Smart Meter Information Consumers Should Know
Catherine J. Frompovich
Activist Post
Also, Smart Meters are a part of the United Nations Agenda 21.
“Smart
Meters” are a tool or mechanism for Sustainable Development, which was first
introduced to the world in the pages a 1987 report (Our Common Future)
produced by the United Nations World Commission on Environmental and
Development, authored by Gro Harlem Brundtland, VP of the World Socialist Party. Sustainable Development was offered as official
UN policy in 1992, in a document called UN Sustainable Development Agenda 21, issued at the UN’s Earth Summit, today referred to simply as
Agenda 21. UN policy does not supersede U.S. sovereignty, or
is it being implemented by state laws?
What supposedly gives Agenda 21
‘authority’?
More
than 178 nations adopted Agenda 21 as official policy during a signing ceremony
at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Then U.S. president George H.W. Bush signed the “1992 Convention on Biological
Diversity” document for the USA, which the U.S. Congress/government has refused
to embrace, and the ongoing refusal by the American Senate to ratify the
convention after President William J. Clinton signed the treaty in 1993.
So, how can any U.S. locality or
state enact legislation that complies with, acquiesces to, or circumvents U.S.
federal sovereignty and law? Any such laws, therefore, are considered null and void, and
illegal, I contend and, therefore, are in contradiction to U.S. federal law and
Constitution.
Smart Meters Malfunctions and Fires
Furthermore, regarding Smart Meter fires in Pennsylvania, there have been
numerous.
According to PECO’s [electric company] spokesperson, Cathy Engel Menendez, ‘an
extensive analysis of the meter data collected so far will be completed before
the replacement work begins,’ was in response to PECO’s suspending installation
of smart meters due to fires and overheating.
As a result of that assessment, PECO decided to install Landis-Gyr Smart Meters, a Toshiba company, which also have been
responsible for fires. See this photo of the Thunder Hollow Apartments SM fire,
with corresponding documentation. Landis+Gyr SMs do catch fire, but that’s not what PECO admits to in
your March 9th letter to me.
Another Fire: Landis + Gyr Smart Meter Causes Apt.
Blaze (posted July 7, 2014)
http://stopsmartmeters.org/2014/07/07/another-fire-landis-gyr-smart-meter-causes-apt-blaze/
Thunder
Hollow Apts. 2/6/14 Fire video online
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vn0-Xnp6ZOU#t=0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AV1EenFOWB4&feature=player_embedded#t=0
Fox
5 Investigates: Smart meters spark controversy
http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/22240644/fox-5-investigates-smart-meters-spark-controversy#ixzz2TIPxfMlI
Was the Upper Makefield,
Penna. Meter fire a Landis +Gyr?
"I was walking to the seventh tee, when the pro came up
and said, ‘Jump in the car. We just got a call. Your house is on fire,"
Michael Capetto said.
“He lives in Upper Makefield, near Philadelphia, where
the utility PECO this past summer reported at least 15 smart meters caught fire
or got so hot, the meters melted. Similar fires have been reported in other
states too.” Source: EMF Safety Network / Smart Meter Fires and Explosions
I have to ask, “Were those 15 SMs Landis+Gyr Smart Meters too?”
Furthermore, I cannot find the Underwriters Laboratories approval per se
for Landis+Gyr Smart Meters on UL’s site. Can PECO
please supply that exact UL number (i.e., UL Mark layout, serial or issue
numbers -- http://ul.com/offerings/manufacturers/)
not just that “Underwriter’s Laboratories has tested the AMI meters based upon
the UL-2735 standard.” Note that PECO has not supplied any information
regarding Underwriter’s Laboratories UL number!
Apparently, fire hazards and safety issues still exist regarding PECO’s AMI
meters versus analog meters, which were made entirely of mechanical parts with
glass front covers and little insulation that does not allow for easy ignition.
Whereas,
the new AMI digital Smart Meters are made of numerous electronics inside, which
are flammable components, plus the meter ‘face’ is all plastic rather than
glass like the analog. Once overheated or ignited, the plastic face contributes
to rapid conflagration. I refer you to the 39-page report “Utility of ‘Smart Meters’”
produced by the Office of the Fire Marshall, Fire Investigation Services,
Midhurst, Ontario, Canada, dated June 15, 2012 whereon page 27 he discusses
various issues that apparently were of concern to that official regarding Smart
Meter fires in their/his jurisdiction.
From my research, all Smart Meters are constructed the same regardless of
manufacture: Sensus, Landis+Gyr,
GE, Itron. Their design and installation
[retrofitting] into an existing meter socket is what causes the great potential
for damage to a customer’s appliances, and worse, causing fire or explosion.
RF radiation emissions from Smart Meters can
interfere with the function of Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter type sockets
and the ARC-Fault Circuit Interrupter creating other fire hazards and
potentials, which Underwriter’s Laboratory or any other organization has not
certified for safety issues, as I understand. THAT also is a KEY fire safety
issue that doesn’t seem to be addressed. Why? may I
ask.
I’d like to know this regarding PECO’s Landis+Gyr
Smart Meters:
Before I leave the fire hazard/safety issues of Smart
Meters, I would like to bring to PECO’s attention a three-page report from Thermografix Consulting Corporation “Smart Meter Installations &
Fires.”
On
the first page, paragraphs 3, 4 and 5 are more than alarming, i.e.
The fact sheet left out the Smart Meter Routers, collectors,
antennas that communicate with the meters. Those electromagnetic wavelengths
are high speed frequencies hitting the building from top to bottom and going
through the walls of the residence.
The ramifications are high speed vibration of electrical systems, structural
components, fire separations and electromagnetically inducing Pacemakers as
well as electrical systems. That puts the building in violation of Part 4 of BC
Building Code. High speed vibrations billions of times per second equates to molecular earthquakes.
BC Medical Services puts in Pacemakers and manufacturer’s specifications tell
the patient to stay out of an electromagnetic field. BC Hydro is taking the
electromagnetic fields to the patient’s home.
That is a major concern for most people: The negative health aspects of Smart Meters!
On the second page, paragraphs 1 and 5:
Electrical failure of equipment can cause explosions, fire, injury, loss of life and insured loss including production
losses for industry.
For BC Hydro or any utility to blame homeowners or wiring for fires after meter
installation is ridiculous when their installers aren’t qualified to even
understand the scope of work required.
Furthermore, the electrical wiring worked fine with analog
meters. Shouldn’t power companies be mandated to install proper electrical
wiring to accommodate SMs and not leave homeowners
with faulty electric wiring that the utility company created by installing SMs thereby putting homeowners in jeopardy for fire,
explosion, and other SM hazards?
On the third page, paragraph 1:
Electrical Meter Bases have wired connections as well as
stabs. Qualified electrical professionals would check ALL connections when the
meter is pulled. (safely and working with the home
owner) Before installing the new meter any electrical problems would be
identified and repaired, even replacing the meter base if required. There are
no compromises electrically or there will be failure with consequences
including fires.
My question is: How does PECO’s SM installation fit in with
the above?
Who’s Responsible for Damage?
Therein apparently is another legal aspect to the entire Smart Meter matter,
i.e., Product and professional liability problems. State legislatures,
businesses, and corporations cannot demand consumers place their lives and
properties in jeopardy or harm’s way, as all the data and information I’ve
provided over the past month or so—documents that Smart Meters do—without
providing safety measures to preclude such problems. When such malfeasance
happens materially or by law, then that law must be opposed and ultimately
changed or killed by legislative bodies that enact them. Pennsylvania is no
exception.
Since
fire is an ever-present possibility with Smart Meters that no one should be
made to live with—we have smoke detectors for inside our homes to warn us—what
kind of protection does/will PECO supply as Smart Meter fire alarms? After all,
PECO and utility companies that install Smart Meters are providing the fire danger,
so they must provide a safety measure alternative to protect against it.
Legally, you have to, or hasn’t anyone mentioned that legal liability? That
fire/safety issue alone, along with what I will discuss next, should be the
very reasons that the Pennsylvania state legislature should see the folly of
the law it enacted and remove it from the books in the current session, and as
soon as possible.
Radiation Comparisons
Radiation Comparisons: Cell Phones and Household Devices Versus Wireless
Smart Meters
I enclose two pages of charts.
Figure 1: Graph from CCST Report in μW/cm2—uncorrected for whole
body exposure or duty cycle &
Figure 4: Comparison of Radio-Frequency Levels to the Whole Body from Various
Sources in μW/cm2 over
time [corrected for assumed duty cycle and whole body exposure extrapolated
from EPRI/CCST Smart Meter
estimated levels at 3 feet].
You will note, unfortunately, both the minimum and the maximum are exactly the
same dangerous exposure!
Smart Meter Health Problems
Now
on to the REAL and SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS that Smart Meters effectuate
I enclose a five-page report by Ronald M. Powell, PhD in Applied Physics,
titled “Symptoms after Exposure to Smart Meter Radiation” dated March 12, 2015.
The Introduction paragraph says,
People from coast to coast in the USA, and from one side of
the world to the other, are becoming ill after exposure to the radio frequency
radiation emitted by Wireless Smart Meters. Attached are the results of two
surveys of the symptoms being reported.
USA Survey of 318 Individuals in 28 states in the USA
Notice the ‘laundry list’ of new or worsened symptoms
reported
Victoria, Australia Survey of 92 Individuals
A correspondingly similar list of new or worsened symptoms
reported
Notice
that numerous body symptoms are disrupted by Smart Meter radiofrequency
radiation.
The RESULTS:
The most frequently reported symptoms from exposure to smart
meters were (1) insomnia, (2) headaches, (3) tinnitus, (4) fatigue, (5)
cognitive disturbances, (6) dysesthesias (abnormal sensation), and (7)
dizziness. The effects of these symptoms on people’s lives were significant.
The last sentence from the report’s CONCLUSIONS:
Interestingly, the vast majority of Victorian cases did not
state that they had been sufferers of electromagnetic hypersensitivity syndrome
(EHS) prior to exposure to the wireless meters, which
points to the possibility that smart meters may have unique characteristics
that lower people’s threshold for symptom development.
AAEM’s Recommendations
The American Academy of Environmental Medicine
published “Recommendations Regarding
Electromagnetic and Radiofrequency Exposures,” a two-page report.
You
will note the listing of medical conditions and disabilities that would benefit
from avoiding electromagnetic and radiofrequency exposures, plus the
Bibliography. People have to live their lives without being electromagnetically
harmed by a technology [electric power meters] that, prior to Smart Meters, and
for generations, were safe!
March 2015 Study: RF fields Cause Tumors
Early in March 2015, Micro Wave News published a new
animal (mice) study, “Tumor promotion by exposure to
radiofrequency electromagnetic fields below exposure limits for humans,”
wherein this disturbing find was revealed:
Numbers of tumors of the lungs and livers in exposed animals were significantly higher
than in sham-exposed controls. In addition, lymphomas were also found to be
significantly elevated by exposure.
Consumers, homeowners, and children—especially autistic
children—should not be forced by Pennsylvania law, any locality’s or other state’s
laws—even federal law—to live in cancer-causing conditions pumped into their
homes via Smart Meters!
Opt-Out Legislation
Furthermore, numerous states [AZ, CA, FL, GA, HI, IA, LA, MI, ME?, PA, TX, VA, VT] have introduced or have provisions for opt-out
from SMs. There are several bills in the current
Pennsylvania legislative session regarding that issue. In the last PA
legislative session, despite state-wide constituency protests, etc.,
Representative Godshall sat on the SM bills and would
not move them in committee for vote—truly a ‘political crime and democratic
injustice’ against the citizens of Pennsylvania.
Vermont’s Ideal Smart Meter
Legislation
However, the people of Vermont have been blessed with their Smart Meters
legislation:
5/18/12 Gov. Shumlin signed S.214
into law (Act 0170) allowing installation if utility company
(1) provides written notice to the
customer indicating that the meter will use radio or other wireless means for
2-way communication between the meter and the company and informing the
customer of his or rights;
(2)
allows a customer to choose not to have a wireless
smart meter installed, at no additional monthly or other charge; and
(3)
allows a customer to require removal of a previously
installed wireless smart meter for any reason and at an agreed-upon time,
without incurring any charge for such removal.
http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2012/Acts/ACT170.pdf
Questions for PECO
Regarding PECO’s answers to my questions, I have found numerous answers to be
at total variance to the facts, especially No. 6: Have there been fires where
smart meters have been installed?
PECO’s
answer:
No. The AMI meter that will be installed at your home is
manufactured by Landis+Gyr. There are no Landis+Gyr meters that have experienced overheating issues.
Some Sensus meters originally installed experienced
overheating issues; however, PECO has replaced all Sensus
meters with Landis+Gyr meters. The company no longer
installs the Sensus meters and there have been no
overheating issues reported with Landis+Gyr meters.
Well, I beg to differ, and have cited a Landis-Gyr SM meter fire. See the photograph of that fire earlier
in this article. I found other answers in a similar disparaging vein.
My question 7 with regard to adverse health effects from RF/Smart
meters, which PECO claims there are no studies of adverse health effects. I’ve
cited and sent them to PECO.
Hopefully, there is a sensible way of working on this issue other than PECO’s
turning off my electric power. I have given legitimate legal concerns for an
illegally instituted and totally unsafe Pennsylvania law that Pennsylvania
legislatures currently are trying to correct with several bills in this
legislative session, and in view of that, I believe I am entitled to
considerations, as are others who are in equally-challenging health-status
conditions. Everyone believes in humanitarian reasons, or so I’m led to
believe.
The analog meter that has been on my house since I’ve owned it, never has had a
meter reader come to take a reading. But somehow by magic, PECO has been able
to know how much electricity I use and, consequently, sends me a bill every
month, which I have paid promptly. PECO knows what I use, and it’s very
nominal, as I don’t have all the electric gadgets everyone has, including no TV
or microwave oven! If everyone used as little electric power as I do, PECO
would have to create some other business to make a go of it.
And, that’s the last thing I want to discuss: My energy bills increasing with a
Smart Meter, to which PECO said, “No. Your energy bill will not increase.” That
has not been the case for power company bills around the USA.
Electric Bills Increase after Smart
Meters Are Installed
“Do
you want an accurate, reasonably priced utility bill? Utility customers have
noticed huge increases in their bill after a ‘smart’ meter is installed–in some
cases hundreds of dollars more than usual. Utilities claim the meters are
accurate, but unexplained over-billing has featured in many negative reports,
all around the US.”
“Is
it true that your bill goes up after getting a “smart” meter?
Many people have experienced hikes in their utility bill after a “smart” meter
was installed. A recent survey
published on EMFSafetyNetwork.org documented how many
people have received higher bills—over one third of those surveyed. Here’s another account of the
overbilling issues. Here’s another article.” (Source)
Phantom Electricity
Apparently, instead of filing for utility rate hikes, Smart Meters
automatically increase monthly power company bills dramatically. Furthermore,
there’s something called ‘phantom electricity’ which consumers apparently are
being billed for now due to SM metering/monitoring because every appliance has
‘phantom loading’ built in that power companies apparently want to access as
another revenue stream, it would seem. Please see this:
A modern household is packed with appliances connected to
the electrical power. Most consume some electricity
regardless of whether they are actively used or not. The worst offender
is the digital cable television box and digital video recorder. That is just
the beginning. The world electricity consumption is roughly 20 billion
megawatts per year, or 20 trillion watts. It is estimated that about 10 to 15
percent of that amount is just going up the chimney as the phantom loads.
Namely, the civilization of the world consumes 2 trillion watts in electricity
constantly in the phantom loads. That is a huge waste. There have been some
effective policies to limit the phantom loads (one watt limit), however, the total number of devices is on the rise to
offset the power reduction effort. The result is that total phantom loads are
still on the rise.
(Source)
In view of all the above, I feel I have every legitimate and
legal right to ask and be given opt-out status. Please know that I value the
services PECO supplies and delivers, but I am not in alignment with forced RF and electromagnetic radiation coming into my house and
body through the electrical wiring in my house, that puts my life, health and
property in constant jeopardy.
There has to be a way to work this out besides turning off electric power to a
76-year-old widow.
Here’s the reply that I received regarding several letters with ‘tons’ of
printed and Internet link citations regarding Smart Meters:
If the company is not able to install the meter, your service
will be terminated.
If you have any further questions regarding your right to “opt out” of the meter
installation, I recommend that you contact the Pennsylvania Public Utility
Commission. In the interim, since you will not give the company access to install
the meter, your service can be scheduled for termination.
And that dear readers, is how I’m being treated regarding what apparently is an illegal law,
not very carefully thought out, but enacted in Pennsylvania enforcing Agenda 21
Smart Meters.
Resources:
San
Antonio Smart Meter Awareness / Richard M. Powell, PhD
http://www.sanantoniosmartmeterawareness.org/#!ronald-m-powell-phd/c1o0u
Maryland Smart Meters Awareness / Richard M. Powell, PhD
Symptoms Resulting from Exposure to Radiofrequency/Microwave Radiation from
Smart Meters
http://marylandsmartmeterawareness.org/recources/symptoms-resulting-from-exposure-to-radiofrequencymicrowave-radiation-from-smart-meters/
Catherine retired from researching
and writing, but felt compelled to write this article.
Catherine J Frompovich (website) is a retired natural nutritionist
who earned advanced degrees in Nutrition and Holistic Health Sciences,
Certification in Orthomolecular Theory and Practice plus Paralegal
Studies. Her work has been published in national and airline magazines
since the early 1980s. Catherine authored numerous
books on health issues along with co-authoring papers and monographs with
physicians, nurses, and holistic healthcare professionals. She has been a
consumer healthcare researcher 35 years and counting.
Source: http://www.activistpost.com/2015/03/smart-meter-information-consumers.html#more