PG&E
Begins Removing 'Smart' Meters Due to Health Effects
by Joshua Hart
Tuesday Nov 1st, 2011 1:39 PM
Santa Cruz, Calif.—Just as PG&E enters the final phase of
its deployment of wireless “smart” meters in California, the largest of the
state’s Investor Owned Utilities (IOU’s) has reversed course, quietly beginning
to replace the ‘smart’ meters of those reporting health impacts with the old
trusty analog version. Consumer rights and health groups immediately seized on
the news, demanding that millions of Californians unhappy with their new
wireless meters get their analogs returned immediately at no cost.
‘Smart’ meters are new wireless utility meters
being installed as part of the “smart” grid initiative, spearheaded by
technology firms and backed by the Obama administration and the Department of
Energy. Promises ranging from lower utility bills to enhanced renewable
generation capacity have failed to materialize, with widespread reports of
higher bills, privacy violations, fires and explosions, and commonly reported
health impacts such as headaches, nausea, tinnitus, and heart problems
associated with powerful wireless transmissions. Widely disparate political
groups- from members of the Green Party to the Tea Party and Occupy protesters
have attacked the program, and dozens of grassroots organizations have sprouted
up over the past several months to fight what they call an undemocratic,
unconstitutional and dangerous assault on people in their own homes and
neighborhoods. Dozens of people have been detained or arrested for peaceful
civil disobedience and even simply speaking out against deployments.
In California, more than 47 cities and counties have demanded a halt to halt
installation, and a dozen local governments have passed laws prohibiting the
controversial technology. The ‘smart’ meter issue has further angered a public
already seething at the utilities over repeated gas explosions, safety breaches
at nuclear reactors, and an increasingly extortionate rate structure. Word of
California’s ‘smart’ meter nightmare has spread across the country and around
the world, prompting some utilities to place smart meter plans on hold, and
recently Nevada’s PUC to call for investigations into the health effects and
other smart meter problems.
Now in a dramatic turnaround that could signal the beginning of a widespread
recall of wireless ‘smart’ meters, on October 28th PG&E re-installed a
classic spinning disc analog meter on the home of Santa Cruz, CA resident
Caitlin Phillips, who had been suffering headaches and other symptoms from her
‘smart’ meter. The move comes in response to verbal directives from the
California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey,
who recently told members of the public that the utility “will provide for you
to go back to the analog meter if that’s your choice.” The CPUC has been slow
to respond to thousands of ordinary citizens reporting health effects from the
new meters.
When a Wellington Energy installer (contracted with PG&E) came to install a
smart meter at her home, Caitlin asked the installer to get off her property
and not install, because of what a neighbor had told her about possible health
damage and privacy violations. “When I returned home later, I discovered a
smart meter on my house. That night I awoke to severe anxiety, headache, and
buzzing in my teeth, and realized the new smart meter was on the other side of
the wall from my bed.” Caitlin reported her experience to PG&E and the
CPUC, who both declined to rectify the situation. When the symptoms persisted,
Caitlin sought the assistance of the Scotts Valley based group Stop Smart
Meters! who provided an analog meter and referred her
to a professional who could help her remove her ‘smart’ meter. As soon as the
analog was installed, Caitlin’s symptoms disappeared.
Frustrated and outraged about her treatment by the utility and the PUC, Caitlin
travelled to San Francisco to speak at a commission meeting on Oct. 20th. About
a week later, PG&E crews were at her house replacing her temporary analog
meter with a brand new official PG&E analog meter. This is believed to be
the first time PG&E have willingly replaced an analog meter on the home of
someone suffering from health effects.
An “opt-out” proceeding overseen by an Administrative Law Judge is underway at
the CA Public Utilities Commission, yet those suffering (in some cases severe)
health impacts have been stuck in limbo as utilities refuse to remove the
harmful meters upon request- until now.
“There are hundreds of thousands- if not millions- of people suffering in their
homes from forced ‘smart’ meter radiation,” said Joshua Hart, Director of the
grassroots organization Stop Smart Meters! “The utilities and PUC’s must
respond promptly to all requests that analogs be returned. The alternative is that
people will increasingly turn to independent professionals to remove unwanted
‘smart’ meters from their homes, a reasonable action
we assert is within our legal rights. Protecting your family’s health is not
tampering.”
PG&E and other utilities have also been responding to health complaints by
replacing wireless ‘smart’ meters with digital meters that are
“wireless-ready.” These digital meters have been associated with health
problems from “dirty electricity” frequencies that pass into a home via the electrical
wiring. These “trojan horse” meters have been roundly
rejected by those who report continuing health impacts after installation.
Susan Brinchman, Director of San Diego based Center
for Electrosmog Prevention. said
“At this point, the burden of responsibility is on the utilities to demonstrate
that any new meter they want to install on our homes is safe. Communities have
the right to retain analog meters at no extra charge. Period.”
~end~
Source: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2011/11/01/18696555.php