Dear Friends,
Happy New Year!
As some of you know, for over a decade we have been opposing the dangerous roll-out of digital utility meters. Other states have an analog option and we will not stop fighting until there is an analog meter choice in New York.
The misinformation about digital meters from utility companies and the NYS Public Service Commission is astounding. Although touted as safe and consumer and environmentally beneficial, this could not be farther from the truth.
People began reporting health and fire problems after the installation of digital meters as early as 2010. Documentation of this can be found in state records. The NYSPSC responded to this by shielding utilities from any responsibility and allowing utilities to force digital meters on customers and raise our rates.
The NYSPSC used irrelevant, faulty, deceptive and outdated testing protocols in order to approve digital meters. Digital meters were never tested for electrical and radiofrequency radiation exposure levels or electrical fire risks. Had the new meters been tested properly, they would not have been approved. Proper testing would have exposed fire risks and unprecedented levels of pulsed RF radiation.
In addition, digital meters can collect private utility usage data, without permission from customers, for utilities to sell or share with third parties. If utilities want to extract our data and sell it, they should get our permission and then pay us for it.
Although, analog utility meters are safe and digital meters are not, we still do not have an analog meter choice in NY State. This is about people's rights being trampled by government and corporate corruption.
Late in the last legislative session, New York State Senator Harckham and Assembly Member Abinanti introduced NYS Senate bill S8765 and NYS Assembly bill A10555, for an analog meter choice. We are so grateful to these two legislators for their bold leadership on this topic. We look forward to seeing both bills re-introduced in 2023 and will keep you informed.
“Smart” meter hand-out
and an interesting article:
The FCC Shields Cellphone
Companies From Safety Concerns
We appreciate your support and thank you as always....
NYSUMA
Weston Blelock
Anita Gehrke
Michele Hertz
Toby Stover
