&#8221; said Mackey.Smart meters are a more efficient way of tracking energy usage and are part of a $240 million MLGW modernization proposal. The devices have sparked controversy, and some believe they can even start fires. \u00a0MLGW was adamant there was no smart meter at the house that caught fire.&#8221;That&#8217;s a lie,&#8221; said Mackey. &#8220;My uncle works on the house all of the time and he and other family members saw the smart meter on the house,&#8221; she added.An MLGW spokesman said technicians seen in the area after the fire were there to secure services and make sure other customers were not affected.\u00a0 The family claims workers removed the meter from charred debris.&#8221;I would hope that Memphis Light, Gas, and Water would take responsibility for it,&#8221; said Mackey.MLGW currently uses three types of meters and believes the family may have confused a digital meter for a smart meter. Again, MLGW said there is no record of a smart meter being used at\u00a0the house.<i>2015 WMC Action News 5<\/i><a href=\"http:\/\/www.wmcactionnews5.com\/story\/29270362\/family-claims-mlgw-smart-meter-was-on-burned-house\">http:\/\/www.wmcactionnews5.com\/story\/29270362\/family-claims-mlgw-smart-meter-was-on-burned-house<\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n<h2><b>Nevada Smart Meter Fire<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/skyvisionsolutions.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/06\/smart-meter-fire-file-photo-nv.jpg\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">https:\/\/skyvisionsolutions.files.wordpress.com\/2015\/06\/smart-meter-fire-file-photo-nv.jpg<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/smartgridawareness.org\/2014\/09\/14\/smart-meter-fires-spread-to-nevada\/\">https:\/\/smartgridawareness.org\/2014\/09\/14\/smart-meter-fires-spread-to-nevada\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-8022\" alt=\"smart-meter-fire-file-photo-nv\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/smart-meter-fire-file-photo-nv.jpg\" width=\"588\" height=\"713\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/smart-meter-fire-file-photo-nv.jpg 588w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/smart-meter-fire-file-photo-nv-247x300.jpg 247w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 588px) 100vw, 588px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>from \u00a0<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/smartgridawareness.org\/2015\/06\/30\/nlrb-documents-smart-meter-fires\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">https:\/\/smartgridawareness.org\/2015\/06\/30\/nlrb-documents-smart-meter-fires\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022\u2022<\/p>\n<h2><b><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/takebackyourpower.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/smart-meter-fire-kc.jpg\" width=\"640\" height=\"479\" \/><\/b><\/h2>\n<h2><b>Nevada Smart Meter Fire<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>August 29, 2016<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.kshb.com\/news\/local-news\/investigations\/kcmo-smart-meter-fire-sparks-investigation\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">\u2018Smart\u2019 meter fire situation continues to escalate (KSHB-TV, Kansas City)<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OOSAFiMruyI \"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OOSAFiMruyI\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/takebackyourpower.net\/more-fires-kcmo-smart-meter-fire-sparks-investigation-kshb-tv-kansas-city\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">https:\/\/takebackyourpower.net\/more-fires-kcmo-smart-meter-fire-sparks-investigation-kshb-tv-kansas-city\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.stopsmartmetersbc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/TruthAboutFires-TheReport.pdf\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-5379\" alt=\"firepdf\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/firepdf.jpg\" width=\"1056\" height=\"308\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/firepdf.jpg 2200w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/firepdf-300x87.jpg 300w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/firepdf-1024x298.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1056px) 100vw, 1056px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/LiarFire-725x1024.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-4965 aligncenter\" alt=\"LiarFire\" src=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/LiarFire-725x1024.jpg\" width=\"580\" height=\"819\" srcset=\"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/LiarFire-725x1024.jpg 725w, https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/08\/LiarFire-212x300.jpg 212w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 580px) 100vw, 580px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fBDgZjR4qHQ<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div data-mode=\"normal\" data-oembed=\"1\" data-provider=\"youtube\" id=\"arve-youtube-szj9pmwawwe\" style=\"max-width:900px;\" class=\"arve\">\n<div class=\"arve-inner\">\n<div style=\"aspect-ratio:500\/281\" class=\"arve-embed arve-embed--has-aspect-ratio\">\n<div class=\"arve-ar\" style=\"padding-top:56.200000%\"><\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<iframe allow=\"accelerometer &apos;none&apos;;autoplay &apos;none&apos;;bluetooth &apos;none&apos;;browsing-topics &apos;none&apos;;camera &apos;none&apos;;clipboard-read &apos;none&apos;;clipboard-write;display-capture &apos;none&apos;;encrypted-media &apos;none&apos;;gamepad &apos;none&apos;;geolocation &apos;none&apos;;gyroscope &apos;none&apos;;hid &apos;none&apos;;identity-credentials-get &apos;none&apos;;idle-detection &apos;none&apos;;keyboard-map &apos;none&apos;;local-fonts;magnetometer &apos;none&apos;;microphone &apos;none&apos;;midi &apos;none&apos;;otp-credentials &apos;none&apos;;payment &apos;none&apos;;picture-in-picture;publickey-credentials-create &apos;none&apos;;publickey-credentials-get &apos;none&apos;;screen-wake-lock &apos;none&apos;;serial &apos;none&apos;;summarizer &apos;none&apos;;sync-xhr;usb &apos;none&apos;;web-share;window-management &apos;none&apos;;xr-spatial-tracking &apos;none&apos;;\" allowfullscreen=\"\" class=\"arve-iframe fitvidsignore\" credentialless data-arve=\"arve-youtube-szj9pmwawwe\" data-lenis-prevent=\"\" data-src-no-ap=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/szj9pmwawwE?feature=oembed&amp;iv_load_policy=3&amp;modestbranding=1&amp;rel=0&amp;autohide=1&amp;playsinline=0&amp;autoplay=0\" frameborder=\"0\" height=\"505.8\" loading=\"lazy\" name=\"\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-presentation allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" scrolling=\"no\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/szj9pmwawwE?feature=oembed&#038;iv_load_policy=3&#038;modestbranding=1&#038;rel=0&#038;autohide=1&#038;playsinline=0&#038;autoplay=0\" title=\"\" width=\"900\"><\/iframe><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\t<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"http:\\\/\\\/schema.org\\\/\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/emrabc.ca\\\/?page_id=3514#arve-youtube-szj9pmwawwe\",\"@type\":\"VideoObject\",\"embedURL\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\\\/embed\\\/szj9pmwawwE?feature=oembed&iv_load_policy=3&modestbranding=1&rel=0&autohide=1&playsinline=0&autoplay=0\"}<\/script><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000;\">Other Smart Meter Fire Reports<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\"><a href=\"http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/smart-meters\/smart-meter-fires-and-explosions\/\"><span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">http:\/\/emfsafetynetwork.org\/smart-meters\/smart-meter-fires-and-explosions\/<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Fire Report July 2017 &nbsp; &nbsp; TWO ITRON Smart meter fires on the same street in Michigan By:\u00a024HourNews8 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jun 08, 2018 BATTLE CREEK, Mich. (WOOD) \u2014 Fire crews are asking people living in Battle Creek\u2019s Washington Heights neighborhood to be vigilant as authorities try to determine what caused a\u00a0pair of electric meter fires. \u00a0\u00a0The fires [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":6206,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"page-nosidebar.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3514","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3514","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3514"}],"version-history":[{"count":151,"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3514\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13252,"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3514\/revisions\/13252"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6206"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3514"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}