A bill has been filed in the State legislature to allow customers to opt out of smart meters, HB373 and SB283. 

Here is a petition on the subject. http://www.petitiononline.com/1430/petition.html

This website has some information on the subject and you can learn more about the subject through a web search.  http://www.stopsmartmetersnow.com/

Dr. Ken Monar discusses some of the problems that arise in trying to legislate a complicated matter where technology is ever changing.

Sirs, Madams:

Please consider signing on as cosponsors to the Bill by Womick and Ketron regarding the use of mandatory installation of so called “Smart Meters”.

Having read this proposal, I consider it extremely modest as I do not believe that the long term safety has been demonstrated for these devices. Passage of the as written Bill will at least help balance “interest” between the consumer and providers and give choice to informed customers.

If it were up to me, I would ban the technology as junk and a waste of money. (see below)

My Womick/Ketron Bill Comments

1. Section A, item (3): “Specify gateway devices labeled “FCC” and functioning as radio base stations”, “Operating in frequency range XXX – XXXX MHz and in power range XXX-XXX mW”.
2. Section B, item (5): ["Obtain data from a customer's smart meter gateway device more than once a month, unless otherwise requested by the customer."] “Obtain data on total energy use only. Reporting data is a joint contract between consumer and provider, of said consumer’s personal effects and that such effects be accessible by the consumer for review (for self assessment). Data collection frequency may be determined by the provider, but the signal intensity must be limited to several hundred feet and data collection may not be intrusive to the consumer. No aerial collection of data may ensue. Data must be encrypted and emitted only on “query” request by sampling unit. This provision shall be extended to both FCC labeled devices and RFID reporting meters.”
3. Add: All the monies (after amortized costs) resulting from the savings in time, personnel, and pensions should be returned to the county budget in annual increments and alloted to debt reduction, reducing property taxes, or alloted to the general fund. Any such mass installations should be subject to vote (referendum) prior to roll-out.
4. Add: The State of Tennessee will implement accelerated aging studies” under worse case scenarios of geometry and intensity to mimic lifetime exposure (using rats) of “Smart Meter” technologies. Medical waivers by doctors will be permitted.

Regarding (1), since the Fukushima incident, we are learning that it is vogue to change allowable dose exposure, possibly rendering “FCC” labeling or other operational feature maleable in future renditions.Unlike simple technologies you must specify what it is you are regulating, since the future applications far exceed simple device function and those applications are not yet on the Table. Regarding (2), the original wording might be too restrictive for either provider or customer to have more data. The replacement puts the onus on the customer on how to respond to data and limits collection to reasonable power emission commensurate with current collection technologies being implemented.  Regarding (3,) People are often meant to feel that these are not subject to public discussion and merely corporate decisions.  At the end of the day, irrespective of the money stream or debts entered into, the taxpayer is responsible for paying for these technologies. Regarding (4), because of the nature of EM radiation, I do not believe that this can be known in advance nor am I confident such studies have been done.

Many developing technologies have inherent issues related to privacy and, in some cases, forced self incrimination. The Smart Meters have potential health effects as each is considered a “radio station” and must be an FCC listed device. This could result in dozens of radio stations right in line with living space in high density housing situations, focused on some child’s head while sleeping. Typically, the intensity of radiation from point sources diminishes with the distance, squared.

Also, many of the new technologies have “collectivist aspects” to their function. Even my informed consent may result in someone else receiving the radiation. You will find in the end that the primary results (of these federal mandates and technology developments) are:

• higher long term costs to consumers and small business
• higher costs of repair
• more frequent breakdown

This has been true for all types of new electronic circuitry as they are prone to static charge failures and voltage spikes. It is a consumer who can decide between the value added and the additional costs or dangers, not the government. Some people buy safe cars, some sport cars.

Here are just a few items for consideration as you debate and a few suggested modifications of current legislation being proposed

General Considerations for Debate

1. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE: for any health effects which might reasonably be shown to result from the installation should be assigned a-priori.
2. WHAT CAN READ SIGNALS: No ancillary devices on other public utilities in the vicinity of the RFID meters or smart meters (e.g. power, telephone, etc) may read the signals and that such signals should be encrypted. Doing so should be made a criminal offense according the US Constitution with respect to privacy (person, papers, and “effects” (i.e. your stuff))
3. WHAT SIGNAL IS MEASURED: Such devices only report on quantities they measure. (e.g. a suitably designed water meter RFID might also report acoustic signals as water is an excellent medium).
4. ARE THE DEVICES MORE EFFICIENT: Prior to rollout of any metering device technology, it must be shown to consume less energy than the device it is replacing, with respect to its operational procedures. Otherwise, utilities must refund the cost difference from any collective benefits ensuing.
5. ARE DEVICES MORE ROBUST: Such devices should be more resistant to voltage spike than analog devices. Otherwise, it does not meet the engineering requirement of “continuous improvement”.
6. WHEN DO THEY EMIT SIGNAL: All devices (RFID or Smart Meter) should use intermittent signaling. As I understand it, many utilities are using “always on” for the RFID meters so that they can drive by faster and not have to “query, then receive”. This will raise costs of operation, but utilities are not reporting those details to their customers.
7. WHAT ELSE CAN THAT SPECTRUM BE USED FOR LOCALLY: You must consult the experts on the available spectrum the technology will utilize and examine future possible alternative use infringement.

Sincerely,
Ken Monar
Maryville, TN 37803