Delegation to visit the Energy Minister!

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Following numerous requests dating back from early December 2011 to meet with Hon. Michael O’Brien, Minister for Energy and Resources, representatives from community groups throughout Victoria have yet to receive any response and, in light of recent smart meter explosions, have organised a delegation to visit his electoral office to personally deliver a copy of the letter to which Minister O’Brien has refused to respond.

The delegation will visit Mr O’Brien’s electoral Office on:

Friday 2nd  March, 2012
11:00 am,
313-315 Waverly Rd, Malvern East

Interested persons are invited to be part of this delegation tomorrow morning.

Update Post

Posted in Smart Meter | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Success in deferring the installation of a Smart Meter!

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

This was sent into us by a Doctor: Over the last couple of weeks I have found that submitting a medical certificate to my electricity supplier SP AusNet has had some success – to defer installation of a Smart Meter.

To quote SP AusNet: “We understand that you have raised concerns about electromagnetic frequencies in regard to smart meters.  As a sign of good faith we will postpone the installation of the meter at your premises. We have contacted our installers and advise them accordingly and we will be in contact with you again in the future to discuss your concerns.”

Obtaining a medical certificate from your treating doctor saying that you have a sensitivity to EMF far beyond the average person, and that EMF significantly aggravates your illness (on the basis that this is actually true), has produced this deferral for several people, myself included.

In my email request to SP AusNet I supplied the statements by the Karolinska Institute and by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine recommending a halt to the roll out of wireless technology including Smart Meters.

I included a copy of the medical certificate from my doctor, as well as my written request:
To SP AusNet, “Please find attached a medical certificate from my treating doctor asking that I be exempted from having a smart meter installed at my residence, due to the particular requirements of my chronic illness.”

I expect there is a section in the government legislation about smart meters allowing an exemption on specific health grounds.  This would be standard practice with regard to all public programs.

I wonder if this issue of violation of an individual’s health needs as certified by their treating doctor is something which could be taken to the Ombudsman, especially if the petition fails.

Posted in electromagnetic hypersensitivity (EHS), health risks, hypersensitivity (EHS), medical certificate, Success in deferring | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

Time for Premier Baillieu to order distribution companies to halt smart meter rollout

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu must order electricity distribution companies to call an immediate halt to the smart meter rollout following recent explosions ETU Victorian State Secretary Dean Mighell said today.

“A series of recent explosions involving the distribution company Jemena has shown smart meters to be unreliable and dangerous both to our members who are installing or repairing them and to householders,” Mr Mighell said.

“Premier Ted Baillieu must show some leadership and at the very least call an immediate halt to the rollout until a full and transparent assessment of smart meters is undertaken.”

Mr Mighell pointed to the Australian/New Zealand Wiring Rules regulations clause 1.71 which have as an essential requirement that electrical equipment which forms part of an electrical installation shall be selected and installed to operate in a safe and reliable manner in the course of normal operating conditions” and further that it “not cause a danger from electric shock, fire, high temperature or physical injury in the event of reasonably expected conditions of abnormal operation, overload, fault or external influences that may apply in the electrical installation.”

“I believe the distribution companies now have an obligation to the ETU and indeed the Victorian community as a whole to demonstrate beyond doubt that smart meters already installed meet those essential requirements,” Mr Mighell said.

Read the rest of this article via Time for Premier Baillieu to order distribution companies to halt smart meter rollout — Electrical Trades Union.

Posted in Blowing up, Dean Mighell, ETU, explosions, Fire, House Fires, Premier Ted Baillieu, Safety, Smart Meter | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Exploding Smart Meters

Posted on February 29, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Posted by: 3AW Radio | 29 February, 2012 – 10:44 AM

Dean Mighell, State Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union, has told Neil Mitchell there is ‘absolutely’ the potential for Jemena smart meters to cause house fires.

These claims arise a week after a whistleblower claimed power companies knew smart meters were exploding, but were covering it up from consumers.

A memo sent from Mark Griffith, Manager for Work Practices at Jemena to all of the company’s electricity employees and obtained by the Neil Mitchell program, stated:

Any Electronic meters on the low voltage circuit where the phase injection can be confirmed as a high voltage injection shall be replaced.

Dean Mighell explained this meant that after a house’s power had experienced a power surge, whether by a lightning strike or power outage, that the smart meter would require replacing.

“We’ve seen evidence now starting to emerge very strongly that these things are blowing up either at the time the (electricians) go to put the power on or after it goes out,” Dean Mighell told Neil Mitchell.

Read the rest of the story and LISTEN: Dean Mighell’s interview with Neil Mitchell on exploding smart metres:via Smart Meters need replacing after power surge | 3AW Neil Mitchell |.

Posted in 3AW, Blowing up, explosions, Fire, House Fires, Jemena, Safety | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

I will live in fear and never be able to leave my home!

Posted on February 28, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Hey guys..I have no horror story..yet…but…I had occasion today to contact my billing company and it came up about smart meters and that I do not want one. I told the guy on the phone that I had put my name with Powercor to not have one installed at this time..and this guy told me that we all will have to have them and that putting it off is not going to stop us having to have one. I told him I would not have one until a proper investigation was done about the health issues already found..and now the issues of some getting on fire.

This guy ..from Red Energy said to not believe all I read..that there are no substantiated health risks..no more than that when using a mobile..and that the fires were not caused by the meters at all but by wiring etc., I asked him why would an installer say there was..and why isn’t an “allergy” to experiencing too many microwave thingies and the torment it causes in making people have to move out of their homes etc classed as significant to investigate. He said the investigation went ahead and nothing of any significance was found..and that he could GUARANTEE that i would not be affected by having the smart meter..and that he has had one for six months.

My brother is an electrician..and even he does not want one….because of the high sensitivity to the microwave thingies..and the increase of meters going on fire.
He says that these new meters have no surge protection and when there is spiking..well fire can occur..so they are not safe…and he said that all meter boxes need to be fireproofed.

I know that my deathly fear is fire in my home because I have pets. I have smoke detectors etc..and i am very very careful..and one smoke detector alerts a security company if i am not home..however…I do not have anything that I know that can just catch on fire..but, now that i KNOW that having this meter MAY cause fire….I will not be able to leave my home…I will want to stay here on guard..because of my pets etc…and I will try to find stuff that can put out electrical fires..in other words…..I will live in fear 24/7…

It seems that no matter what..I will have to have one of these..and they do not care that my life will be changed forever…that I will live in fear and never be able to leave my home unless someone is here at all times.

I know that this guy at red energy thinks it is all nothing….I do not want to have to live in fear……but, my house will never be able to be left with no one in it… Is there nothing we can do to force these people to not put the meter in..can we start some kind of legal action to protect ourselves..to get the choice of a smart meter or not…I have put off the installation for now..but they will not let me get away with it.

I am getting more scared now about this meter..knowing I will not be able to stop them from installing it……but i also know that people in places like red energy are telling people what that guy told me. How can we fight for the right to have a choice?

Share your story

Posted in Fire, health risks, House Fires, hypersensitivity (EHS), Microwave, Radiation, Share your story., Smart Meter, Tell us your story | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Dean Mighell sparks meters debate — Electrical Trades Union

Posted on February 27, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Dean Mighell sparks meters debate. On Friday 4 February on Radio 3AW ETU secretary Dean Mighell said he was concerned smart meters were being installed dangerously in some areas by people without the appropriate qualifications. James McIntosh, whose wife received a shock from one of the meters told of how he called United Energy after his wife was shocked and was advised the meter was wired incorrectly. Dean met with Michael O’Brien, Victorian Minister for Energy and Resources and was on 3AW on 19 February on – The Big House with Mike Brady and Bill Kusznirczuk. Brief report: ‘Dean Mighell, ETU secretary, takes calls and gives advice. Live from LaManna Direct. Caller Mark asks how to refuse a Smart Meter. Mighell says he has put a sign up on his meter

via Dean Mighell sparks meters debate — Electrical Trades Union.

Posted in Smart Meter | 1 Comment

Listen now (25th Feb) as Dean Mighell of the ETU calls for a halt to the Smart meter roll out on 696 3AW

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Dean Mighell of the Electrical Trades Union is calling for a halt to the Smart meter roll out. Listen now on 696 3AW aired on February 25th.

Posted in Smart Meter | Leave a comment

Exploding smart meters are endangering householders and workers: claim | Herald Sun

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

ENERGY Safe Victoria is investigating claims that exploding smart meters are endangering householders and workers.

The watchdog says companies should review testing procedures after power surges amid revelations of seven recent malfunctions in Pascoe Vale.

Another smart meter was damaged in Noble Park in November.

Details emerged today when a whistleblower claimed there were serious safety concerns about meters blowing up, sparking calls for a rollout suspension.

Distributor Jemena’s managing director Paul Adams denied the claims, saying meters had failed and ‘flashed’ due to a high voltage injection, but did not explode.

ESV director Paul Fearon said all types of meters were potentially vulnerable to damage during power surges.

Pascoe Vale grandmother Brenda, 91, was standing inside her front door watching a worker reconnecting power on Tuesday when suddenly she heard a loud “bang and boom”.

“I thought ‘Oh my goodness’, he had his head blown off.

“I could see he got a bit of a shock – I was just happy that I was on the other side of the door.”

Read more of this article via Exploding smart meters are endangering householders and workers: claim | Herald Sun.

Posted in explosions, Fire, Smart Meter | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Smart Meter explosions covered up? 3AW

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

A whistleblower claims power companies know smart meters are exploding and are lying to consumers to cover it up. ‘John’ works for Jemena and claims at least six smart meters have exploded in and around Pascoe Vale, since Christmas. John was installing a meter yesterday which burst into flames in front of him. He’s told Neil Mitchell under strict anonymity power companies are misleading the public and smart meters are dangerous.

Listen to the interviews with Dean Mighell, Energy Safe Victoria, & Jemena who are put under Neil Mitchell’s on-air microscope via Smart Meter explosions covered up?

Posted in 3AW, explosions, Fire, Smart Meter | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Media release 22nd February 2012 – Are Victorians being misled with the smart meter “mandate”?

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Stop Smart Meters Australia

Are Victorians being misled with the smart meter “mandate”?

Victorians are continually being informed that it is mandatory to
accept the installation of smart meters; that by refusing installation
one is breaking the law.

Stop Smart Meters Australia members have received written notification
that the alleged mandate for compulsory installation is based on an
Order of Council that does not pertain to electricity consumers – it
is a directive to power distributors. Victorian Government Gazette
S200, dated 28th August 2007, Para 14.1, states; “Each distributor
must use its best endeavours to install a remotely read interval
meter….”

Ms Di Bell, spokesperson for Stop Smart Meters Australia, said “The
Order in Council does not state that a customer has to accept a smart
meter. Therefore, the question arises, if residents have totally
refused to have a smart meter installed, have the power distributors
used their “best endeavours” and that’s the end of it? Or do they
purport to have the right to use bullying tactics to force
installation?”

According to this Order in Council, it is clear that there is no
legislative provision that imposes smart meters on customers.
Therefore, there is no lawful obligation for consumers to accept the
installation of smart meters.

“If this is the case, then any customer who has had a smart meter
installed against their will, and been provided with misleading
information, must surely have the right to demand its removal” says Ms
Bell.

www.stopsmartmeters.com.au has comments from average Australians with
real concerns with the installation of smart meters in Victoria.

Please release this to all Victorians through your media, they deserve to know.

Posted in Media release | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments