MEDIA RELEASE – Powercor Fails To Guarantee Safety of Smart Meters

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Stop Smart Meters Australia

MEDIA RELEASE 

Powercor Fails To Guarantee Safety of Smart Meters

Responding to concerns a customer has on the health effects of smart meters, Powercor truthfully declared in writing that “We are not in a position to give you any guarantees or assurances about the smart meters and your health concerns.”

Yet Hon. Michael O’Brien, Minister for Energy and Resources, is continually pronouncing through the media that smart meters are categorically safe and have absolutely no effects on people’s health.  If smart meters are safe, why can’t power distributors guarantee their safety?

Ms Janobai Smith, spokesperson for Stop Smart Meters Australia, said “We find it astonishing that despite the mounting evidence, Minister O’Brien fails to acknowledge that a percentage of the Victorian population is sensitive to microwave radiation and suffer adverse health effects resulting from the installation of smart meters.  Symptoms include disrupted sleep, headaches, nausea, dizziness, heart palpitations and tinnitus  (ringing in ears).  Many of these people have medical certificates attributing their condition to smart meters.”

This coming weekend, Stop Smart Meters Australia will be providing support to a gathering of people who are sensitive to electromagnetic radiation and who have been adversely affected by smart meters.  These are the unfortunate people that the Baillieu Government and power distributors have chosen to ignore.

“Smart Meters Australia supports these people’s rights to ‘opt out’ of the smart meter program and have their smart meter replaced with an analogue or non-wireless meter” said Ms Smith.

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Churchill Smart Meter meeting Resolutions

Posted on July 27, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Below are the resolutions to the meeting held on the 20th July.

1. That this meeting of residents of Churchill and surrounding districts, calls on the Victorian Government to halt the ‘Smart Meter Rollout” to allow for a full investigation into community concerns.

2. That this meeting calls on the Victorian State Government to allow electricity customers the right to “OPT OUT” of the Smart meter Program. In the interim this meeting ;
Supports the right of customers to refuse installation of smart meters and to have their decision respected by the electrical distributors.

3. Calls on the five distributors to immediately cease bullying tactics as part of their State Government directed “Best Endeavours” to install meters by 2013.

4. That people who are experiencing health problems that are considered to be
caused by the installed smart meter should have the meter removed and replaced with an analogue or non wireless meter.

5. That customers who have had a smart meter installed against their wishes should have the meter removed and replaced with an analogue or non wireless meter.

6. That this meeting expresses it’s anger and concern with the ever-increasing cost of electricity bills and calls on the State Government to impose stronger regulatory control over electricity price setting.

7. The Federal Government to remove the GST from electricity and gas

8. That the Latrobe City Council be asked to support resident’s in their endeavours to protect themselves from the negatives impacts of the smart meter roll-out. This includes;

  • Escalating costs
  • Loss of Privacy
  • Billing problems
  • Safety matters
  • Health issues

9. That a letter be written to Premier Baillieu requesting that as a matter of urgency he and the Minister for Energy Michael O’Brien, agree to meet with representatives of community groups concerned with the smart meter rollout to hear and discuss their concerns.

8. That this meeting agree to from an ongoing campaign committee to address the
above matters.

Related post: https://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/07/15/public-meeting-churchill-friday-20th-july-7pm/

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Call to ‘roll back’ roll out – Local News – Latrobe Valley Express

Posted on July 26, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Trevor Bridges is heading a local campaign against the installation of Smart Meters.

A CAMPAIGN to stop the local Smart Meter roll-out, amid claims of safety concerns, is gaining traction in Churchill.

Electricity distributor SP AusNet has advised it is currently rolling out smart meters in the Latrobe Valley in an effort to “help meet Victoria’s changing energy needs”.

The company said Energy Safe Victoria had confirmed smart meters were safe and did not pose “any greater safety risk” than existing electronic or electromechanical meters.

That information has done little to dispel concerns in Churchill, where the rollout has commenced.

Last Friday, more than 100 people attended a Smart Meter Forum in Churchill, organised by the Churchill Stop Smart Meters Action Group.

Chairperson Trevor Bridges said several speakers outlined the potential risks of smart meters, including a man who said his family had developed serious health problems when a smart meter was installed on his neighbour’s house, opposite their bedrooms.

Mr Bridges said three to four per cent of the population were sensitive to radio frequencies, which meant in Churchill there could be 141 radio sensitive people and in Traralgon the number could be as high as 660.

“A smart meter on their properties could be a real health problem for them,” he added.

Those at the meeting voted to support the right of customers to refuse installation of smart meters and to have their decision respected by electrical distributors.

It called on the State Government to allow customers the right to “opt out” of the smart meter program and it agreed those who experienced health problems considered to be caused by the smart meters should have them removed “and replaced with analogue or non wireless meter”.

The forum also discussed concerns about the program’s escalating costs and billing problems, according to Mr Bridges.

He said the action group would appeal to State Premier Ted Baillieu and State Energy Minister Michael O’Brien asking them to meet with community representatives over their concerns.

via Call to ‘roll back’ roll out – Local News – News – General – Latrobe Valley Express.

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Bairnsdale Smart Meter Community Forum – Friday 27 July

Posted on July 25, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Are you concerned about smart meters?

You can say NO!

Bairnsdale Smart Meter Community Forum

Friday 27 July 2012

7 pm Start

Bairnsdale Community College     Dalmahoy Street, Bairnsdale

Or go to Treasures of Atlantis 1/25 Wood St Bairnsdale (look for the red and yellow flags)  for more information

Posted in Smart Meter | 3 Comments

Health Meeting 247 Flinders Lane, Melbourne Sunday 29th July 2.30-4.30pm

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Posted in Smart Meter | 9 Comments

Public Meeting Horsham Sunday 5th August 3.00pm

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

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Residents express concern over smart meters – Swan Hill Local News – The Guardian

Posted on July 23, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

CONCERNED: Mother-of-three Sarah Elliot, pictured with children Arabella, Millie, and Henry, is concerned about the effect the new smart meters will have on her family’s long-term health.

LOCAL community members have voiced concern over health risks associated with new electronic metering equipment set to be rolled out across the state.

The new digital meters, called ‘Smart Meters’, are set to replace all analogue electricity meters across Australia as part of a Federal Government initiative.

Installations are set to kick off in the Swan Hill area around September, but some members of the community are worried about possible health risks associated with the new energy meter equipment.

Sustainable Living in the Mallee (SliM) president Peta Thornton said between 40 and 50 people attended the first of two information sessions held by Powercor on Monday, to voice concerns over health effects and the possibility of increasing tariffs, or to simply gain a better understanding of the new policy.

Read the rest of the article via Residents express concern over smart meters – Local News – News – General – The Guardian.

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Public Meeting Highton Geelong Saturday 28th July 7.30pm

Posted on July 22, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

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Smart meter rollout begins | Heads up Mitchell Shire!

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

SMART meters will soon replace analogue electricity meters across the Mitchell Shire as part of new industry standards for 2013.

SP AusNet is now installing the new technology throughout the shire including Beveridge, Broadford, Heathcote Junction, Kilmore, Puckapunyal, Pyalong, Reedy Creek, Seymour, Tallarook, Tooborac, Wallan and Wandong.

“Victoria’s energy needs have changed; we are using more power today than ever before,” an SP AusNet spokesperson said.

“Smart meters are the first step towards smart grids, which can help us better manage the complex energy flows associated with an increasing contribution from renewable energy sources.”

The new technology will be installed in all Victorian households and small businesses by the end of 2013. Replacement of the meters began in 2009 and there are more than one million meters installed across the state.

Smart meters are remotely read so a meter reader does not have to visit consumer’s premises, which reduces the need for estimated billing.

The spokesperson said the smart meter has the ability to record electricity consumption in 30 minutes intervals and allows for accurate remote reading reducing the need for estimated bills.

They said other benefits of the rollout include more energy choices, restoring power faster, reducing estimated bills, faster connections, improved efficiency, accessible information and low costs.

While the information available from energy companies shows the positive effects of the new system, there are many groups opposed to the rollout.

Smart meters lobby group, Stop Smart Meters Australia, has published information about the technology on its website, highlighting many perceived flaws and health risks associated.

Some of the information compiled alludes to health risks, additional costs, privacy concerns, fire risks, environmental concerns, a link to glioma, human sensitivity to the high frequencies transmitted, and billing errors.

The Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria said customers raised 64 per cent more issues about estimated bills in the second half of 2010 than in the second half of 2009.

While many of Stop Meters Australia’s claims are unfounded, the group has gained much support.

As of yesterday morning, an ongoing petition against smart meters which was first published on October 27, 2011, has received 1582 signatures.

via Smart meter rollout begins | Local News.

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From your Smart Meter Lobby Group: Well done everyone we are really making an impact. Keep up the good work.

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Public Meeting Horsham Sunday 22nd July 2.30pm

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Posted in Meetings | 8 Comments