Have You Had Your 'Smart Meter' Installed Yet?

More than 100 Texans have joined together to petition public utilities regulators to ban so-called “smart” power meters because of the health threats they impose on the general public.

The meters are designed to interact with various advanced electronic appliances to monitor – and even manipulate – the use of power.

“Petitioners who have been subjected to forced or compelled installation of smart meters or have been exposed to RF and EMF radiation generated by smart meters fraudulently installed on neighboring homes and businesses have experienced difficulties with symptoms of insomnia, headaches, dizziness, nausea and other symptoms,” states the petition, submitted to the Public Utilities Commission of Texas by attorney Tom Cryer on behalf of Devvy Kidd, John Kidd and more than 100 others.

Cryer said his goal is to obtain a ruling on the dangers of the meters based on the health risks they pose.

“It’s like rushing thalidomide to the market … and not knowing the consequences,” he said, referring to the 1950s and 1960s use of the drug that caused major birth defects for children whose mothers used it.

He said the problem is the radio signals generated by the units.

“The meters are being pressed by the utilities in anticipation of charging different rates for usage at different times of the day and night, providing the utilities with a premium for peak times and increasing their profits,” explained an announcement about the petition.

“Utilities also claim that the smart meters will permit them to communicate with ‘smart’ appliances, such as air conditioners, dryers and water heaters, turning them off when demands on the system would otherwise require adjustments in electricity distribution on the grid, saving utility companies money. Many, however, are opposed to the installation of the meters because they are a serious health risk, compromise the consumers’ privacy and provide no savings or conservation purposes.”

Cryer’s arguments continued, “The ‘smart’ meters will not save the consumer any money, since he will be subjected to higher time of day based rates and to interruption of his use of appliances. The meters will not reduce the amount of electricity a customer uses nor will it result in any savings.”

He noted several state legislators have requested a moratorium on further installations until the meters can be tested. Many of their constituents, the lawmakers say, have reported that after installation of the meters their bills suddenly became much higher although their use of electricity did not change.

More