critical issues to consider when deciding whether to opt out

Critical Issues to Consider WhenCritical Issues to Consider When

Deciding Whether to Opt OutDeciding Whether to Opt Out

A public service brought to you by the Smart Meter Safety CoalitionA public service brought to you by the Smart Meter Safety Coalitionwww.smartmetersafety.com

SmartSmart Choices About Smart Meters Choices About Smart Meters

http://www.smartmetersafety.com/

Smart Meter Safety CoalitionSmart Meter Safety Coalitionwww.smartmetersafety.com


Elisa Boxer-Cook, Lead Complainant Docket 2010-Elisa Boxer-Cook, Lead Complainant Docket 2010-345 345

Dianne and Stephen Wilkins, Lead Complainants Docket 2010-389Dianne and Stephen Wilkins, Lead Complainants Docket 2010-389Suzanne A. Foley-Ferguson, Lead Complainant Docket 2010-385Suzanne A. Foley-Ferguson, Lead Complainant Docket 2010-385

In 2010 and 2011 seven 10-Person Complaints were filed at the In 2010 and 2011 seven 10-Person Complaints were filed at the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) against CMP’s Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC) against CMP’s wireless smart meter program. Five were consolidated to wireless smart meter program. Five were consolidated to address the financial and technical feasibility of allowing address the financial and technical feasibility of allowing customers to “opt out” of the program. The MPUC either customers to “opt out” of the program. The MPUC either dismissed or did not rule directly on the merits of specific dismissed or did not rule directly on the merits of specific issues (health, privacy) in those complaints other than issues (health, privacy) in those complaints other than opt opt outsouts. Some investigation into fire safety and interference . Some investigation into fire safety and interference occurred.occurred.

After 8 months of testimony, data requests and hearings, the After 8 months of testimony, data requests and hearings, the PUC ruled PUC ruled

--it was “unreasonable” to force customers to accept a wireless --it was “unreasonable” to force customers to accept a wireless

meter, meter,

--in the public interest to allow customers to opt out.--in the public interest to allow customers to opt out.

Two Opt Out Options:Two Opt Out Options:

Wireless Smart Meter -Option AWireless Smart Meter -Option Awith one-way communicationwith one-way communicationCan be “turned on” remotelyCan be “turned on” remotely

Electro-mechanical Meter - Option BElectro-mechanical Meter - Option B(also called Analog / Existing)(also called Analog / Existing)

$40 fee; $12 per $40 fee; $12 per mosmos

$20 fee; $10.50 per $20 fee; $10.50 per mosmos

30 days to respond 30 days to respond

Opt Out Meter ComparisonsOpt Out Meter Comparisons

ElectromechanicalElectromechanical MeterMeter

Smart Meter Smart Meter turned offturned off

Hard WiredHard Wired Wireless -Two antennaeWireless -Two antennae

On-site connects and On-site connects and disconnectsdisconnects

Wireless remote Wireless remote connect and disconnectconnect and disconnect

Non-detailed total KW Non-detailed total KW estimates / verification estimates / verification

checked every 3rd checked every 3rd mos.mos.

Hourly Interval data Hourly Interval data collected every third collected every third

month by onsite month by onsite downloaddownload

existing meterexisting meterTo be developed with To be developed with

900K of taxpayer’s 900K of taxpayer’s dollarsdollars

Will not communicate Will not communicate with your applianceswith your appliances

Wireless Wireless Communications with Communications with

your appliancesyour appliances

$12 per month$12 per month $10.50 per month$10.50 per month

CMP’s Radiofrequency Mesh System CMP’s Radiofrequency Mesh System

New Appliances equipped New Appliances equipped with wireless RF chips with wireless RF chips

Appliances equipped to recognize and react to signals Appliances equipped to recognize and react to signals

from utility; for example if the load is high.from utility; for example if the load is high.

RadiofrequencyRadiofrequency Mesh System Mesh SystemEach home equipped with a wireless SMEach home equipped with a wireless SM

Data moved from house to house to a Data moved from house to house to a

collector collector

+/- 15,000 transmissions per day+/- 15,000 transmissions per day

Peak pulses are 100 times stronger than cell Peak pulses are 100 times stronger than cell

phone (time averaged)phone (time averaged)

RadiofrequencyRadiofrequency Mesh System Mesh SystemWireless appliances connected to meter collects very Wireless appliances connected to meter collects very

detailed hourly data. (enables consumer and utility to detailed hourly data. (enables consumer and utility to

control flow to individual appliances via computers, cell control flow to individual appliances via computers, cell

phones, or network)phones, or network)

•RF exposure compounded by appliances and neighbors RF exposure compounded by appliances and neighbors

24/7 (on all the time, infrastructure = mini-cell towers , 24/7 (on all the time, infrastructure = mini-cell towers ,

neighbor’s RF penetrates walls; FCC standards do not neighbor’s RF penetrates walls; FCC standards do not

use cumulative exp.)use cumulative exp.)

SmartSmart Choices Choices Why opt out?Why opt out?1. Radiofrequency Interference (RFI)1. Radiofrequency Interference (RFI)2. Data protection, privacy issues, 2. Data protection, privacy issues, constitutional rightsconstitutional rights3. Cybersecurity / hacking 3. Cybersecurity / hacking 4. Fire Safety /Overbilling4. Fire Safety /Overbilling5. Adverse Health effects of Radiofrequency 5. Adverse Health effects of Radiofrequency radiation (RF) Short term and long radiation (RF) Short term and long termterm

1. Radiofrequency Interference -2.4 gHz1. Radiofrequency Interference -2.4 gHz

SmartSmart Choices Choices Why opt out? Why opt out?

WiFiWiFiNetFlixNetFlixSecurity SystemsSecurity SystemsComputersComputersGarage openersGarage openersMedical devicesMedical devicesPacemakers, DBSPacemakers, DBS

1. Radiofrequency Interference1. Radiofrequency Interference Over 100 complaints recordedOver 100 complaints recorded Interference PUC Complaint-CEInterference PUC Complaint-CE CMP hired a subcontractor to deal CMP hired a subcontractor to deal

w/ problemsw/ problems Spikes can cause appliance Spikes can cause appliance

damagedamage Some cannot be fixed / neighbor’s Some cannot be fixed / neighbor’s

RFRF


2. Data collection and protection, 2. Data collection and protection, privacy issues, constitutional rightsprivacy issues, constitutional rights

Appliances have load signaturesAppliances have load signaturesSM data laws don’t exist (fed/st)SM data laws don’t exist (fed/st) Third party vendor accessThird party vendor access Extremely detailed dataExtremely detailed data

SmartSmart Choices Choices Why opt out?Why opt out?

SmartSmart Choices Choices Why opt out? Why opt out?Hourly usage data collected can create consumer Hourly usage data collected can create consumer profiles:profiles:

• when you cook, blow dry your hairwhen you cook, blow dry your hair when you shower, watch tv, use computerwhen you shower, watch tv, use computer

when you’re home or on vacation when you’re home or on vacation (burglery risk)(burglery risk)

if you use a medical device / exercise if you use a medical device / exercise machinemachine

EVEN what “brand” of applianceEVEN what “brand” of appliance

• Vivid profile of your daily living habitsVivid profile of your daily living habits


Fourth amendment of US constitution grants security Fourth amendment of US constitution grants security and privacy in persons, houses, papers and effectsand privacy in persons, houses, papers and effects unwarranted surveillanceunwarranted surveillance pers. data collection & dissemination w/o pers. data collection & dissemination w/o

consentconsent third party data -no data protection laws third party data -no data protection laws data security-hackabilitydata security-hackability

who wants data? who wants data? Marketers, insurance companies, law enforcement, researchers, Marketers, insurance companies, law enforcement, researchers, (divorce) attorneys, identity thieves, etc.(divorce) attorneys, identity thieves, etc.


3. Cybersecurity / data security3. Cybersecurity / data security Wireless systems more Wireless systems more

vulnerable to hacking and vulnerable to hacking and interceptioninterception

SM linked directly to home SM linked directly to home computer & datacomputer & data

Electrical grid, internet, Electrical grid, internet, wireless communicationswireless communications

Banking and transportationBanking and transportation


4. Fire Safety / Overbilling4. Fire Safety / Overbilling Wireless interference with Ground Fault and Arc Wireless interference with Ground Fault and Arc InterruptersInterrupters

Blown appliances due to electrical spikesBlown appliances due to electrical spikes Old or unshielded wires not able to carry Old or unshielded wires not able to carry

load;Fires in CA and Australia blamed on SMload;Fires in CA and Australia blamed on SM Smart meters not required to meet national or Smart meters not required to meet national or

local electrical codes, nor be UL / third party local electrical codes, nor be UL / third party tested tested

Fires caused by faulty installation; El Rayo Fires caused by faulty installation; El Rayo TaquieroTaquiero

SmartSmart Choices Choices Why opt out?Why opt out?Over billing - inaccurate readingsOver billing - inaccurate readings-some say it will increase energy -some say it will increase energy consumptionconsumption-data from neighbor’s meters co--data from neighbor’s meters co-mingled?mingled?-how SM determine it’s “my” -how SM determine it’s “my” appliance?appliance?-all over country and world-all over country and world-energy useage soars; or over billing?-energy useage soars; or over billing?

-Texas, Canada, Australia, California-Texas, Canada, Australia, California

RF Health ConcernsRF Health ConcernsShort termShort term-dizziness, migraines, -dizziness, migraines,

nausea, vomiting, muscle nausea, vomiting, muscle spasms, heart palpitations, spasms, heart palpitations, sleeplessness, lack of energysleeplessness, lack of energy

Long termLong term-childhood leukemia, -childhood leukemia, 30% decrease in sperm count, 30% decrease in sperm count, reduced immunity, DNA breaks, reduced immunity, DNA breaks, increases in brain, skin, breast increases in brain, skin, breast and testicular cancersand testicular cancers


SmartSmart Choices Choices Why opt out?Why opt out?HealthHealth

- electromagnetic sensitivities can be - electromagnetic sensitivities can be developeddeveloped

-involuntary intense burst exposure 24 / 7-involuntary intense burst exposure 24 / 7RF exposure changes body biologyRF exposure changes body biologyincreases permeability of blood brain increases permeability of blood brain barrier to toxinsbarrier to toxins-drops melatonin levels-drops melatonin levels-decreases attention, memory and motor -decreases attention, memory and motor skills in childrenskills in children-DNA damages passed down generations-DNA damages passed down generations

FCC standards do not exist FCC standards do not exist for non-thermal radiationfor non-thermal radiation

Radiation exposures for the Radiation exposures for the public are not based on public are not based on cumulative exposures, and only cumulative exposures, and only at inches awayat inches away

Wireless SM technology is the Wireless SM technology is the most expansive and pervasive most expansive and pervasive rollout of RF radiation ever in rollout of RF radiation ever in history.history.

SM’s have not been tested.SM’s have not been tested.


The World Health Organization recently The World Health Organization recently classified radiofrequency radiation (cell classified radiofrequency radiation (cell phone, WiFi and smart meters) as a “phone, WiFi and smart meters) as a “possible possible carcinogencarcinogen” ---in the same category as lead, ” ---in the same category as lead, engine exhaust and DDT. (May 31, 2011)engine exhaust and DDT. (May 31, 2011)

Unlike cell phones and WiFi, Smart Meters amount to an involuntary 24/7 Unlike cell phones and WiFi, Smart Meters amount to an involuntary 24/7 exposure to a “possible carcinogen”.exposure to a “possible carcinogen”.

2011-The World Health Organization recently classified radiofrequency 2011-The World Health Organization recently classified radiofrequency radiation as a “radiation as a “possible carcinogenpossible carcinogen” ---in the same category as lead, engine ” ---in the same category as lead, engine exhaust and DDT. (May 31, 2011) 2010 - Karolinska Institute -”stop all exhaust and DDT. (May 31, 2011) 2010 - Karolinska Institute -”stop all wireless rollouts” until more data can be evaluated.wireless rollouts” until more data can be evaluated.

2009 - Pathophysiology - reviewed Over 1500 studies and found nerous 2009 - Pathophysiology - reviewed Over 1500 studies and found nerous risks to human health from rf exposures at levels below current FCC limits.risks to human health from rf exposures at levels below current FCC limits.

2008-Environmental Working Group (EWG) Cell Phone Study reviewed all 2008-Environmental Working Group (EWG) Cell Phone Study reviewed all available infoavailable info

2007- Bioinitiative Report-650 pages - 2000 studies2007- Bioinitiative Report-650 pages - 2000 studies

2006 (ongoing) UK Powerwatch Studies2006 (ongoing) UK Powerwatch Studies

1971 - Naval Medical Research Institute Bibliography of over 2000 studies 1971 - Naval Medical Research Institute Bibliography of over 2000 studies finding adverse effectsfinding adverse effects


Two Opt Out Options:Two Opt Out Options:

Wireless Smart Meter Wireless Smart Meter Option A-one-way comm Option A-one-way comm $10.50/mos$10.50/mos

Electro-mechanicalElectro-mechanicalOption B-Keep Existing meter Option B-Keep Existing meter $12/mos$12/mos

Health, safety, security and privacy. Your choice.Health, safety, security and privacy. Your choice.


Smart Meter Safety CoalitionSmart Meter Safety Coalitionwww.smartmetersafety.com


critical issues to consider when deciding whether to opt out

Documents

wireless meter

wireless rf chips appliances

individual appliances

data protection

wireless smdata

detailed hourly data

data requests

data collection