WOMAN ARRESTED WHILE REFUSING SMART METER INSTALLATION ON HER PROPERTY TELLS US HER STORY
Jennifer Stahl has been a strong advocate against the smart meter program in Naperville, Ill., for the last two years. The issue came to a head Wednesday afternoon when she was arrested while refusing to let the utility workers install the controversial device.
“I was protecting my property,” Stahl said in an interview with TheBlaze Thursday afternoon. “I felt my emotion was like a momma bear protecting her babies.”
Stahl was at a friend’s house when she received the call from her husband that the utility workers had arrived. She was home within 15 minutes and saw they were at a neighbor’s house. Her neighbors were not home, but they had signs stating they did not permit the new meter to be installed. More
Dum dums on both sides took it too far. How about this lady. Don't want the meter? Fine. The power company can just stop sending electric through their equipment into your house. Problem solved.
10:04 You don't get it. The power company has a right of way acess to their line. Their cable coming from their transformer to your property is theirs. The meter is theirs. If they deem that the meter needs to be upgraded, they will change it. They have every right to do so. It's also their right to access the property in order to work on their equipment. So if you come out guns ablazing they have every right to pull your meter. These new meters that everyone is calling "smart meters" are meters so that the meter reader can just go through the neighborhood and download your reading with out having to go on to your property. There are several reasons why. It's because some meters are inaccessible for the reader to get to. IE locked fences, dogs, crazy people, the service is in a bad location, or items blocking the way to the meter. So in order to read you meter, this was the better alternative. Now the meter reader can drive through the neighborhood and get your reading electronically, and safely. This also cuts down on labor, time, and costs. Plus it boosts up faster response, bill periods, and labor that can be focused elsewhere.
10:37 actually the new meters don't even NEED a meter reader to drive down the street. The meters communicate by wireless radio signals to a collector on a utility pole which transmits the information directly to the power company's computers.
The issue is some folks believe that those RF signals are somehow affecting their health -- giving `em brain cancer or some other ailment, etc.
There are ways to block those signals from your house, by installing shielding on the inside of the wall opposite of the meter box, for example.
Getting arrested for illegal acts is not one of the better methods of limiting such signals, IMO.
So the power companies become more profitable and the consumer sees no reduction in their bill. Also, the consumer now has a fire and health hazard attached to their home. Tell me....when will the power company start regulating how much energy I can use.
10:37. Well said. I love my smart meter. No one needs to come on my property. No worrying if they shut the gate after taking a reading and if the dogs will get loose. Some folks just need something to complain about.
They don't have the right to use equipment that may cause physical harm to the homeowner of the new meter.
They should be more of a choice in this matter. If they wanted to put a nuclear powered meter on your house because they 'owned' it, would you let them?
This is not something that just happened overnight. They have been fighting these meters over 2 years.
They could have found other less heavy-handed tactics to resolve this. Like some have said, turn off the service to the old meter and take it from there.
They might own their meters but she owns the house. If she doesn't want something attached to it, why is she being forced to do so?
You talk about the power companies rights, what about her rights?
I have read in articles that these meters do not even work. They still have to be manually read. Obviously not all of them do not work but that is irrelevant anyway. We're talking about homeowners rights.
And if only one life could be spared, do they not have an obligation to do something?
Cmon my property get SHOT.
ReplyDeleteI don't want one either, but I think I have one. I wasn't asked, but it's a different meter.
ReplyDeleteSend a letter to your power provider stating you do not want the Smart Meter. You have the right to refuse in Maryland so far.
ReplyDeleteDum dums on both sides took it too far. How about this lady. Don't want the meter? Fine. The power company can just stop sending electric through their equipment into your house. Problem solved.
ReplyDelete7:05. Agreed just shut her off. Idiot She should find something important to worry about
ReplyDeleteThe power company has a legal right to access their facilities and equipment on your property as a condition of providing you with electric service.
ReplyDeleteThey also have the right to use whatever equipment they deem necessary to measure the amount of electricity you consume.
If you deny them access or the ability to use such equipment, they can deny service to your premises.
Take it up with the PSC.
7:05 and 7:49 you just don't get it. Sad.
ReplyDelete10:04 You don't get it. The power company has a right of way acess to their line. Their cable coming from their transformer to your property is theirs. The meter is theirs. If they deem that the meter needs to be upgraded, they will change it. They have every right to do so. It's also their right to access the property in order to work on their equipment. So if you come out guns ablazing they have every right to pull your meter. These new meters that everyone is calling "smart meters" are meters so that the meter reader can just go through the neighborhood and download your reading with out having to go on to your property. There are several reasons why. It's because some meters are inaccessible for the reader to get to. IE locked fences, dogs, crazy people, the service is in a bad location, or items blocking the way to the meter. So in order to read you meter, this was the better alternative. Now the meter reader can drive through the neighborhood and get your reading electronically, and safely. This also cuts down on labor, time, and costs. Plus it boosts up faster response, bill periods, and labor that can be focused elsewhere.
ReplyDelete10:37 actually the new meters don't even NEED a meter reader to drive down the street. The meters communicate by wireless radio signals to a collector on a utility pole which transmits the information directly to the power company's computers.
ReplyDeleteThe issue is some folks believe that those RF signals are somehow affecting their health -- giving `em brain cancer or some other ailment, etc.
There are ways to block those signals from your house, by installing shielding on the inside of the wall opposite of the meter box, for example.
Getting arrested for illegal acts is not one of the better methods of limiting such signals, IMO.
Oh please, most of the time DPL just estimates and never comes out. Keep your eyes on the bill.
ReplyDeleteSo the power companies become more profitable and the consumer sees no reduction in their bill. Also, the consumer now has a fire and health hazard attached to their home. Tell me....when will the power company start regulating how much energy I can use.
ReplyDeleteDoes the power company notify you first that they are going to change your meter or do they just show up & do it?
ReplyDelete10:37. Well said. I love my smart meter. No one needs to come on my property. No worrying if they shut the gate after taking a reading and if the dogs will get loose. Some folks just need something to complain about.
ReplyDeleteThey don't have the right to use equipment that may cause physical harm to the homeowner of the new meter.
ReplyDeleteThey should be more of a choice in this matter. If they wanted to put a nuclear powered meter on your house because they 'owned' it, would you let them?
This is not something that just happened overnight. They have been fighting these meters over 2 years.
They could have found other less heavy-handed tactics to resolve this. Like some have said, turn off the service to the old meter and take it from there.
They might own their meters but she owns the house. If she doesn't want something attached to it, why is she being forced to do so?
You talk about the power companies rights, what about her rights?
I have read in articles that these meters do not even work. They still have to be manually read. Obviously not all of them do not work but that is irrelevant anyway. We're talking about homeowners rights.
ReplyDeleteAnd if only one life could be spared, do they not have an obligation to do something?
Welcome 2 the new world order you vil comply
ReplyDeleteI'd hate to be 12:25 am's mailman.
ReplyDeleteJust shut up and be a good Citizen. The government has your best interests at heart. Resistance is futile.
ReplyDeleteJust shut up and be a good Citizen. The government has your best interests at heart. Resistance is futile.
ReplyDeleteJanuary 26, 2013 at 3:41 PM
Seems to me I have heard that line a few times in history.