I received my first letter from Powercor to say they would be installing the smart meter at my property. I immediately sent off a letter saying that I did not consent and that it takes two parties to make a contract and as I was not consenting the contract would not be valid. I also rang Powercor and spoke to [a customer service representative] who immediately tried to talk over me and bully me into giving in. I kept repeating the above, I am not consenting, it takes consent from both parties to make a contract valid and I am not consenting, over and over and over again. He was adamant that I had to have the smart meter. I said that the company was to use its best endeavours to have the project completed by end of 2013 and it was not mandated to bully customers into having a smart meter. [The customer service representative] protested obviously. I sent off a letter to Powercor and received a response. So I sent off a second letter enclosing a prohibition notice as did my neighbour. My neighbour has received a response trying to bully him into the smart meter but I have not as yet. They were going to be in my area between end of March and 5th April. So it shall remain to be seen as to whether they come back or not. They saw my neighbours notice on the meter box and immediately walked away so ……..
A letter addressed to state Liberal Party delegates about smart meters was distributed at the Victorian State Liberal Party conference on the weekend.
The letter was well received with many delegates indicating they were also against smart meters and had serious concerns. One delegate even mentioned she had her meter box locked up to prevent installation.
The letter requested delegates to appeal to Premier Baillieu and Minister O’Brien to implement measures to immediately halt to the so-called ‘mandatory’ rollout of smart meters.
There seems to be a clear divergence of views about smart meters between ordinary Liberal members and the Party leadership. Let us hope the Liberal Party leadership will not only start listening to their Victorian constituents, but also to their party members!!
Thanks to the Ex Facie post on March 22nd on this site. I sent a similar letter which I posted on this site, and I am as yet to receive a reply.
But I find it really interesting that the people in our area who have used the “NO Trespass” signs at the entry to their property and on their locked meter boxes, are being bypassed.
Then yesterday a friend showed me a letter they had received in reply to the “no harassment or coercion” letter (shown on this site) which they had sent.
The reply from the Power Company reads as follows, “We ask that you continue to respect our people as they go about their work, and that any “trespass” or “do not install” signage and any unregistered locks or devices on the meter housing are removed for installation.”
It then suggests contacting their consumer service centre and states “We are committed to working with consumers to allay concerns and resolve any issues you may have.”
Well everyone this tells me the “no trespass” and “no consent to install” signs are a must – I have them as well as my box locked with windows for meter reading. My signs have all been photographed in place as has my meter box. I am also considering now taking my photos to the Police station for witnessing and date stamping.
THERE WILL BE NO SMART METER INSTALLED AT MY PROPERTY, as there is no way they can allay my issues and concerns. I already have electrical issues with my heart and a tumour on my brain, so they will NEVER convince me that EMR is something I can live with in my home.
I SUGGEST IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE SIGNS UP AND HAVEN’T SENT THE “NO CONSENT” LETTERS, you may now choose to do so.
I also find it really interesting that the letters from the Power Companies are changing tact from “confrontational and threatening” to “we ask”.
Have we found an Achilles heel? Are they now trying to change the laws and constitution behind the scenes via a stealth approach as they did with the whole AMI smart meter program.
Well I hope they are ready for a huge number of people who are prepared to stand up for their rights to a level that they have never done so before. I AM.
Since going public with my story of how the roll-out of smartmeters in my area has affected my health and my life, I have been contacted by and have heard and read of a number of people who state that they are experiencing similar symptoms. As a result, some have had to leave their jobs, consider relocating; in short, their lives are ruined.
As I walk through suburban streets, I see signs and padlocks on meter boxes, a testament of a state at war – the government and the energy companies versus the people of Victoria.
My impression is that the majority of Victorians do not want smartmeters, for a variety of reasons. Some, like myself, have suffered disabling symptoms from their radio transmissions, others have no immediate symptoms, but worry about the longterm health effects on themselves and their families; pregnant women have no idea of what it will do to their developing baby.
Smartmeters are being forced on the people of Victoria, initially with subterfuge, as at no stage has there been consultation or even information on these devices, now with threats and intimidation. There is no concrete proof of any benefit to taxpayers.
A wonderful state has been turned into a nightmarish place, from which some people have no choice but to try to escape. In front of our very eyes, the values most of us hold as ‘sacred’ are being eroded. They are the principles of democracy – each person has rights and has a voice – and of freedom – the freedom to pursue health and happiness.
Generations before us have built a civilization fron scratch, have fought wars and lost lives to defend it. We are the lucky ones who have benefited from it. We are rightly proud of our civilized society, but cannot take it for granted. The state of Victoria belongs to all of us, not just to Ted Baillieu, Michael O’Brien and the energy companies.
I suggest it is time to speak out, sign the petition on this website and get your friends to do so also, bombard the Premier and other ministers with polite, yet direct letters. It is time to awake from dangerous apathy, we have a democracy worth fighting for.
Stop Smart Meters Australia launches Intimidation (Smart Meter Plan) song as another means to inform the masses about the dangers of smart meters.
The song is sung and written by Sharka, and Shane Griffo. Lyrics co-written by Brian Clarke. Film clip co-produced by David Thomas. Animation by John Goodwin and background art by Kari Kroll. Many thanks to these talented Victorian artists.
Stop Smart Meters Australia dedicates Intimidation (Smart Meter Plan) to:
-The ‘do nothing’ Baillieu Government which is ignoring the will of its constituents and denies ANY health impacts from the radiation emitted from smart meters;
-The money hungry foreign owned power distributors who are bullying and threatening people to accept smart meters against their will;
-The Department of Primary Industry, that responds to smart meter questions with "we’ll get back to you" but never do;
-and especially YOU, fellow Victorians, who are fighting for your civil and human rights to refuse smart meters on you properties.
MYSTERY surrounds the continued failure of smart meters across Moreland.
Electricity providers confirmed they have now replaced 38 vandalised meters – all but five in Moreland – that forensic tests found were sprayed with household chemicals.
Police began investigating in February, but have yet to establish who is launching the attacks and why.
Power distributor Jemena has ruled out suspending the program until the matter is resolved, but managing director Paul Adams warned vandalism of the electrical equipment could endanger lives.
Fawkner detective Sen-Constable Anna McIlroy said police identified 20 possible motives and had several leads.
But “until we can more closely identify the group we can’t say why or what motive,” Sen-Constable McIlroy said.
Lobby groups opposed to the meters claim they could breach privacy and associated electromagnetic frequencies could harm human health.
This year, new claims emerged the meters were exploding after black soot was found behind failed meters in Moreland.
Energy Safe Victoria energy safety director Paul Fearon said the meters were “designed to fail safely” and any associated flash, noise or smoke was not an explosion.
But Broadmeadows Progress Association spokeswoman Sonja Rutherford said she would not be convinced vandalism was behind the failures until Jemena released the forensic evidence.
“I find it extraordinary that a waterproof device can be damaged by liquid as is apparently claimed,” Ms Rutherford said.
As it is now being reported that many people are being threatened and intimidated by smart meter installers and by representatives of power companies on the phone and in person, it is time to share information from others dealing with what many are calling threats and bullying. What is extremely interesting is that comments are being made verbally to citizens not consenting to smart meters being installed at their home, but these same comments are not being put in writing. What actions are you prepared to take when standing up for your rights?
Best to deal with power distributors and their agents, only via (registered) mail where possible. If you do communicate over the phone or face-to-face tell them you are recording the conversation for evidence. dictaphones can be bought for under $100 at places like Officeworks and many mobile phones have audio and video recording capabilities these days. If anybody makes a threat of any kind you want the evidence captured (and witnesses), so photograph/record what occurs if installers arrive at your home. Alternatively, insist that they put their statements in writing.
Don’t be intimidated. They will try to intimidate people into submission and use fear to manipulate people. Perhaps it’s time to return the favour! Some of the statements being made to citizens are “we own the meter and we will install a smart meter whether you like it or not” , “if you don’t have it installed now, you will have to pay a lot to have it installed later”, “it will be installed whether you like it or not, even if it is on your private property”, “we will cut your power off if you don’t have it installed”, “we will come back and bust your lock and install it anyway”, “we will take legal action against you”. All these statements, yet power companies, the Department of Primary Industries and the Government will not put anything in writing about the so-called “set procedure prior to disconnection”. If you are replying to any of the above statements, some are replying with the following questions: “Are you speaking on behalf of (insert name of your power distributor) or on behalf of yourself? If you speak on behalf of (insert name of your power distributor), are you authorised to do so?” (so that you can determine if the power company is liable for the threat or the person making the threat) and/or “Do you wish to retract that threat or be charged under Section 247L of the Crimes Act 1958 of Victoria? Such an offence carries a penalty of up to 15 years imprisonment.”
3. “No trespass” signs are an absolute must, as is informing in writing to the power company (CEO) you do not consent to the installation of a smart meter (many are using the signs and letters of no consent available on this site). Always keep copies of letters and take photos of signs in place – date and sign them. Some people are having them stamped and witnessed at the local police station.
4. Always try to respond to letters you receive from the power company, never ignore them. If you find you are just repeating yourself you may just choose to send something simple like “I still do not consent to the installation of a smart meter at ……. .(insert your address and NMI code) and keep a copy.
5. Never make threats, particularly threats of violence or criminal damage (many people are getting really angry and frustrated, but threatening others is not the answer). Always stress that you want a peaceful resolution but WILL ASSERT YOUR RIGHTS.
My smart meter was installed just prior to Easter, and blew up my oven. Contrary to the polite assurances of the installation inspector, Citipower are maintaining a stance of minimum cooperation. It is now my responsibility to have the oven inspected and quoted for their consideration, with only the prospect of current market value compensation. Of course market value of a two-year old oven will not reinstate me to my previous capability which is what appropriate compensation should deliver. I did not want to ‘trade in’ my oven! As a single person working full-time, I must find time to remain home to get appraisals and quotes, which impacts my earnings. I have been without an oven now for nearly four weeks. They must have indemnity for this type of outcome, yet the responsibility is left to the consumer. I would change suppliers away from Citipower, but of course I in no way expect decent treatment from any of these ‘money collectors’.
“100% certainty of catastrophic failure of energy grid within 3 years”
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Apr 12, 2012 (BUSINESS WIRE) — The vulnerability of the energy industry’s new wireless smart grid will inevitably lead to lights out for everyone, according to leading cyber expert David Chalk. In an online interview for an upcoming documentary film entitled ‘Take Back Your Power’ ( www.ThePowerFilm.org ), Chalk says the entire power grid will be at risk to being taken down by cyber attack, and if installations continue it’s only a matter of time.
“We’re in a state of crisis,” said Chalk. “The front door is open and there is no lock to be had. There is not a power meter or device on the grid that is protected from hacking – if not already infected – with some sort of trojan horse that can cause the grid to be shut down or completely annihilated.”
“One of the most amazing things that has happened to mankind in the last 100 years is the Internet. It’s given us possibility beyond our wildest imagination. But we also know the vulnerabilities that exist inside of it. And then we have the backbone, the power grid that powers our nations. Those two are coming together. And it’s the smart meter on your home or business that’s now allowing that connectivity.”
Chalk also issued a challenge to governments, media and technology producers to show him one piece of digital technology that is hack-proof.
“The computer companies that are involved, the manufacturers that are involved, bring forward a technology and I will show you that it’s penetrable,” said Chalk. “I’ll do it on national TV, I’ll do it anywhere. But I can guarantee you 100% that there is nothing out there today — nothing — that can’t be penetrated.”
Chalk’s strong words come amidst increasing reports of the smart grid’s fatal insecurities, even from the governments and energy companies who are forcing their hand with the smart program. “Every endpoint [meter] is a new potential threat vector,” according to Doug Powell, manager, SMI Security, Privacy & Safety, for Canadian utility BC Hydro.
And in an interview with EnergyNow.com, former CIA Director James Woolsey was also highly critical of energy policy makers, whose plans received multi-billion dollar funding as part of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. “The so-called ‘smart grid’ that is as vulnerable as what we’ve got now is not smart at all,” said Woolsey. “It’s a really, really stupid grid.”
But there’s more. In an audit released in January, the US Inspector General Gregory Friedman was also highly critical. “Without a formal risk assessment and associated mitigation strategy, threats and weaknesses may go unidentified and expose the … systems to an unacceptable level of risk,” Friedman wrote.
Energy officials knew of these weaknesses but approved plans for the projects anyway, auditors said. “The initial weaknesses had not always been fully addressed, and did not include a number of security practices commonly recommended for federal government and industry systems.”
And security is not the only technologically based obstacle faced by smart grid proponents. In March, alarm bells were rung following current CIA Director David Patraeus’ confirmation that governments will use wireless smart appliances to spy on citizens. “Items of interest will be located, identified, monitored, and remotely controlled through technologies such as radio-frequency identification, sensor networks, tiny embedded servers, and energy harvesters,” Patraeus said at a meeting of In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture capital firm. He added that this will prompt a rethink of “our notions of identity and secrecy.”
With strong criticism to the smart grid now coming from many directions, energy corporations and governments now have the challenge to explain to an increasingly unapproving public why they continue to fast-track smart grid installations.
Citizen groups and organizations throughout the US, Canada and Europe have launched legal actions to stop the installation of smart meters. They cite issues such as cost increases, health risks, privacy concerns, grid vulnerability and the lack of democratic process. In Chalk’s home province of British Columbia, Citizens for Safe Technology ( www.citizensforsafetechnology.org ) and the BC Coalition to Stop Smart Meters are leading a growing challenge.
Options for opting out of the smart metering program have been announced in markets including California, Maine, Vermont, Louisiana, Michigan, Connecticut, Quebec, the UK and the Netherlands. In the US, several regions including the counties of Santa Cruz and Marin are enforcing outright moratoriums.
“Unless we wake up and realize what we’re doing, there is 100% certainty of total catastrophic failure of the entire power infrastructure within 3 years,” said Chalk. “This could actually be worse than a nuclear war, because it would happen everywhere. How governments and utilities are blindly merging the power grid with the Internet, and effectively without any protection, is insanity at its finest.”
The full video interview with David Chalk can be seen on www.thepowerfilm.org . The feature film documentary ‘Take Back Your Power’, which critically examines the smart grid program, will be released online this spring.
Stop Smart Meters Australia 