More Than 200 Pepco Customers Refuse Smart Meters
Some say meters are ingenious, others say they're dangerous, as 202 Pepco customers opt out of smart meters.
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On June 11, Pepco said 70 customers had opted out of smart meters and by Tuesday, June 26, the number had grown to 202, according to Pepco.
The number of Pepco customers in Maryland is 531,000, according to Pepco.
"We think the low number of customers who want to opt out indicates the majority of our customers have looked at all the scientific data and found nothing to be alarmed about," Pepco stated in an email to Patch Monday night.
More than 190 comments have been posted on Patch's initial article about customers who opted out of smart meters. Below are excerpts from what our readers had to say.
Readers' Speak Out on Smart Meter Pros and Cons
"I think the smart meters will be a good idea for smart billing. Rates increase during high-demand hours and decrease during low-demand hours. This would result in trends where people start doing their laundry and similar type of activities during low-demand time." —Anton Fisher, June 12
"Our electricity grid has basically been unchanged for more than half a century. It is inefficient, subject to outages where the power company has no clue how to find without people calling…" —Morris Zwick, June 12
"The Electric Power Company does not need Smart Meters to tell them where the power outages may exists. There are rate payers on the other end and they have telephones." —George Karadimas, June 20
"And, you can turn off your cell phone, keep it away from your body etc - take precautions. You cannot do that with a SMeter. It is more exposure than cell phones and whole body exposure." —Traci M. Radice, June 21
"If rates go up because Pepco increases them, it's not because of the meter. If you pay more because your old meter had you underpaying, I'm cool with that. In my case, as I suspected, I was OVER-PAYING. I think you are making false connections to serve your purposes." —Theresa Defino, June 21
Smart Meters and Opting Out
Smart meters are devices that send information about household energy use to a power company via electromagnetic radiation or radio frequency. A smart meter replaces a traditional electricity meter, which a power company representative must visit every month to get a electricity usage reading.
In the face of customer concerns that smart meters pose health and privacy risks, on May 24, the Maryland Public Service Commission issued an order telling Pepco, Baltimore Gas & Electric, and Delmarva Power, “the utilities shall refrain from installing a smart meter in the home or business of any customer who notifies the utility in writing that they do not wish to have a smart meter installed.”
Pepco says the meters do not pose a health risk. On Monday Pepco stated, "We strive to give our customers all relevant scientific data from credible institutions such as the World Health Organization and the Federal Communications Commission, who in double-blind studies have found no correlation between people who claim ill health effects and exposure to low power radio frequency fields."
Nonetheless, pending the commission's final decision, Pepco is allowing customers to opt out for now.
Emil Farkwarp
9:43 am on Thursday, June 28, 2012
The gas meters in PG have been wirelessly read for years with no outcry. Should we be grousing about them as well?
I think the asbestos siding and asbestos insulation on and in most of the homes in my neighborhood are a bigger threat to public health than a few radio waves.
George Karadimas
10:36 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
Yes asbestos is a Problem as well! A deadly killer!
Why do you not start a drive to have it re mediated?
And yes. a few few radio waves here and few radio waves there, before you know it you got EHS, Electrosmog and...
http://www.intelligentutility.com/article/11/11/smart-meters-tip-iceberg
Char Zehfus
8:33 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
RF exposure is cumulative. Each source adds another level of cellular communication disruption,and I mean biologically. The current wireless explosion has made it necessary to try to minimize as many sources as possible.
An appropriate image would be frogs in a jar with the temperature slowly rising. Some will quickly succomb, while others will continue to mill about doing their froggy things, oblivious to their changing environment with a bad outcome for many or most.
Traci M. Radice
10:43 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
digital drive by meters are NOT the same as the 2-way RF transmitting smart meters
George Karadimas
10:42 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
I predicted that the 70 OPT-OUTs will next rise to 700
There has not been a single "ratepayer" that I approached with an OPT-OUT Deferral form that did not fill it out and send it in.
http://bit.ly/J2srFH
George Karadimas
11:27 am on Friday, June 29, 2012
.....So many ratepayers asleep at the switch! So little time, before Maryland PSC makes their Final OPT-OUT decision!
George Karadimas
2:26 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
SMART METERS:The WONDERS and DIS-ADVANTAGES to the ratepayers!
"Last year, Dominion Resources, a competitive electricity supplier, turned 8,000 residential PPL customers back to the utility after their contracts had expired because it learned from the smart-meter data that the customers used a disproportionate amount of power during the day, when it costs more to supply.
"They dropped the least profitable customers, and sent them back to PPL," said Popowsky.
As the default service provider, PPL was required to resume supplying power to the customers, so the customer were never shut off. But Popowsky said he was troubled by the company's action. "They could be elderly customers who are home all the time and need the air-conditioner on during the day," he said.
The PUC is looking into the practice, said a utility commission spokeswoman."
http://mobile.philly.com/business/?wss=/philly/business/homepage/&id=147399495&viewAll=y
X-SMs
12:06 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
PEPCO Said "We think the low number of customers who want to opt out indicates the majority of our customers have looked at all the scientific data and found nothing to be alarmed about,"
What a bunch of Huey. If people are not informed about the opt-outs and removal of smart meters then Pepco will not get high numbers.
The low numbers are due to lack of information dissemination to the ratepayers, and NOT any research that shows safety!
The rise in opt-outs is due to the small group efforts of www.marylandsmartmeterawareness.org getting the word out.
"Has Pepco ever advertised that they are accepting opt-outs? I just got my bill and no mention was made of this - no insert.".... according to an MSMA member.
Folks............You can't act on what you don't know about.
X-SMs
12:20 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
“Smart” Meters are NOT sexy!
"Thousands of people around the country are coming together and standing up for their rights and are saying NO! As a result, California and Maine have real “opt-outs” and are able to keep their analog meters. Michigan has 11 resolutions and 4 moratoriums. California has 46 moratoriums or resolutions against the installation of smart meters.
Think back to all those dysfunctional relationships that we wish we had ended sooner… this relationship-gone-sour with our utility needs a “Dear John” – and FAST! Our constitutional rights protect us, even as the city bullies and intimidates us into thinking we have no rights. We have the right to say NO! Good grief – isn’t this what we’ve taught our kids since birth?
Here’s why “smart” meters are NOT sexy:" ..........
http://www.napervillesmartmeterawareness.org/2012/02/13/smart-meters-are-not-sexy/
X-SMs
12:34 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
People need to act now on the opt out before it gets out of hand as in is in Wisconsin.
http://stopsmartmeterswisconsin.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/smart-meter-packet-to-give-wi-legislators.pdf
Char Zehfus
8:39 am on Tuesday, July 31, 2012
14 states allow some sort of opt outs. (list at Naperville Smart Meter Awareness site) But here in Wisconsin even people who cite ill effects or are very concerned about health risks are FORCED to have the meters. Madison has recently become our battleground with some residents fighting the water meter installations. But for the most part, the state is asleep. And that is part of the challenge, to wake people up to the information despite a general apathy, a naive acceptance of all things wireless, and a media black-out.
Keep up the good work, Maryland!
Here's my local letter FYI:
http://sheboyganhub.sheboyganpress.com/article/20120729/SHE0601/307290194/Letter-Doctors-warn-radio-frequency-radiation-can-affect-your-health
Traci M. Radice
10:45 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
marylandsmartmeterawareness.org
X-SMs
1:13 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
Chicago Cardiologist Warns Against Smart Meters
"April 30, 2012: A University of Chicago Cardiologist addressed the City of Naperville on behalf of his patient, insisting that a Smart meter not be installed on her home."
http://napervillesmartmeterawareness.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/fARAHLETTER-3.pdf
Traci M. Radice
10:46 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Char - there are now 20 states! Join us!!
marylandsmartmeterawareness.org
X-SMs
1:32 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
FBI: Smart Meter Hacks Likely to Spread
"A series of hacks perpetrated against so-called “smart meter” installations over the past several years may have cost a single U.S. electric utility hundreds of millions of dollars annually, the FBI said in a cyber intelligence bulletin obtained by KrebsOnSecurity. The law enforcement agency said this is the first known report of criminals compromising the hi-tech meters, and that it expects this type of fraud to spread across the country as more utilities deploy smart grid technology."
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/04/fbi-smart-meter-hacks-likely-to-spread/
George Karadimas
4:09 pm on Friday, June 29, 2012
NOTICE:
In the event a ratepayer, sent to PEPCO or BGE their OPT-OUT Deferral Form, But Inadvertently the utility Installed a SMART Meter on your premises.
There is a Procedure to have it removed.
http://marylandsmartmeterawareness.org/affidavits/
http://marylandsmartmeterawareness.org/docs/AFFIDAVIT%20(installed).doc
George Karadimas
8:55 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
Students Having Heart Attacks From Wi-Fi
http://groups.google.com/group/mobilfunk_newsletter/browse_thread/thread/4ef4344fc72d7f84
http://www.buergerwelle.de:8080/helma/twoday/bwnews/stories/4052/
George Karadimas
11:26 am on Saturday, June 30, 2012
EHS Fight Back (Electro Hyper Sensitivity)
http://ehsfighback.blogspot.de/2012/06/breakthrough-for-ehs-in-israel.html
These (according so some Loons and EHS Kooks) Electro Hypersensitive Folks are Globally affected.
Chris Turner
11:54 am on Sunday, July 8, 2012
Former PEPCO lawyer is suing PEPCO:
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/looselips/2011/09/30/erstwhile-d-c-committeewoman-battles-political-rivals%E2%80%94and-pepco/
Watch a DC PEPCO meter going haywire: http://vimeo.com/36960439
Chris Turner
Neighbors, Inc., vice-president
George Karadimas
4:35 pm on Monday, July 23, 2012
State study links cellphone use to cancer
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/071412emf-ac
Smart Meters are Next?
George Karadimas
8:31 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Sensus IconA smart meter is a FIRE STARTER http://stopsmartmeters.org/2012/01/20/meters-that-endanger-shocking-details-from-a-whistleblower/
Dolly Jewell
8:12 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Pepco just sent a letter saying they want to install a smart meter in my home I'm beside myself.
George Karadimas
8:32 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Do you live in Maryland? If so you can send in an OPT-OUT Deferral letter asap PEPCo and Public Service commission
http://marylandsmartmeterawareness.org/opt-out-news/informational-flyer-how-to-opt-out-of-the-smart-meter-program/
.
George Karadimas
8:18 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Hey FRANK, Where have you been MAN?
I have been waiting patiently all this time ....WAITING FOR YOU TO EXPLAIN IT!
Joe K
4:22 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Why do the nutcases always uses Mixed case Letters inappropriately? There should be a Study on this.
George Karadimas
7:07 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Who is a NUTCASE or NOT ...Is a matter of PERSPECTIVE!
BUT,
Should you feel qualified, you are welcome to start one!
AND THEN, We will PICK your "CREDENTIALS" apart..........till the COWS come home!
HAVE A GREAT DAY!
George Karadimas
8:25 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Hey Frank You say you are down here!
Do you know where that is? or should I google for you some directions?
George Karadimas
8:45 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Frank Here is the answer you are looking for!
http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?id=141400382553499&story_fbid=145081682298897
George Karadimas
8:32 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
Frank the Hot topic of the day is."Fire Concerns Lead PECO To Halt Smart Meter Installations"......http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/19289039/peco-halts-smart-meter-installation-program Get with the Program lad!
ALSO LOOKIE HERE! http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/Technologies_Metering/House-fire-stalls-smart-meter-deployment-while-Peco-Energy-investigates-cause-5059.html
George Karadimas
8:52 pm on Thursday, August 23, 2012
On Tuesday August 28 2012 at 2pm, the Maryland PSC will hold a hearing to
collect testimony from those four Maryland utility companies on the subject
of smart meters causing fires in/on houses where the smart meters are
installed. Everyone is strongly urged to attend, if at all possible, in
order to show the PSC that the people of Maryland are very concerned about
Smart Meters. See hearing notice at:
http://webapp.psc.state.md.us/Intranet/sitesearch/Whats_new/Notice%20of%20He
aring_Case%20Nos%20%209207%20-%209208%20-%209294.pdf
George Karadimas
6:19 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
"Dear MSMA Member,
Because we realize some of you do not have enough time to go on line and download a letter to your delegates, we are making it very easy for you to get involved. While letters and face-to-face meetings are much more effective, signing the petition below is much simpler and will have some impact. The petition urges your Maryland Delegates to support the NO FEE OPT OUT House Bill 1038 introduced by Delegate Glenn Glass. Please by all means feel free to forward this message to any non MSMA member who might respond favorably. Click on the link below to add your name.
http://signon.org/sign/maryland-house-bill-1038?source=c.fwd&r_by=7048862
Jonathan Libber, President
Maryland Smart Meter Awareness"
http://tinyurl.com/HB1038