BY LINDA BENTLEY | MARCH 7, 2012
Smart meters installed first, regulations to follow?
‘The World Health Organization has concluded that no adverse health effects can be attributed to low-level radio frequency energy’
CAVE CREEK – As recently as last Friday, APS placed door hangers on homes in Cave Creek to notify homeowners of a scheduled meter exchange, stating, “To help us better serve your needs, we will be exchanging your electric meter for a new automated smart meter.”
The notice, in both English and Spanish, stated, “We plan to exchange your meter within the next three business days. In some instances, we also work on Saturday to complete scheduled exchanges.”
It then went on to list the “many customer benefits,” including automatic transmittal of meter data to APS, which it said would eliminate the need for a meter reader to visit your home each month.
However, an asterisk corresponded with some small print stating, “Note: We will still require safe, unassisted access to your meter for maintenance and inspection.”
Another benefit was being able to change to a different rate the next day.
It touted how electric service can be connected or disconnected remotely, “which also benefits the environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from trips to the field.”
And, customers can track their daily energy usage online.
APS has apparently been met with some resistance to their smart meter exchange program as hold times for customers calling, subsequent to the door-hanger notifications, were close to two hours.
APS has even produced a flyer for those who are opposed to having a smart meter installed. One side is dedicated to “Smart Meters: Myth vs. Fact” with the other side explaining “Smart Meter and Radio Frequency (RF).”
Regarding RF exposure, the flyer states, “Wireless smart meters result in much smaller levels of radio frequency exposure than many existing common household electronic devices.
“Significant research on the thermal effects of radio frequency energy has been done over the last 30 years. The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that no adverse health effects can be attributed to low-level radio frequency energy.”
It should be noted the WHO believes: “Climate change is a significant and emerging threat to public health, and changes the way we must look at protecting vulnerable populations,” despite man’s effect on global warming, subsequently renamed climate change, being debunked as a hoax and just a means for implementing wealth distribution on a global scale.
WHO’s website states: “WHO has an active and long-standing programme on protecting health from climate change, guided by a World Health Assembly resolution. Through its country, regional and headquarters offices, WHO provides evidence and supports capacity building and implementation projects to strengthen the health system response to climate change, and to ensure that health is appropriately considered in decisions made by other sectors, such as energy and transport. The Organization also provides the health-sector voice within the overall UN response to this global challenge.”
WHO is marching to the UN’s global warming and climate change beat and claims “there is a particular need to control and reduce health risks, and strengthen coordinated preparedness and response in respect of the health effects of acute emergencies and other crises that may be exacerbated by climate variability and change.”
So, if WHO was wrong about the junk science of man-made global warming, why should anyone believe its conclusion that no adverse health effects can be attributed to low-level RF energy?
Aside from APS using WHO’s conclusions, it appearss APS is attempting to circumvent possible upcoming Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) regulations, which could include opt-out or opt-in provisions, by installing as many smart meters as possible before such provisions are in place.
Anyone who has contacted APS to advise them they did not wish to have a smart meter installed, can attest to the fight they were up against.
First the customer service representative will ask why they do not wish to have a smart meter installed.
Then, no matter what one answers, the customer service representative will say something to the effect, “That is not a legitimate reason for refusing a smart meter.”
The fight escalates from there.
The ACC has a special open meeting “Workshop on Meter Guidelines” scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Friday, March 23.
The agenda includes a review of draft proposed Meter Guidelines, presented by ACC staff, followed by discussion of the draft proposed Meter Guidelines and stakeholder/public comments.
There will then be discussion of other concerns, a wrap-up and discussion of next steps.
The posted notice of the meeting notes: “No votes on substantive matters will be taken at this meeting.”
The meeting will be held in the ACC Hearing Room, 1200 W. Washington, First Floor, Phoenix, AZ 85007.
Citizens concerned about health, privacy and other issues associated with smart meters can have their say at this meeting.
