Smart Meter
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
Health concerns. Links to brain tumors. Security scares. Over charges. Rate increases. All for an updated, modernized, KREMC “Smart Meter?”
I say no way and so should you!
KREMC recently provided a meeting to its customers informing them of the new Smart Meters that will be installed over the next 18 months. They have invested $3.4 million, completed studies, and will begin installation in three weeks.
Despite the various benefits touted by KREMC, very few of the 40 attendees were convinced of their need for a Smart Meter and asked to opt-out. Several concerns were mentioned, including:
1. Illness – numerous complaints have been lodged noting headaches, difficulty concentrating, ringing in the ears, and others, after Smart Meter installation.
These illnesses are related to radiofrequency magnetic fields. In May 2011, the World Health Organization labeled these as a 2B carcinogenic (causes cancer) and noted a link to brain tumors!
http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf
2. Security – every appliance has its own “fingerprint” and since the meter is reading and sending out information about which appliances are being used and when, hackers/criminals can get very detailed information about your lifestyle. For example: owner makes coffee at 7 a.m., makes toast at 7:15, no activity for several hours, oven use at 4:30 p.m., Wii at 6:30 p.m. See the danger?
3. Rate increases – despite a promise by KREMC that rates would not increase, further study via smartmeter.gov revealed that customers will be charged more during peak hour use, noon to 9 p.m. This “encourages” customers to “manage” their energy use and do things like laundry or run the dishwasher at off-peak times, before noon and after 9 p.m. Not sure about yours, but my life doesn’t work that way.
4. Over charges – many people have complained that they were being over charged once Smart Meters were installed.
When confronted with these issues the KREMC representative simply stated he had read all of the same information and just didn’t believe it. He gave no statistics, no suggestions as to where to find better information. I pointed out to him that we were there to get more information and he stated he had given us information, the need and benefits of having a Smart Meter.
The KREMC representative then said that he didn’t know if any of those in attendance believed that 9/11 was done by the U.S. Government, but there was a lot of information about it as well, but it didn’t make it true. The insinuation was clear; we’re all “crazy.” However, he is looking out for his $3.4 million investment.
In light of these links to cancer, other health concerns, rate increases, and over charges, I encourage every KREMC customer to call KREMC and ask to opt-out of the Smart Meter Program. Attendees were told “I hear you” and promised that “Before the meters go out, there will be a program set up for you. We’ll have a (opt out) program for you.” Let’s be sure they stand by that promise.
Amy Prosser
Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
Health concerns. Links to brain tumors. Security scares. Over charges. Rate increases. All for an updated, modernized, KREMC “Smart Meter?”
I say no way and so should you!
KREMC recently provided a meeting to its customers informing them of the new Smart Meters that will be installed over the next 18 months. They have invested $3.4 million, completed studies, and will begin installation in three weeks.
Despite the various benefits touted by KREMC, very few of the 40 attendees were convinced of their need for a Smart Meter and asked to opt-out. Several concerns were mentioned, including:
1. Illness – numerous complaints have been lodged noting headaches, difficulty concentrating, ringing in the ears, and others, after Smart Meter installation.
These illnesses are related to radiofrequency magnetic fields. In May 2011, the World Health Organization labeled these as a 2B carcinogenic (causes cancer) and noted a link to brain tumors!
http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf
2. Security – every appliance has its own “fingerprint” and since the meter is reading and sending out information about which appliances are being used and when, hackers/criminals can get very detailed information about your lifestyle. For example: owner makes coffee at 7 a.m., makes toast at 7:15, no activity for several hours, oven use at 4:30 p.m., Wii at 6:30 p.m. See the danger?
3. Rate increases – despite a promise by KREMC that rates would not increase, further study via smartmeter.gov revealed that customers will be charged more during peak hour use, noon to 9 p.m. This “encourages” customers to “manage” their energy use and do things like laundry or run the dishwasher at off-peak times, before noon and after 9 p.m. Not sure about yours, but my life doesn’t work that way.
4. Over charges – many people have complained that they were being over charged once Smart Meters were installed.
When confronted with these issues the KREMC representative simply stated he had read all of the same information and just didn’t believe it. He gave no statistics, no suggestions as to where to find better information. I pointed out to him that we were there to get more information and he stated he had given us information, the need and benefits of having a Smart Meter.
The KREMC representative then said that he didn’t know if any of those in attendance believed that 9/11 was done by the U.S. Government, but there was a lot of information about it as well, but it didn’t make it true. The insinuation was clear; we’re all “crazy.” However, he is looking out for his $3.4 million investment.
In light of these links to cancer, other health concerns, rate increases, and over charges, I encourage every KREMC customer to call KREMC and ask to opt-out of the Smart Meter Program. Attendees were told “I hear you” and promised that “Before the meters go out, there will be a program set up for you. We’ll have a (opt out) program for you.” Let’s be sure they stand by that promise.
Amy Prosser
Warsaw, via e-mail[[In-content Ad]]
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