LAST CHANCE: Submit Your Questions About Smart Meters

M. Sullivan October 16, 2012 at 05:58 pm

My questions:
1) What accredited safety test lab has approved these devices (i.e. UL, CSA, CE)? 2) How are these meters or installation methods any different than those which have caused fires or damage to electronic equipment in CA, TX, OR, LA and outside the U.S.? 3) How will interference with portable phones and Wi-Fi be addressed? 4) How will the portion of the installation not covered by the Federal grant be paid for? 5) If we opt out, what kind of financial penalty is BGE planning? How is it justified?

Joel Moskowitz October 16, 2012 at 07:34 pm

Recently, 54 scientists and medical professionals from 20 countries have called for precaution regarding deployment of wireless “smart meters," a technology that employs microwave radiation similar to that used in cell phones.
http://www.prlog.org/11978228-health-experts-caution-about-smart-meters.html

Harry Callahan October 17, 2012 at 02:06 pm

I have already decided to opt out regardless of the cost. And, should BG&E somehow force me to get one of these smart meters, I have already prepared my own counter-measures plan for dealing with that eventuality. To put the matter succinctly, I think that any smart meter forceably installed on my property will develop, how should I put it, a severe case of front-end overload the source of which will remain a mystery to BG&E technicians if they ever visit my property.

Steve October 17, 2012 at 02:18 pm

That is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever read. You don't think BGE will know you vandalized their equipment and charge you accordingly?

M. Sullivan October 17, 2012 at 03:03 pm

Not necessarily, Steve. If Harry was to come up with an RF transmitter of maybe 5-10 watts at 920 or 2400 MHz and set the antenna very close to the smart meter for a few seconds that would probably be enough to blow out the input to the receiver in the smart meter. The damage would be impossible to prove as intentional without a very expensive microscopic analysis of the internal structure of the input RF amplifier semiconductor. Even then, the results would be suspect. Now, if the happened repeatedly, there might be some suspicion.

Other Tim October 17, 2012 at 07:38 pm

You people have been standing under power lines and talking on cell phones too long. Your brains are fried.

Malaprop October 17, 2012 at 10:07 pm

Joel Moskowitz posted a link to a very misleading article.
The author of that article is Dr. David Carpenter. Dr. Carpenter is an established fear mongerer who among other things encourages people to ask if smart meters have been proven safe. You will hear this at 0:45 in the video below: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=n7L21XOC2wA Science cannot prove anything safe; this is a well-known logical flaw exploited by those who wish sidestep scientific procedure. The article is riddled with bad science, misleading studies and appeals to authority of incompetent government officials. I will discuss these in subsequent posts. Dr. Moskowitz, and the other 50 “scientists,” signed a document that no more resembles good science than a Madoff financial statement resembles sound accounting principles. It is quite telling that three of the signatures are from “scientists” on the IARC committee that declared cell phones a Group 2b carcinogen in 2011.

Malaprop October 17, 2012 at 10:23 pm

This faux science document includes a link summarizing the recommendations of the Santa Cruz Health Officer, Dr. Poki Stewart Namkung.
Dr. Namkung quoted dubious sources including Dr. Carpenter, Dr. Olle Johansson (Misleader of the Year 2004), Daniel Hirsch (see below) and a host of other well-known alarmists and false prophets. The inclusion of fudged data from Daniel Hirsch shows the ineptitude of Dr. Namkung. This is the essence of Daniel Hirsch’s claim: “Comparing the peak dose to the ear from a cell phone, when the rest of the body gets vastly less radiation, with a whole body exposure where all organs get roughly the same dose from a SmartMeter, doesn’t seem appropriate. If there is a cancer effect, it is likely associated with the total RF energy the body receives.” This is embarrassingly wrong. Those who support unproven link between cell phone use and cancer contend that exposure is harmful because the radiated power is concentrated in a smaller area. Once you move three feet away, there is more whole body exposure, but its intensity is significantly weakened by the square of the distance. Also, much of the emitted radiation spreads as it leaves the source and will not be incident on the body — unless someone is the size of an elephant. For a more authoritative debunking of Hirsch (and his lack of credentials) and Dr Namkung, read some real science here: http://smartresponse.lbl.gov/reports/schd041312.pdf

Steve October 17, 2012 at 10:35 pm

It's just another Tea Bagger Wingnut conspiracy theory that somehow through Smart Meters the United Nation is going to take over the World.
http://www.teaparty911.com/issues/smart_meters.htm Its all part of the "Agenda 21" <ooga bogga> wingnuttery.....

Malaprop October 17, 2012 at 11:11 pm

The next piece of bad science is a reference to the Sage Report on Smart Meters.
www.sagereports.com This report was meticulously debunked by EPRI. The exaggerations, false modelling and violations of the laws of physics are described at a level that is manageable by anyone who understands science at the high school level. www.aeic.org/meter_service/smartmetersandrf031511.pdf

Malaprop October 17, 2012 at 11:16 pm

Dr. Carpenter also invokes authority from the American Academy of Environment Medicine (AAEM).
This organization has a less than stellar reputation: From Wikipedia article on AAEM "Criticism of legitimacy" --------------------------- "Quackwatch lists the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (AAEM) as a questionable organization, and its certifying board, the American Board of Environmental Medicine as a dubious certifying board.[4] They are not recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.[8]" 4) a b Barrett, Stephen. "Questionable Organizations: An Overview". Quackwatch. Retrieved 17 May 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quackwatch 8) "Specialties & Subspecialties". American Board of Medical Specialties. Retrieved 17 May 2012. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Board_of_Medical_Specialties http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/index.php/environmental-medicine/

Malaprop October 18, 2012 at 12:13 am

There are more sinister connections with the Smart Meter conspiracy theorists.
Several prominent smart meter activists have made appearances on a talk show hosted by Deanna Spingola, who mostly discusses conspiracy theories regarding 9/11, Holocaust Denial and Zionist plots. Christine Hoch was a guest in October 2011 and Josh Hart is a three-time guest. Even though their discussion was limited to smart meters one has to wonder why they would appear on a show that normally promotes hate. Here is an example of the list from May 2012, note the titles of the shows that have nothing to do with smart meters. www.spingola.com/May2012.html If an employee from the power company went on a virulently racist and antisemitic talk show to discuss smart meters they would be denounced and terminated immediately. No activist speaks out against the smart meter activists who appear on the show. It tells you quite a bit about the ethics of these "do-gooders" and supposed protectors of our health.

Steve October 18, 2012 at 04:13 pm

"Steve, as usual, your comments are of no real use to this discussion."
As usual, you have your head buried in the sand. The real reason these people don't like the Smart Meters is because they listen to too much talk radio. All the other stuff they try to bring up is just BS.

Steve October 18, 2012 at 04:22 pm

This describes the opposition to Smart Meters. Delusional,O ld bitter White people with a poor grasp of science aka The Tea Party.
http://gulagbound.com/17534/agenda-21-outsmarting-america/#.UIAsZWlERTw

Susan Brinchman October 22, 2012 at 05:09 pm

I beg to differ with those who don't comprehend the dangers of smart meters, who obviously have not researched the subject well enough - or who may be PAID to attack those who do, and appear to do so all over the country. All Readers should visit "Correcting the Gross Misinformation About Smart Meters" http://maisonsaine.ca/smart-meters-correcting-the-gross-misinformation, a position statement signed by 54+ well-respected, international RF (radiofrequency) experts who have published peer-reviewed papers on the topic. They give hard evidence of why smart meters are dangerous. Well-respected by all but the Industry, that is. As the victim of two smart meters that were forced onto my property for two years, till we obtained a hard-won opt-out, I can attest that the horrific devices are defective, dangerous, and ruined my health, irrevocably. My story is here http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/living-nightmare-how-sdge-smart-meters-led-to-my-headaches-sleeping-ills-hearing-loss and I urge you to read it also. I started a nonprofit to alert the public - www.electrosmogprevention.org. Smart meters are no laughing matter. They are a huge threat to the public health and to our liberties, like no other. The purveyors of the desperate drivel that tries to negate these truths are suspect. Methinks they do protest too loudly.

Susan Brinchman October 22, 2012 at 05:12 pm

Good idea, Harry. If I had known enough to do so, I would have built a stout, tall fence that no one could get around and chained up the analog meter. Some weld bars in front of them as well. Others have been forced to have an electrician remove the smart meters due to dire health consequences.

Susan Brinchman October 22, 2012 at 05:15 pm

Joel, I really appreciate your posts and agree with the scientists and experts. www.electrosmogprevention.org and www.smartmeterdangers.org has a host of scientific and authoritative articles that show the dangers of this type of technology. As a victim of smart meters, with one installed just inches from my bedroom pillow,where I slept and became ill for six months, I cannot emphasize enough how dangerous they are.

Malaprop October 23, 2012 at 04:59 am

Please see the debunking of the 54 "experts" above.