Smart Meters: No Clear Authority for Installation in Georgia

Health hazards to consumers far outweigh conveniences to power companies.
In January, the day after I gave legislators copies of the Federal Energy Act of 2005 and documentation of the dangers posed by smart meters, the director of the smart meter program in Georgia called me at home and insinuated that the PSC authorized smart meter installation. When I asked for a copy of the authorization and minutes of that PSC meeting, he quietly admitted, “Well, technically, we don’t need their permission.”

When I first reported the installation of smart meters in Georgia in the February 4, 2011 issue of Georgia Insight, the project had been under way since 2008, under the radar. In places smart meters were installed, most occupants had no idea their meter had been replaced or that the new one is a two-way radio frequency communication device. They didn’t/don’t know it emits radiation 24 hours a day around the clock, deposits electrical “noise” and high-frequency spikes throughout the wiring and is remotely read every 15 minutes (96 times each 24 hours).

Although the 2005 Federal Energy Act requires utilities to “offer” smart meters to consumers “requesting time-based billing,” we have yet to find a consumer who requested time-based billing or was offered a smart meter or was informed of its hazardous radio frequency radiation.

After running errands April 20, 2010, we accidentally learned that our analog meter was gone. The clue: our digital clocks were blinking. Georgia Power had shut off the electricity to install a smart meter on the outside wall, 14 feet from the location of our bed on the same wall inside.

In September 2010, my husband Robert was diagnosed with skin cancer for the first time in his life. He had surgery. At his first three-months’ check-up, the plastic surgeon found two more spots of skin cancer, which were, subsequently removed, as well. His six-months’ check-up will be in September. Also, both of us experience continual ringing in our ears.

Robert’s monitoring Public Service Commission meetings has been very revealing. Providers of electricity in Georgia had/have no legislative or PSC authority to install smart meters. They had/have no authority to require consumers to have/accept/tolerate smart meters. Georgia Power and EMC could’ve/should’ve upgraded with meters that do not emit radio frequency radiation. The smart meter is still on our home, although we repeatedly ask for its removal.

I know of no location where Georgia Power has complied with requests to remove smart meters. They finished their installations in North Georgia and, with in-your-face determination, are proceeding with the second phase – installing smart meters from Macon to the Florida line.

Three Cheers for Sawnee EMC!

• Sawnee EMC customers have had good response about the smart meter situation.
• Sawnee honored a consumer request to remove the smart meter and reinstall the analog.
• Sawnee honored a request NOT to install a smart meter and left the analog meter in place.

ACTION – (a) Explain to your utility (Georgia Power or an EMC) that the smart meter on your property is a serious health hazard that becomes more hazardous with each one installed in the “mesh Network.” (b) If a smart meter is on your property, ask for its removal. (c) If your meter is an analog, attach a sign, “Do NOT remove my meter.”

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