Personal Health Risks and the Impact on Local Environment

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“Smart” Meters emit frequent bursts of Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR) into homes, with estimates ranging from 10,000 to 190,000 emissions per day.  Peer reviewed science has found RFR to cause cancer, immune system damage, and headaches after exposure. While other research reports collectively correlated prolonged RFR to brain cancer, acoustic neuroma, parotid/thyroid cancer, reproductive harm, reduced learning ability, and electro-hypersensitivity (i.e. headaches, insomnia, heart palpitations, tinnitus and a general feeling of ill health). 

There are higher potential risks for children, unborn children and the elderly (particularly for those with medical implants and weakened immune systems.

Additionally, it is worth noting that animals, including pets, wildlife, and livestock, as well as plants, may also be affected by these emissions.  Independent studies have shown that RFR is a likely cause and/or contributor of Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder (See Study)

“Smart” Meters and Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) not only emit RFR in your home, but also in the general environment.  Additionally, the units wirelessly use RFR to cross-communicate with your neighbor’s smart meters and the KPUD’s data collectors mounted on utility poles.  This creates a “mesh network” that covers the entire community. For this reason, opting out may not be a viable solution as the consequences of smart meters are believed to affect the entire community consistently and continuously.  Opting out as individuals is not enough.  We must stand together as a community to stop the roll out of all AMI, including “Smart” Meters.

(See BioInitiative Report, Engineer report) 

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Invasion of Your Home’s Privacy and Sovereignty

Without your consent, the computer within Smart Meters collects private energy behavior patterns minute-by-minute, which can be accessed by government agencies and sold to marketers.  Smart meters are surveillance devices that violate our Fourth Amendment right to privacy within our homes, as guaranteed by the United States Constitution.  

This does not benefit you, and can be weaponized against you.

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Compromised Safety & Security of Your Home

Former CIA Director James Woolsey called the Smart Grid “really, really STUPID”

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Our network-enabled national power grid is already considered a significant cybersecurity risk, which has been extensively covered in the news. The deployment of Smart Meters not only amplifies this risk at the household level but also introduces the potential for remote hackers to disrupt the national grid by targeting as little as 2% of smart homes. This poses a threat not only to individual household data but also to the security of connected appliances.

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Higher Electric Bills

 

There is no mention of the potential benefits or improvements that “Smart” Meters can bring to your home or quality of life.  The new meters function as rationing devices that will charge varying rates during different times of the day.  Due to the escalating charges for peak usage, bills can dramatically increase.  Also, they create dirty electricity voltage transients, which adds about 10% more electricity to your bill. 

Currently, there is a projected shortage of electrical supply due to the faster removal of dense energy sources (such as nuclear, hydroelectric, and coal) compared to the rate at which less-efficient energy sources (like wind and solar) are being implemented.  This crisis is exacerbated by the increasing use of electric-powered devices (such as cars, stoves, and heating) and ongoing population growth, creating a significant supply and demand issue.

Until public pressure leads to policy changes, it is undeniable that we are facing a supply and demand problem.  Some influential individuals support the implementation of smart meters as a means to manage and limit consumption in response to this issue.

However, it is important to note that neither the KPUD nor local governments guarantee that smart meters will reduce your electric bill.  In fact, it is likely that rates for normal daytime energy usage will increase.  The hope is to incentivize consumers with slightly lower rates during off-peak hours (for example, encouraging activities like laundry to be done at 11PM).  Additionally, consumers may receive notifications when their energy consumption exceeds peak usage limits, which are set by the utility company.  They may also face higher billing rates for exceeding those limits.  If these measures do not effectively reduce energy consumption, the utility company has the ability to remotely disconnect the meter to enforce compliance.

 

Fire Danger and Safety Issues

 

There have been numerous reports of electrical fires caused by arcing and sparking of new digital “Smart” Meters. Homes with older wiring may be more susceptible to problems.

In contrast to the reliable analog electrical meters currently in use, new smart meters lack grounding, making them more vulnerable to significant power surge events such as lightning, transformer failures, or fallen trees. Additionally, these smart meters are known to generate "dirty electricity," which can cause wear-and-tear on electrical devices, ultimately shortening their lifespan. To mitigate these risks, homeowners are left with two options: either bear the cost and potential hazards associated with smart meters or invest in a whole-house power conditioner/surge protector, incurring additional expenses for purchase and professional installation.

Simply put, smart meters present significant risks without providing any tangible benefits.

(See Summary of Evidence on Smart Meter Fires)