Beware: AGL is rolling out smart meters in NSW

Posted on March 16, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

AGL is rolling out smart meters in NSW – but is avoiding the word “smart”.

While the roll-out is not ‘compulsory’, it is by default.  People will need to ring AGL to cancel the installation of a smart meter prior to the installation between 21 March and 1 April.

However, residents are given only one week notice to cancel the installation.

Quotable quotes from AGL:

“The technology in your electricity meter is over 100 years old.  So it’s time for an upgrade.  That’s why we’re replacing your old meter with a new digital electricity meter.” (Which won’t last 100 years, but between 10 and 15 years – before it will have to be replaced again!)

“AGL is upgrading your electricity meter free of charge. Then, you will no longer need to worry about manual meter reads or estimated bills.” (Who “worries” about manual reads??)

“If you would prefer not to be upgraded, simply call us on 1300 669 245 any time before 21 March or visit agl.com.au/upgrade” (This link conveniently doesn’t work!)

Copies of AGL propaganda sent to NSW residences (which some may mistake as junk mail):NSWSmartMeters2016BrochureInsideNSWSmartMeters2016BrochureOutside

NSWSmartMeters2016Letter

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Does the Victorian Radiation Advisory Committee have a conflict of interest issue… and does the government really care?

Posted on March 12, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Dr Don Maisch has previously written about this issue on his blog (http://www.emfacts.com) in November 2012 but nothing has changed since that time. The Victorian Radiation Advisory Committee has made no attempt to address what is clearly a conflict of interest and so here we go again!

On January 22, 2016, Don received a letter from a Victorian resident who was concerned about the roll-out of smart meters in that state. Attached to his letter was a letter sent to him by Lily D’Ambrosio MP, the Victorian Minister for Industry and Minister for Energy and Resources. D’Ambrosio tried to reassure the resident that smart meters were perfectly safe by quoting advice given to the Victorian government by Victoria’s Chief Health Officer. The VCMO, in turn, relies on the expert advice from the Victorian Ministerial Radiation Advisory Committee, an expert advisory board consisting of doctors and experts in the field of radiation. It would be a brave politician indeed who dares question this expert body. After all they are the experts, not to be questioned by lesser mortals. The advice given by this committee is that “that there is no substantive evidence to suggest that exposure to radiofrequency radiation such as from smart meters can increase the risk of chronic health effects, such as cancer”……

“Here is current membership of the Victorian Ministerial Radiation Advisory Committee

Dr David Bernshaw – radiation oncology
Dr Ken Joyner – non-ionising radiation
Dr Roslyn Drummond – radiation oncology
Professor Robert Gibson – radiology
Mr Russell Booth – nuclear medicine
Dr Russell Horney – medical physics
Mr Christopher Perry – radiography
Dr Joanna Lia Wriedt – law and epidemiology
Mr Paul Tomlinson – industrial radiography
Dr Dean Morris – accelerator physics
Mr Paul Marks – nuclear medicine and medical physics
Dr Ray Budd – medical physics.”

There is only one person on that committee with relevant ‘expertise’ in the area of non-ionising radiation (microwaves used by smart meters for communication), Dr. Ken Joyner, who is a former strategist for Motorola and longtime spokesperson for the telecommunications industry.

Read the entire post by Dr Maisch here.

 

 

 

Posted in Energy Minister, health risks, Radiation, RF, Smart Meter | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Community Response to ARPANSA’s statement on the ABC Catalyst program entitled “Wi-Fried?”

Posted on February 22, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

It has become quite obvious by follow up stories in the media that pressure from certain quarters is being applied in order to have the recent TV program “Wi-Fried?” retracted and the journalist who developed it censured. This behaviour is tantamount to bullying and also appears to be an orchestrated attempt by vested interests to stifle scientific debate on an issue that has a potential impact on us all.

Many of our members were also particularly upset with the response from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) to the program.  This has led to SSMA writing a formal letter of complaint to ARPANSA on behalf of the community.

One of the main concerns is that ARPANSA’s statement contains claims which are likely to mislead the public and creates an impression that does not accurately reflect scientific opinion.

The claim that “It is the assessment of ARPANSA and other national and international health authorities, including the World Health Organization (WHO), that there is no established scientific evidence that the use of mobile phones or Wi-Fi devices cause any health effects” fosters the impression that there is unanimous agreement on this point.
This simply is not true; there are other radiation protection and health authorities which consider that mobile phones and Wi-Fi do cause health effects. This diversity of opinion has not been acknowledged in ARPANSA’s statement…..

….Our members are also concerned that ARPANSA’s statement trivialises adoption of precautionary approaches by implying that this advice is only relevant to “people who are concerned”. ARPANSA’s tips, although providing a solid starting point, also fall short of the recommendations provided by some other authorities…..

The complete letter to ARPANSA can be downloaded from here Community Response to ARPANSA 22 February 2016.

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Sometimes Asking Questions Provides You With Answers That May Be Uncomfortable

Posted on February 21, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Maryanne Demasi, via Huffington Post

The claims that our program “should never have aired” should not sit well with the public. At best, it’s an over-reaction. At worst, it’s a form of censorship.

Sometimes in science asking questions provides you with answers that may be unsettling. Not because they are conclusive, but because they are inconclusive. It’s the duty of scientists and science reporters to encourage critical thinking on issues that are still up for debate.

Several other counties around the world have more stringent radio frequency safety thresholds than Australia. Italy, China, Switzerland and Russia have wireless safety limits, which are a hundred times more stringent than our own. In France, they restrict advertising of mobile phones to children. They have also banned Wi-Fi in nurseries and day care centres.

So I decided to investigate. Why are some countries making these changes and not Australia? To say that this is a fringe view is not sustainable.

Wireless technology is relatively new and the science in this area is not as settled as is often claimed. Especially in relation to children. That is why a study is currently underway, involving over 14 countries, which is assessing whether the use of mobile phones at an early age increases the rates of early onset brain tumours in 1000 young people. The results will be released this year……

As an investigative journalist, I am used to taking some heat from critics. It’s part of the job. Catalyst is no stranger to controversy. As investigators, we have studied emerging scientific debates at home and abroad, and brought them into Australian living rooms. What was perceived as controversial a few years ago, like discussions on dietary sugar or the over-prescription of cholesterol-lowering medications called statins, is now widely debated overseas by mainstream media outlets…..

The great thing about science is that new discoveries are constantly made and orthodoxies change. Sometimes so-called “fringe” views move into the mainstream, forcing governments to change policies to prevent public harm. This has happened many times. Think back to thalidomide, asbestos, tobacco. We are not suggesting this will necessarily happen in the case of wireless technology, but it’s also not scientific to claim the door has been slammed shut on this discussion….

See full article at: Huffington Post 

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Screening of ‘Desperately Seeking White Zone’, 27 February, Upwey, Victoria

Posted on February 20, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Cinema2016WhiteZoneP

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Wi-Fried? 30 Minute ABC Documentary – A must see!

Posted on February 18, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

If you missed ABC’s Wi-Fried, here it is:

http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/catalyst/SC1502H003S00

Watch Dr Devra Davis and the former CEO of Microsoft Canada, Frank Clegg, talk about the health risks of mobile phones and wi-fi – and ARPANSA (Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency) defend the indefensible.

If you liked the program, you can show your support and make a comment at:

a. Catalyst website at: http://www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4407325.htm
b. Catalyst Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ABCCatalyst/
c. http://www.abc.net.au/contact/contactabc.htm

 

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Victorians shun ‘flexible’ electricty price plans spruiked as smart meter benefit

Posted on February 16, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

VICTORIANS have shunned “flexible” electricity price plans that were spruiked as a smart meter benefit.

Just 8100 customers — fewer than 1 per cent — have adopted the deals that were introduced more than two years ago, latest figures reveal.

Retailers had said the voluntary time-of-use tariffs could save some households $150 a year.

Customers are rewarded for using power late at night, early in the morning and on weekends, and pay a premium at weekday peak times.

Vinnies energy expert Gavin Dufty said households had a right to feel disappointed with smart meters, with most yet to see a “tangible benefit” from the $2.2 billion rollout.

“All we see is ever increasing complicated pay-on-time discounts, with very few companies offering pricing and services that give customers more control of their bills,” Mr Dufty said.

Energy Minister Lily D’Ambrosio said: “Victorians can maximise the benefits of solar panels and other energy technologies via their smart meters, connections are cheaper, and faults are detected more quickly”.

The dismal flexible tariff take-up comes as the Government defends letting customers “opt in” rather than “opt out” of planned “cost reflective” electricity distribution demand charges phased in from next year.

“We are giving Victorian households, not electricity companies, the choice about what pricing arrangements are right for them,” Ms D’Ambrosio said.

Victorian distributors responding to an Australian Energy Market Commission rule have proposed monthly demand tariffs based on maximum half-hour use during 3pm-9pm weekdays, with highest rates in summer.

Such pricing aims to encourage appliance use outside peak demand, and make those draining the network most pay their “fair share”.

It is designed to reduce investment needed for grid upgrades, therefore lowering bills on average.

But Ms D’Ambrosio said many families would be worse off if forced onto changes.

Grattan Institute energy program director Tony Wood has described the Government’s stance as a “setback for electricity tariff reform”.

But Consumer Action Law Centre chief Gerard Brody said: “Let’s hope the opt-in model provides the incentive to our energy suppliers to better communicate the benefits of tariff changes to the community”.

Karen Collier, via Herald Sun

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“Wi-Fried?” documentary – Catalyst, 16 February, 8:00 pm

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Wi-Fried?

You can not see it or hear it but Wi-Fi blankets our homes, our schools and our cities. Many of the mobile devices we carry close to our bodies like smart phones, laptops, tablets, even watches are connected to Wi-Fi.

A growing number of scientists are concerned that the widespread use of wi-fi and wi-fi enabled devices could be slowly making us sick. In this Catalyst investigation, Dr Maryanne Demasi takes a closer look at the link between mobile phones and brain cancer and explores whether our wireless devices could be putting our health at risk.

This not-to-be-missed  documentary also features Dr Devra Davis and the former CEO of Microsoft Canada.

Catalyst (ABC Australia) – 16 February, 8:00 pm (Australian Daylight Saving Time)

See Promo

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AGL releases plans for smart meter installation in NSW and South Australia

Posted on February 10, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Victoria was the trial state [in Australia], Tasmania made it optional but didn’t confirm health was at risk with a smart meter installation. Now South Australia and New South Wales seem to be the next states to push smart meters.

Despite the fact that AGL decided to hide the term ‘smart meters’ in their FAQ page, it is clearly spelled out on their website: Smart meters are coming to SA and NSW! Billing accuracy and monitoring are being sold to their customers as benefits. There have been many stories about raised bills with smart meters and very few of them actually lowering bills, so be careful there.

It seems the term ‘Smart Meter’, which now has much negativity associated with it, is being avoided as much as possible to not alarm customers. The term ‘Digital Meter’ is used instead.

The AGL site shows that customers have an ability to opt out if they notify the company first. They may send a letter announcing the installation, but if one fails to go through the proper process for the ‘opt out’, it is likely a smart meter will be installed, no matter if you are home or not.

Via: http://en.geovital.com/au-news-agl-released-plans-for-smart-meter-installation-in-south-australia-and-nsw-homes/

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Have your say about smart meters – Standards Australia Sydney Forum

Posted on February 3, 2016 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Standards Australia will be facilitating a Roadmap for Advanced Metering throughout
2016. The work is designed to support the safe and efficient roll out of smart meters
in Australian cities and communities as the country progressively transitions to a
smarter economy.

The Roadmap will consider a number of important metering issues including safety,
tariffs and load control, testing, Australian community expectations, temperature ranges and other relevant issues.

All relevant stakeholder groups are welcome to participate in the Roadmap. Participants
will have the opportunity to join the discussion after the presentations.

Views expressed during the discussion will assist in the shaping of future standards
development work in this important technology area.

The forum will be held on Thursday 3 March, 2016 at Level 10, 20 Bridge St, Sydney, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm.  Light lunch will be provided.

This is a complimentary forum and places are limited. To confirm your attendance, please
RSVP by Friday 19 February to nsm@standards.org.au.

For further information and a copy of the forum invitation click E-1095 Advanced Metering invite  or visit Roadmap for Smart Meters.

If you live in Sydney or NSW, please attend this forum and have your say about smart meters and the need to retain analogue and non-smart meter digital meters as part of Australian Standards for metering. 

Posted in Smart Meter | 19 Comments