Just Say No to Big Brother’s Smart Meters by Orlean Koehle


Chapter One - Introduction Just Say NO to “Big Brother’s” SmartMeters


(The original three-page article, the beginning of this book was sent out by e-mail October 21, 2010, updated May, 2011, updated October 2011, and most recently December, 2011)


Many Americans have not yet heard of the "SmartMeters" that are being installed at a rapid pace across the states of California, Texas, and other states across our nation.


Many Americans are


totally unaware that someone has already installed a meter or will soon be showing up at their home, and, without knocking, or asking permission, will remove their old analog meter and replace it with a new “SmartMeter." Why the rapid pace and secrecy in installing the meters?


know that the majority of Americans would never allow for such a thing if they really knew more about these new meters, their harmful health effects, their inaccurate and often inflated billing, and the “big brother” control they will have over our use of energy and our own appliances in our own homes.


What is a SmartMeter? It is one that contains RF (radio frequency) so that it can be remotely controlled and read. No longer will a meter reader have to come to your home to read the meter. It will all be done remotely. When all is in place, the smartmeter will not only keep track of how much electricity you are using, but it will be able to control, regulate, and ration your use of that electricity. If "big brother" decides that you are using too much heat in the winter time, or too much air conditioning in the summer time, or using too much hot water in your showers or washing machine (even if you are willing to pay for that extra usage), that use of power will be automatically turned down. A future goal is to have - by 2012 - all appliances replaced with those containing RF so that the smartmeter can speak to your appliances and turn them off in peak hours - for even more regulations and controls. To most Americans, this is a little too much “big brother” snooping into our private lives and


trying to control every aspect of them. They never would allow such a thing to happen and would say no, but most Americans are not even asked.


The installation is happening without their


knowledge. Supposedly when it is done, a sign is hung on the front doorknob informing the homeowner of the switch to a smartmeter, but in many cases, no sign was left. The homeowner had no idea until he just happened to notice a new, different looking meter, or his energy rates suddenly start changing, often much higher. Why the Rise in Energy Rates with the SmartMeter? One of the propaganda ads about the


SmartMeter was that this will be a way to save energy and lower costs, but many who already have the meter are finding out that is not the case. A man called to find out why his rates had gone up and was told that now that the meter could read exactly what time of the day that he was washing his clothes or using his air conditioner, PG&E could determine if that was “peak time” or not, and since it was “peak time” then he would have to pay “peak premium rates.”


If he wanted


to save money then he could wash his clothes in the middle of the night or use his other appliances at that time, or his air conditioner then (when he really didn’t need it anymore because the temperature is cooler). Many other people have reported dramatic increases in their rates, not decreases. As of March 2010, six hundred complaints had been received by PG&E in Northern California because of their faulty rates. (http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/San-Francisco-Moves-To-Stop-SmartMeters-96618524.html) Health Risks: People who are doing their own research on SmartMeters are finding out that


not only is this an invasion of their privacy and property, their energy rates are increasing, but there is an enormous health risk with so much exposure to electromagnetic/radioactive waves. We already are being bombarded with them through our use microwave ovens, computers, cell phones,


1 Is it because the utility companies


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