USE OF THIS SITE DEPENDS ON AGREEMENT WITH OUR DISCLAIMER*
Each section contains several questions and answers.
- The “Smart” Meter Basics
- Fire and Safety Issues
- Radio-Frequency Radiation Issues
- Health Issues
- Utility Company Issues
- Billing Issues
- Privacy Issues
- Legal Issues
- Changing a Meter
- Organizing and Community Issues
- Shielding and Measurement Issues
- Insurance Issues
- Mesh Network Issues
- “Home Area Network” (HAN) Issues
- General Electrical and Meter Information
- Defend Your Analog Meter
*USE OF THIS SITE DEPENDS ON AGREEMENT WITH OUR DISCLAIMER: This website is intended to help advance knowledge and stimulate further research. While all reasonable precautions have been taken to ensure the validity of the information given, no warranty is given towards its accuracy. It is not intended to substitute for medical or legal advice nor as a final statement with regard to possible prevention and avoidance recommendations or potential biological effects. No liability is accepted by the authors for damages arising from its use or misuse and interpretation by others. All references to smart meters refer to wireless devices, which may vary in their emissions.
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GREAT WORK. This is very helpful.
Thanks.
Michele
In Idaho only wired meters are being used, and the cost is $191 each.
Yet Hydro says that it would cost $35,000 for a wired meter. Please explain.
Why aren’t the RCMP investigating this obvious extortion scam by Hydro
Smart Meters – something to be afraid of? http://www.squidoo.com/beware-of-smart-meters
Does anyone know of an energy cost/benefit analysis of the net energy that will be gained or lost by smart grid infrastructure such as antennae and meters, etc. It’s hard to imagine the smart grid will save energy when one considers the amount of energy necessary to fuel the infrastructure. Any links would be appreciated, especially independent analyses.
The meters and radio systems are not the power grid, but they suck up large amounts of energy from the power grid to transmit gibberish 24 hours a day 7 days a week to keep in sync and chat with each other, and only transmit the customers usage data in a millisecond burst once every 4 hours.
The whole program is designed to waste energy, and sell expensive revenue radio collection systems to eliminate the meter reading department.
The meter program saves the utilities money by hopefully eliminating the meter readers, but it costs the customers billions and also costs the consumers the energy to power the new radio revenue meters. The new meters actually don’t save customers any money at all, they add to the total bill.
About decryption of data.
Back around 2000 the big rave was to buy a DirecTv carded decoder box and an emulator computer and card that simulates a phone connection. I bought a system on the black market that had those things and had to be upgraded every few weeks when Rupert Murdoch (the owner of DirecTv) would send down Electronic Counter Measures (ECM’s) and make the code keys inactive . It was a sweet deal, all the satellite feeds from around the nation, local spot beams from all the major cities local news channels, network feeds from across the country broadcast at their times not ours, all the premium movie channels, all the pay per view channels including all the 10 porn channels and special sports events that cost $250 ALL ON ALL THE TIME, FOR FREE !
Then Rupert spent $22 million to make sure that nobody could hack DirecTv anymore, and it worked. Then he went after people that were getting his signals and sued them to back charge for “theft of signal”
So we switched over to hacking the Dish Network. We used foreign made receivers made by Pansat, Ariva, BlackBird and a host of others. The Dish Network is owned by EchoStar communications. They have about 6 satellites that beam everything down on mainly EchoStar 7 at 119 degrees, and EchoStar 9 at 121 degrees. there are others for watching foreign broadcasts like the German news that have topless women, and Al Gezerra. We also had Bellevue TV (BEV) which is the Canadian Dish Network owned by EchoStar. I liked watching froggies reporting the news.
The deal was the same, one bought the receiver, the dishes with multiple LNB’s , tuned in the dishes (a hassle, unless one had a real DN receiver which showed what birds (satellites) and the degrees.
We had all the goodies, the premium channels, the local channels across the country, the PPV , porn and sporting events FO FREE! We called it FREE TO AIR (FTA).
At first the DN used Nagravision 1 encryption. The the went to Nagravision 2 encryption that took the Italian coders a few months to hack, so we were down for a few months.
Then EchoStar Communications hired Kudesky Security to develop Nagravision 3 encryption. So far nobody has been able to hack that encryption. The party is over for us now.
That just goes to show that some encryption systems can be developed that cant’t be hacked as of yet.
Keep in mind that most encryption systems were developed by the governments, either through grants given to Universities or in government labs. The governments know all the keys, but your average “hacker kiddie” doesn’t know squat.
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Smart meters are definatly needed for the following three main reasons:
1) Generate your own power and sell it to the grid. With a smart meter measuring your excess power going into the grid, you no longer need a big bank of batteries to store that power. Generate revenue and reduce cost for your own power at the power companies expense.
2) Take unreliable people out of the power out/on reporting system.
Currently you phone the power company to report the power is out. It’s the only way they know it’s out. Then you are supposed to phone them and tell them it’s back on, but no one does that. The line crews have to drive up and down the street looking for lights on to tell them all the power is back on. These crews work outside in all conditions and get well paid for it. They could be fixing the next problem or going home if the meters tell them all the power is back on, instantly.
Sticking to the current antiquated system is just foolish.
3)Most business costs are LABOUR. Want to keep your power bill lower, less employees at the power company is a good start, especially people who don’t actually have anything to do with getting the power to your house.
The power system is still using stuff that’s based on hundred year old technology, it’s way past time to move up to the modern world.
I bet if you keep the old meter you will very soon be getting an extra charge to pay for the meter reader to come out to your house, at least I hope so, because I sure do not want to subsidize your power costs.
@ Kevin in Canada: I don’ find your comment particular relevant for most of us in California, or Texas, or anyplace else in the U.S., or Canada: Very very few people generate their own power. Human reporting of outages is not poor. And none of us is getting a rebate for all those meter readers being fired.
What I DO consider relevant is that : 1) an electronic device I cannot turn off affixed to my home emits a WHO Class-2B carcinogen 24 hours a day, everyday, into my environment, and all over my neighborhood, violating my right to control my home, 2) ‘smart’ meters are NOT necessary for grid update, and we have utility execs’ word on this, 3) the data collected by my meter my utility seeks to own and use at their own discretion, violating my privacy.
In addition, it is clear to anyone listening to the thousands of complaints, most of which are registered by people who never had such problems before, that these meters make people sick, and in consistently similar ways. Only a company hell-bent on profits would choose to ignore the human-health cost of such an infrastructure “deployment.”
1. “Smart” Meters by default do not “run backwards”, so it makes it harder to go green if you wanted to buy a low cost plug in grid tie inverter and buy some solar panels. You would have to call the power company and ask their permission, get an inspection and jump through a lot of hoops to get to the point where you could save a few KWH a day with a small inexpensive system.
With the old meters, they naturally “run backwards” and let you gain “credit” during the day that you could use at night. Simply and inexpensively.
2. Power companies have power going to the cable and internet companies network routers and amplifiers. They could easily ASK for those companies to please report power outages on their networks.
They could monitor power WAY, WAY cheaper than the BILLIONS they are spending on these “smart” meters. They could put up small low power transmitting devices high on poles that would transmit only on a power outage. NOT ROCKET SCIENCE!
People won’t get off their fat butts till something big happens, like their TV gets turned off. So I would think a lot of people calling in all at once means the power is out in that particular area.
3. They are already getting the funds to read the meters. Are you really foolish enough to think you will be seeing any sort of lower bill when they get rid of those meter readers and make you PAY BIG for all the new CHEAP, PLASTIC meters? Lifetime of which is questionable so you might have to PAY AGAIN for another set later?
Nothing beats the old glass cover and metal ring for withstanding the weather and sun!
I suggest you go read all the issues these meters have at the link below, all 25 of them so far. Then you will be well informed.
http://stopsmartmeters.org/sample-letter-to-utility/
I have (HAD) a HD 3D digital H-Dila video projector that cost me $9,999.00. Last month I went to get my mail down the street and when I got back home I noticed my power had gone out but was back on. Well my Projector was not on anymore and was overheated due to the power being cut off for a smart meter install that I was never told anything about. since the projector was not shut down with cool off time aloud it fried the video processor board. Wellington Rep. by the name of (Guss) basicly told me tuff shit its not their problem and told told me to call PG&E.
@Fried Yes, DO contact PG&E, because that is an outrageous amount of damage and you have the right to be compensated. We think they have paid out on some damage claims, but it’s all hushhush.
AND also submit your complaint here as well: http://SmartMeterHelp.com. AND at the CPUC: https://ia.cpuc.ca.gov/cimsapp/?key=39949189
Let us know how it goes for you.
Hello! Have been reading a lot about the health concerns reguarding smart meters. A smart meter was in fact installed in my home April 2010. In August I was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer and heart disease (CAD). Just six months prior to August 2010 I was tested for heart disease and the test were negative. How do I know if the smart meter has in fact caused my health problems? and how do I get the meter removed from my home? I am going through chemo therapy at the present time, and will be having a by-pass in the future, it’s is a shame the consumer has to fear for their life where these smart meters are concerned.
Starting to put them here in Savannah – we can’t opt out. Sent email to Utility Commish. What else can I do..Here’s my letter:
There is nothing smart about SmartMeters. In fact, I find it the height of irony to refer to such a device with so many derogatory health, privacy and economic effects as Smart. Is it Smart to have an FCC broadcasting device on the side of your home that can wirelessly broadcast your household’s personal data for any unsavory character/organization to tune into? Is it Smart to have a device that many top physicians and scientists have regarded as a huge health concern due to the harmful radiation – ( Buy or rent a a Geiger Counter and monitor a home with a SmartMeter for a few days. What readings do you get?). Is it Smart to support a device that increases our bills because we used an appliance at the “wrong time” of the day. (FYI -almost every community that has these SmartMeters has seen their bill increase). Is it Smart to usurp our Constitution and stomp on our Bill of Rights by forcing SmartMeters down our throats and providing us with no opt-out option? No, nothing is Smart about Smartmeters. Any organization who would knowingly allow it’s constituents or customers to have an FCC broadcasting device on the side of their homes which transmits citizens’ personal data via the airwaves for any unsavory individual to intercept as well as emits harmful rays and raises our electric bill in this tough economy definitely isn’t Smart. In fact, the leaders that allow SmartMeters are either extremely misinformed, unintelligent or have bad intentions.
Leaders: The truth about these meters is reaching people and when the masses realize you knowingly allowed a device to go on their family homes that has well documented side effects, privacy violations and rate increases, you are going to be dealing with a lot of angry citizens. Please be one of the brave souls to stand up against SmartMeters. I encourage you to do your own independent research if you haven’t already! Please take a stand!
Sincerely,
Dismayed, Disgruntled and Disappointed in Savannah, GA
How do I know if a smart meter has been installed at my house? I believe the PGE guy no longer checks the old meter, so that must mean I have one, right? Where are PGE numbers posted to get it removed? I’m having symptoms that could be related.
I honestly hope none of you are in anyway Engineers or Physicists. Your clams are outstandingly wrong. I am an Electrical Engineer and I work for a company that develops test equipment for meters in general including smart meters.
1. The signal that the smart meters are transmitting is at a much lower frequency then what is required to stimulate cells in your body and cause cancer. If it were low enough to cause cancer then everyone in the world would have cancer due to the hundreds of devices that emit low frequency radiation; including your cordless phone, wireless internet, and Cell Phone. Also the signal out of the meter is very low power, no more than an average cell phone and you probably don’t put your ear to the side of your electrical meter right?
2. Smart Meters do not cost you more. The only reason you bill may go up is because the meter that you had was not accurate. So your bill may go up or down. Over time mechanical meters wear out and slow down so you are not being charge for the amount of electricity you are actually using. The electric companies must test your meter for accuracy after replacing it and file that information away. If there is a discrepancy between the new meter and the old one, the power company can show you that your old meter was not accurate.
3. The smart meter does not transmit any personal data. The device only holds information about the watt hour usage of your house. Your account number is NOT used in the transmission of data only the serial number of the meter. There is nothing being transmitted that can’t be read off of your mechanical meter.
4. The meters are not spouting off gibberish. They are transmitting data to the power company so they can better understand the power demands. The power grid is very complex and the power company actually loses a lot of power in just transmitting it to your house. So they need to know how much your house and the houses around you need so that they can route power appropriately.
5. You are not paying for the power that the meter uses to run; the power company is. The power for the meter is taken from the Grid side of the meter NOT the HOUSE side. Your bills do not change because of this. And in any case the power required for the entire unit is under 20mw. It uses less power than your mobile phone to operate.
6. A Geiger Counter; Really? Just because a Geiger counter has a reading doesn’t really mean much. You can walk through your house and there are at least a dozen things that emit the Gamma, Beta, and Alpha particles that the instrument is looking for including your microwave. Radiation borne illnesses are all about exposure time and intensity. And as I said before I doubt you are holding your head against the meter.
Please understand that the power company has a very difficult time guessing what the power needs are they can only take guesses based on your average usage over time. But by doing so they are using up more power than what is needed if you are not using the same amount. So instead of them keeping an entire generation station running in case of a change in energy demands they can shut it down. Save some power and resources (Coal, Natural Gas). In the end allowing these smart meters to be installed will not only save you money but will help the environment.
TO THE MODERATOR: I WILL CONTINUE TO REPOST THIS EVERYTIME THAT YOU ERASE OR EDIT IT.
@Mitch: Well, you are no biologist, epidemiologist, or medical researcher.
The list of studies showing bioeffects from low-intensity RF is very long. RF emitters in the nanowatt range of power density are used in medical applications. Your narrow orientation has perhaps prevented you from coming in contact with the research. I’m sure if you are interested in a rational discourse, you will actually investigate the matter, rather than spouting the exclusively physics-based nonsense you were spoon-fed in college. “Non-thermal.”
Our technicians don’t use “geiger counters,” we use broadband and spectrum analyzers calibrated to the frequencies emitted by smart meters. The spikes are very high, and the time-averaging pseudo-science used by the regulators hides it.
The item you have left out of your list, one we care about, is the harm done to humans living in close proximity to the transmitting meters. Thousands of people have been made sick, thousands have submitted complaints to health authorities, the CPUC, the government, and to SmartMeterHelp.com. We hear from people every day.
Human harm doesn’t seem to figure in your account.
Mitch,
I agree with you on some things that you say, especially about the only thing transmitted is total watt hours used from each meter, and nothing else.
I know that the transmitters, data collectors/repeaters and central servers use large amounts of electricity to operate, so it doesn’t matter if that power is billed to the customer directly on their monthly bill or not, it is the ratepayers who pay for everything, including building more power plants to provide the additional load that the smart meters and the radio smart grid require to automate meter reading.
That is the only function of the smart meter/smart grid project, to automate meter reading and eliminate meter reading jobs.
I’m sure you are aware that PG&E has approved a $300 million project to upgrade the electrical power grid, set to start in a year or two. PG&E is testing components and soliciting vendors right now.
One of the most important things that will be done is to put sensors intermittently along the circuits that are coming out of the sub-stations (sometimes up to 2000 meters on a circuit). These sensors are very important
for monitoring loads and detecting outages, and the information will be reported directly to the operators of the electrical power grid in real time. The billing information from the smart meters is sent on a radio smart grid to the revenue assurance department, and really is not much use to improve efficiency of the electrical power grid since it is not real time data.
Mitch:
You state that no personal data is transmitted by a smart meter. You also state that my account number is not transmitted. However, you say that the serial number of the smart meter is transmitted. Would you please explain to me that if the serial number of my smart meter is transmitted, why the utility company would not know whose house the meter is mounted on, and further, why the utility company would then not know my name, address, phone number, etc.
It seems the things I mentioned above are indeed examples of “personal data.”
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The problem is not just for 1 (one) Smart Meter attached to a house. We live in a condo complex where there is a common electrical metering box for each row of units (very typical). So we now have 4 (FOUR!) of these Smart Meters located together right below our bedroom window!! Did anyone study what happens when you group multiple units together? Our health has been getting worse and, of course, there is now the constant ringing in the ears. Since I am a recording engineer this has been horrible. Does anyone have any info on the effect of physically grouping multiple units? Thank you in advance.
Hey Now Watt, Co-locating smart meters defies FCC regulations and is way more dangerous than just having one meter (the radiation is cumulative). If you are suffering health effects from the meters, submit a complaint at smartmeterhelp.com right away, see a doctor, and contact your local county health dept. The current ‘opt out’ plans ignore the rights of apartment dwellers as well as business owners and workers. You have a right to live safely in an apartment building or any other building. Take the steps necessary to have the meters removed and analogs replaced! See: http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/09/19/smart-meters-violate-fcc-regulations-period/
Very good point OTLB, workers should have rights to protect them against unwanted RF exposure too, and so should multi family shared wall building dwellers (apartment/condo/townhome).
I know someone who lives in an apartment building with a bank of 15 gas SmartMeters right on the wall outside of where her bed is.
At my urging, I told her to opt out and she did, but she was the only one so far who did.
I went and checked it out last week, there was just one new blue set of dials in the whole bank for her unit.
I told here to talk to her neighbors and see about getting other people to opt out too, but she said most people don’t even know what a SmartMeters is, don’t know that they are installed, and don’t really care.
I told her that at least the electric meter room is far away at the other end of the building, and it is the electric meters that are powered by line voltage and transmitting 24/7 at a higher frequency. The gas SmartMeters are battery powered and only really need to transmit a burst (reading) once a month, but PG&E claims that they transmit readings 6 times a day for no reason at all.
Although people who live in single family detached houses have won the battle and have the SmartMeters removed off of their dwelling, in a shared wall, ceiling and floor building, the residents really have no control. Even if they have a 30 year loan or actually own the condo/townhome outright, they will never own the building or the grounds, just the air inside of the 4 walls, and even then , there are bylaws and regulations like the color of paint inside, installation of certain devices and appliances, smoking restrictions, no line drying clothes, no solar panels, parking restrictions, guest restrictions, no barbecues or using wood to heat the unit. I guess in crowded urban areas, now especially more than ever the modern trend is to cram people into communal living situations in urban transportation corridors. Individual rights are gone, overridden by the power of the collective corporate good.
=> onthelevelblog: Thank you for the response, I’m on it. The page you linked states that co-located units are a clear FCC violation. I can’t find what FCC regulation that is. I called the FCC. They do not know. They read me a long blurb about the safety of Smart Meters which they said was prompted by considerable public interest in Smart Meter safety (which they attributed to predictable and generic public fear of the unknown anytime a new technology is implemented (they also made sure to gather all kinds of personal info about me before they would speak to me)). When I asked if I could get a copy of the FCC safety info he was reading to me he said no, because it wasn’t an official FCC document, it was the “script” he was provided in case anyone asked about Smart Meter safety. I explained again about co-locating multiple units, that there must be some kind of FCC policy or guideline, that companies probably couldn’t just stack together as many as possible. He kind of got the point but could not provide any other info other than to suggest I look at the FCC “Lab” website and see if I find something there (I couldn’t). Calls to the Southern California Edison ultility side yielded a suggestion to call our City Hall because “it goes through them”. I did. “The guy” was off for the day (Monday). I’ll keep trying.
Some Progress: We found the SCE (Southern California Edison) webpage for Smart Meter Opt-Out/uninstall (we were out of the country on a U.S. State Dept. program when they were installed and didn’t know about it). The webpage states there will be a $75.00 charge to put the old-type meter back in and a $10.00 monthly charge from then on to cover the manual reading of the meter (with less meters to read and our old bill already covering the cost of meter reading I would think the overall cost should be less but I suspect the charges are actually just disincentive or punishment rather than true pass-along costs). As Redi Kilowatt points out we would then have to convince our neighbors to also pay the extra amount to get the other 3 units removed. A challenge because the units are not physically located near them, just us. Still, we called the SCE Opt-Out number and Opted-Out. We were told we would be put on a “Delay List” meaning we “might” be able to Opt-Out next month but they are not sure when or even if they will allow it. So there. We have to just wait and see. We then sent a vigorous e-mail to our Congressman (Dreier) to try a parallel path. Onward.
Come on Mitch ,REALLY , shut a generation station down during off peak times !!!!
They don’t shut them down , they might slow generation down or speed up the turbines to compensate one way or the other — but shut them down !!!!!
Power companys know from their readings in the substations , just when more or less power is needed and can compensate with LTC’s [ load tap changers ] or banks of capasitors to help adjust the power factor.
Smart Meters are only needed to eliminate meter reader JOBS!!!!
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Edison States there is only the OPT OUT program to keep the meter off. They are not going to honor my NOTICE OF NO CONSENT TO TRESPASS AND SURVEILLANCE, NOTICE OF LIABILITY letter I even Notarized and Certified Return Receipt. SCE management said via a note to my account that the phone rep. read (and a letter was to be sent but nothing yet) something like the original agreement I agreed to access to their equipment and it is theirs and they have the right to up-grade,maintain, and access their equipment. The letter I sent will not keep them from not installing.
Are they bluffing has the No Consent worked for any body?
How long will they keep coming back? I have asked for Corix to cancel the install but they say they will come back each month the cancel is only good for weeks. not for good. They have millions to install still in the first wave. Have they come back?
I have service with SCE & their smart meter is already in place. What is usually involved after I send the registered letter to their officials?
Also, Would there be any usual time frame from the time the letter is sent to the time that the device is removed?
Regards,
Jim.
I realize this might be a stupid question but why aren’t you on facebook?
Hi Kathleen, Stop Smart Meters! does not have a facebook page because we oppose Facebook’s privacy policies and we do not want to spend time on their site. As a grassroots movement, there are dozens of anti-smart meter pages on facebook. You are also free to start your own! This is not a typical top-down organization but a broad based grassroots decentralized movement. If you see something lacking, do it yourself!!
It seems that since the CPUC cannot obey their own rules and guidelines, SCE is encouraged to do likewise. Thugs, all, to be sure! In my SCE bill today 11/20/12, the OPT-OUT fees have RISEN to $98.00 “INITIAL” FEE (TAX) for a NON-CARE GROUP and $24.00 MONTHLY “FEE” (TAX).
FOR THE CARE GROUP the “INITIAL” FEE (TAX) has risen to $78.00 and the $19.99 FOR THE MONTHLY “FEE” (TAX).
There are NEVER any guarantees of profit, unless you are a corrupt group of individuals without a conscience. But they WILL be judged…as they crawl under their rocks, quivering and trembling in fear. They will deserve everything they get.
May I suggest this article “Statist Thugs and the Rocks They Crawl Out From” written by Barandon Smith. The picture alone is worth the time. Meanwhile, keep the faith!
http://www.alt-market.com/articles/1171-statist-thugs-and-the-rocks-they-crawl-out-from-under
why isn’t anyone filing a lawsuit? this is a constitutional invasion of privacy. it is also a consumer protection issue. somebody out there has to have the money to do that. a lawsuit will tie this up for months or longer, depending on how good your lawyer is. it will also bring more attention to the matter. there is no such thing as bad publicity, so it will help. just a suggestion.it’s still America, you can sue anybody you want for anything you want, file a lawsuit.
I noticed last year someone from Idaho said Idaho is not wireless, but here is the link that proves that’s gone.http://www.idahopower.com/servicebilling/residential/billing/amr.cfm
If you check M2M Magazine you will see that the utility companies are co-ops with each other to see this done globally. It is a global plan. That doesn’t mean it will work, it’s the plan. Washington state has allowed for Smart Meters. Avista has an opt out program for $200 and $50 a month you will be charged if you opt out. So it’s obvious this is about profit, not energy savings, or anything else. Follow the money. Look up what the individual utility companies are saying their plans are. The Government has given huge incentives to electric companies who cooperate. So it’s far and few the towns that will stand up against money, since money seems to be more important in this country than honor, justice, or the Constitution, and that started a long time ago. This is just the fruition of that way of thinking. Why is anyone surprised?
Virginia fights back against smart meters. Bill is introduced in the Virginia legislature to protect our rights.
Go to: http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/52690
we have been informed that the old meter will be reinstalled by PG&E on the 1st of may i will believe it when i see it. with three meter on the one family unit we occupy we have been under some flight and fight moments, increasing heart rate while trying to sleep at night and LOSS OF SLEEP, high levels of blood pressure and ringging in the ears and vibratiions in the mouth . so while we wait for the old meter to be install we have started to turn off the circuit brakers. I HOPE THIS WORKS SO I WILL HAVE THE COURAGE TO ENGAGE MY NABORS TO OPT OUT EVEN IF HAVE TO SHARE THEIR OPT OUT FEES. WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. THANKS.