Analysis of CPS Energy “Smart” Meters Shows Radiation Pulses Occur 700 Times as Often as What the Utility Says

Posted on November 16, 2014 by Josh Hart

On Friday, CPS Energy of San Antonio, Texas made the claim to reporters that their “smart” meters only transmit once every four hours:

“Where typical analog meters get checked once a month or so by a meter reader, the new devices send signals every day.

A spokesman for CPS Energy said the devices emit that signal every four hours, as it checks in with the utility’s headquarters.”

So we decided to take a radio-frequency analyzer and check whether CPS was being honest about the transmission characteristics of its meters.  Turns out, according to our analysis, CPS “smart” meters are sending out intense bursts of microwave radiation at least six times every two minutes not every day, as claimed.

If CPS can’t be straightforward with the public about the specs of its meters, how are people like retired attorney Oliver Holden supposed to trust the company that the meters will not interfere with his pacemaker, a life and death matter?

We measured up to a 325 mw/m2 pulse from the meter.  This is 225 mw/m2 higher than the Russian and Chinese health standard, and hundreds of times higher than have been found to cause health problems in peer-reviewed, published science.

This kind of misrepresentation is endemic within the utility industry.   It’s your home and your community.  It’s your right to say NO! (without any penalty fee!)

Posted in neighborhood organizing, Texas | 1 Comment

Stop Smart Meters! to San Antonio City Council: “Be a Wise City, Not a Smart City”

Posted on November 15, 2014 by Josh Hart

I’ve been in San Antonio, TX for several days now, meeting with members of San Antonio Smart Meter Awareness and Coalition for Safe Meters, screening the film Take Back Your Power, interviewing San Antonians about this issue, and supporting those who are resisting a forced and unwanted smart grid.

San Antonio is one of the last places in Texas to be threatened with the smart grid scourge. As a result, they have the advantage of being informed about all the negative experiences that the rest of the state and country are dealing with.  Silver Spring Networks, a tech firm who makes components and software for the smart grid, recently opened an office here in San Antonio, and they are preparing to make San Antonio a “smart city.”  Not terribly wise, in our book.

CPS Energy (City Public Services) is a municipal utility that provides both gas and electricity to the people of San Antonio.  In fact, the City of San Antonio gets 40% of their income from the utility.   CPS’ current policy is that everyone must get a new smart meter.  They must think San Antonians aren’t very smart.  Their scam of an “opt out” program requires residents to pay $175 initially and $20/ month for an “OMR” meter  — another type of smart meter that still invades your privacy, radiates your family, and poses fire risks. “OMR” stands for “off-site meter read” and refers to a type of AMR meter that requires a utility drive by or walk by. These meters can provide details of your electric use, just not on a real time basis.

For people like Oliver Holden, who has a pacemaker and whose bedroom wall is lined with a bank of meters, CPS’ arrogant threat to install smart meters-which can interfere with electronic devices such as pacemakers- is a life and death issue.

San Antonio news station KENS5  interviewed Oliver and me as part of an investigative report on the meters that aired yesterday.  The utility- as usual- presents inaccurate information, such as “the devices emit that signal every four hours” when utilities like PG&E who are using the same type of equipment admit that the meters emit up to 190,000 times per day.

Down the road, we spoke with residents of Les Chateaux, a 105 unit condo complex.  They have spent a significant amount of money to install locked steel cages around every analog meter in the complex.  These residents are informed, organized, and united in their resolve to prevent CPS from installing “smart” meters anywhere on the property.

Yesterday we interviewed some of these residents and we will be posting the video shortly.  Stay tuned.   Next week we will be in St. Louis, MO and will be reporting on the situation there.  Thanks to all the committed people in San Antonio who are standing up for their rights, and who have been so kind and welcoming.

Posted in Citizen rebellion, Democracy, interference, neighborhood organizing, radio-frequency radiation, Smart Grid, Texas | 5 Comments

Stop Smart Meters! Speaking Tour- Screening Take Back Your Power- Coming to California, Texas, and Missouri

Posted on November 7, 2014 by Josh Hart

IMG_0963It’s time to get back on the road, and visit affiliate groups around the country to help spread the message that the smart grid is not a future we want.  If anything, smart meters are a red herring, a dangerous wrong turn and an unprecedented waste of money and energy.  The public is waking up to this broad based utility scam, and guess what?  We don’t have to go along with their undemocratic agenda.

This month, with the support of local groups we’ll be holding events that include screenings of Take Back Your Power in Grass Valley, CA, San Antonio, TX and St. Louis, MO.  Please spread the word to people you know in these areas and if you are nearby please come join us!  Below are details:

Grass Valley, CA- 11/7

Screening of “Take Back Your Power” 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Unity in the Gold Country Spiritual Center. The center is located at 180 Cambridge Court, off Whispering Pines in Grass Valley.

San Antonio, TX- 11/13

Thurs. Nov. 13,  6:30pm —doors open at 7:00
San Antonio ‘Smart’ Meter Awareness presents :
Josh Hart, Director of  StopSmartMeters.org on tour, from California

FREE public screening of the award-winning 2013 documentary
‘Take Back Your Power-Investigating The“Smart” Grid’ (Q & A following documentary)

Holiday Inn Airport, 77 NE Loop 410, 78216
Limited seating, RSVP asap to:    info@sanantoniosmartmeterawareness.org  
refreshments available at Java Cafe in hotel lobby

Directions: (from Broadway & 410), take Airport Exit, stay on westbound 410 access road…you will pass the Holiday Inn Express – Keep Going – Look for the SECOND Holiday Inn, **Holiday Inn Airport**,  (next to Vanguard Bank) – Turn right into hotel entrance.  (hotel is between Jones Maltsberger and McCollough, on westbound 410 access road)

St. Louis, MO- 11/19

We have a great evening planned for November 19, 2014 in St. Louis, MO.  We will screen the latest version of Take Back Your Power, have a Q&A, and individuals will share their interactions with the utilities, regarding this matter, across the state of MO.

Wednesday, November 19, 2014
6:30 pm -8:30 pm

Josh Hart, Director – Stopsmartmeters.org
Screening: Take Back Your Power + Q&A

Missouri Baptist Hospital Auditorium
(@ Hwy. 270/40, use north entrance)
St. Louis, MO

http://www.missouribaptist.org/AboutUs/MapsandDirections.aspx

Admission is FREE, donations are welcomed!

Please invite your groups, friends, and families.  This is a bi-partisan issue, everyone is welcomed.  If you are not aware of the smart/digital meter risks to your privacy, your safety, your wallet and your health this event is for YOU!

More info please contact: ironk5{at}gmail{dot}com

Posted in California, Citizen rebellion, Missouri, Texas | 5 Comments

CPUC Set to Screw You with Extortionate Proposed Decision

Posted on October 30, 2014 by Josh Hart
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Image courtesy http://stopocsmartmeters.com/

The following is from the EMF Safety Network, who are intervenors in California’s Phase 2 smart meter opt out proceeding:

California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) Judge Amy Yip-Kikugawa and President Michael Peevey have issued two proposed decisions in the smart meter opt-out proceeding.

Here’s a recap of what they state:

  • Give 37 million dollars to Investor Owned Utilities (PG&E, SCE, SDG&E and So Cal Gas) for providing the opt-out program.
  • Adopt permanent fees for residential customers who “do not wish to have a wireless smart meter”.
  • Continue the same interim fees of $75 initial fee, plus $10 a month, and $10 initial fee and $5 a month for low income.
  • Local governments and multi-unit dwellings may not collectively opt out of smart meter installations.
  • Charging an opt-out fee does not violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
  • They will not address health and safety impacts in this decision.
  • Assess fees on a per location basis, for example if you have two or more meters on your property, that will be one fee, per utility company.
  • If you have two utilities, they can both charge you fees.
  • Peevey proposes putting a cap on the opt-out fees at 3 years.
  • Both Peevey and Yip-Kikugawa refuse to consider a no fee option.

ALJ Amy Yip-Kikugawa’s Proposed Decision

Michael Peevey’s Alternate Proposed Decision

“It is in everyone’s interest to promote moving to smart meters.” -Amy Yip-Kikugawa, CPUC proposed decision

A proposed decision is not necessarily the final authority.  In 2011 the proposed decision stated the opt-out meter for PG&E would be a radio-off smart meter.  After strong public opposition the final decision allowed for the analog meter.

What you can do:

Go to the CPUC meetings and speak out.  The next few meetings will be held on:

November 20th, December 4th, December 18th- all starting at 9:30am

The CPUC is located at 505 Van Ness Ave San Francisco CA.

To  learn more about this issue read the EMF Safety Network brief.

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Posted in California, Class Issues and Social Equality, CPUC, Democracy, Electro-Hyper-Sensitivity, PG&E, Safety, San Francisco, SCE, SDG&E | 2 Comments

SSM! Bumper Stickers and Limited Edition T-Shirts Available

Posted on October 19, 2014 by Josh Hart
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As you may know by now, we don’t mince our words at StopSmartMeters.org.  And why should we when our health and safety are at risk?

We have three limited edition American Apparel men’s medium 100% cotton long sleeved black t-shirts with the news that the WHO says wireless may give you cancer.  In case people haven’t heard (and many of them still haven’t, believe it or not).  On the back it says “Microwaved without adequate safety standards.”  They are provided at our cost, $35/ each including shipping in the US.

Plus, check out our new bumper stickers (not just for bumpers anymore!) 4 x 11″ vinyl. They are $8.95 (plus CA tax) for a 10-pack including shipping to US.  Get them at our online store, proceeds from which help to fund our ongoing work to Stop Smart Meters!

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Posted in health effects, neighborhood organizing, radio-frequency radiation, Safety, Smart Grid, World Health Organization | 2 Comments