by Katherine | 14 Dec, 2013 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Uncategorized
The Timaru Herald has reported that South Canterbury company lines Alpine Energy plans to roll out 36,000 “smart meters” to it customers beginning in 2014.
The company has received permission from the Commerce Commission to increase prices by 10% to fund new capital expenditure, presumably that involved in purchasing and installing the “smart meters”.
According to the paper:
“The project, which includes installing the infrastructure and other programming, is expected to cost $14 million – or about $388 per meter – but neither Contact nor Meridian Energy would say whether the increased costs would be reflected in people’s power bills. Alpine Energy will own the meters.”
The full story may be read at this link: http://www.stuff.co.nz/timaru-herald/news/9025489/Powercos-quiet-on-meter-cost
(By comparison, a new electromechanical meter can be purchased for around $NZ50.)
If you are in the South Canterbury area and do not want to have a “smart meter”, please visit this link of the site: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/how-to-avoid-getting-a-smart-meter/
After a “smart meter” has been installed it can be very difficult to have it removed, so if you do not want a “smart meter” please take steps to avoid its installation.
Please also sign up for the email list on www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz so that you can receive updates on the “smart meter” issue.
NB: If you are in the South Canterbury area and would like to organise a screening of the documentary Take Back Your Power to help inform people in your community about the “smart meter” issue, please email through this link https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/ and you will be given information and support.
by Katherine | 14 Dec, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized
Dr Don Maisch (from www.emfacts.com) visited New Zealand in November, and gave three free public lectures on “smart meters” focusing on how “smart meters” and the “smart grid” have a variety of undesirable consequences. His talk included a discussion of “smart meter”-associated health issues.
His lecture in Remuera, Auckland was filmed by Vinny Eastwood of www.thevinnyeastwoodshow.com and the footage of the lecture may now be viewed at this link: http://youtu.be/RSJemrpM5Us
The Q&A section will be posted at a later date.
by Katherine | 1 Dec, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Uncategorized
The first Hawkes Bay screening of the highly recommended new documentary on “smart meters” Take Back Your Power is taking place on Tuesday, December 3.
Details are as follows:
7.30pm Tuesday 3rd December
Clive Hall, 162 Main Road Clive
(Hawke’s Bay)
A gold coin donation/koha is requested to help cover the cost of the hire of the hall.
If you are not in the Hawkes Bay, please check out this link for local screenings that are happening near you:
www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/free-screenings-of-take-back-your-power-updated/
OR see the trailer at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDMYc1qlhFY
OR stream/buy the DVD from this link: www.takebackyourpower.net
If you would like to arrange a screening in your area please email through the Contact form at this link and you will be sent information to help you do this. https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/
by Katherine | 1 Dec, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Uncategorized
The first West Auckland screening of the highly recommended new documentary on “smart meters” Take Back Your Power is taking place on Thursday, December 5.
Details are as follows:
The Peasant Film Club (which regularly runs documentaries on interesting topics) will be hosting a West Auckland showing of the outstanding new documentary on “smart meters” Take Back our Power on Thursday, December 5.
The screening will take place at the premises of WEA Waitakere, 9 Henderson Valley Rd, Henderson, West Auckland, starting at 7.30 PM.
Details and a map of the venue location may be found at this link: http://localwatch.net.nz/peasants/
The venue seats 30 people, so if numbers are too high to accommodate everyone, there will be a repeat screening on Friday December 6.
If you are not in West Auckland, please check out this link for local screenings that are happening near you:
www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/free-screenings-of-take-back-your-power-updated/
OR see the trailer at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDMYc1qlhFY
OR stream/buy the DVD from this link: www.takebackyourpower.net
If you would like to arrange a screening in your area please email through the Contact form at this link and you will be sent information to help you do this. https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/
by Katherine | 29 Nov, 2013 | Latest News, Take Back Your Power
Just a reminder that Saturday, November 30 is the date for the first free public screening in Auckland of the highly recommended documentary Take Back Your Power.
For details, please click on the link below:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/take-back-your-power-free-auckland-screening/
Details for screenings in other venues are at this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/free-screenings-of-take-back-your-power-updated/
by Katherine | 26 Nov, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Uncategorized
Visiting electromagnetic radiation expert Dr Don Maisch, PhD gave a free public lecture on “smart meters”, including health risks in Remuera on Tuesday 26th November. The informative lecture and power point presentation included question time in which members of the public shared their experiences with smart meters, including reporting symptoms developed after exposure to “smart meter” radiation as well as being able to ask Dr Maisch questions.
Dr Maisch will be speaking on Auckland’ North Shore on Thursday November 28th. Details are at this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/dr-don-maisch-north-shore-talk/
The next “smart meter” related event after Dr Maisch’s talks will be the free Auckland screening of the new documentary Take Back Your Power on November 30. Please see this link for details: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/take-back-your-power-free-auckland-screening/
To learn about up coming events, please join the email list for www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz and you will be emailed information.
by Katherine | 19 Nov, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Uncategorized
Dr Don Maisch, PhD from www.emfacts.com is giving a lecture on smart meters on Auckland’s North Shore on Thursday November 28.
Details for the talk are as follows:
Date: Thursday November 28.
Time: 7 – 8.30 pm
Venue: Outram Hall, 478 Beach Rd, Murrays Bay, Auckland
A poster for this event may now be downlaoded from this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Dr-Don-Maisch-North-Shore-Poster.pdf
If you can, please print it out and put it up locally to advertise the talk.
For details of Dr Maisch’s other public talks, please see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/emr-expert-to-visit-nz/
by Katherine | 16 Nov, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
The Hawkes Bay’s first screening of Take Back Your Power (the new documentary on “smart meters” and their effects on people’s health, privacy and finances) will take place on December 3. Details for the showing are as follows:
7.30pm Tuesday 3rd December
Clive Hall, 162 Main Road Clive
(Hawke’s Bay)
A gold coin donation/koha is requested to help cover the cost of the hire of the hall.
The poster for this event is at this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Take-back-your-power-poster-HAWKES-BAY-3-DEC.pdf
It may also be accessed through the Resources page at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/resources/
by Katherine | 15 Nov, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
Dr Don Masich’s public talk in Christchurch starts at 7.30 (not 7pm as has been previously stated on a previous post, which has now been corrected.) Apologies for any inconvenience.
The correct details for the talk are:
Christchurch Talk
Dr Maisch will be giving a public lecture in Christchurch on Thursday November 21 at St. Mark’s Church in the ‘Wilsons Room’ (entrance at back of church)
101 Opawa Rd, Opawa, starting at 7.30 pm. The topic for his talk is “The Smart Electricity Grid: Claims, Pitfalls, and Unintended Consequences”.
A gold coin Koha is requested.
by Katherine | 14 Nov, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Uncategorized
There are few events coming up soon which are either relate to “smart meters” or other wireless technologies:
For 2014 showings of the award-winning documentary Take Back Your Power, please see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/2014-screenings-of-take-back-your-power/
The vents below took palce in 2013
Links to the posts that describe each event are below:
November 15 (Wanganui): https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/wanganui-public-meeting-on-wireless-technologies/
Dr Don Maisch public talks on “smart meters”
These will take place in Christchurch on November 21 and in Auckland on November 26 and the Auckland’s North Shore on November 28
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/emr-expert-to-visit-nz/
For details of free public screenings of documentary Take Back Your Power
Auckland November 30,
Christchurch December 2,
Hawkes Bay December 3 and
West Auckland November 5 please see:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/take-back-your-power-free-public-screenings/
by Katherine | 14 Nov, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
A public meeting to discuss wireless technologies is being held at Age Concern Wanganui on Saturday November 16 at 2.30 PM.
The address for Age Concern Wanganui is 164 St Hill Street, Wanganui.
The event has been organised by Lorraine from the Natural Science organisation.
by Katherine | 6 Nov, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Uncategorized
Don Maisch, PhD will be visiting New Zealand in November, where he will be giving talks and also conducting electromagnetic radiation (EMR) risk assessments. Dr Maisch’s PhD thesis The Procrustean Approach examines the influence of vested interests on EMR safety standards.
Christchurch Talk
Dr Maisch will be giving a public lecture in Christchurch on Thursday November 21 at St. Mark’s Church in the ‘Wilsons Room’ (entrance at back of church)
101 Opawa Rd, Opawa, starting at 7.30 pm. The topic for his talk is “The Smart Electricity Grid: Claims, Pitfalls, and Unintended Consequences”.
A gold coin Koha is requested.
Auckland Talk
Dr Maisch will be giving a public lecture in Auckland on Tuesday November 26 at the St Lukes Church, 130 Remuera Rd, Remuera, starting at 7.15 pm. The topic for his talk is “The Smart Electricity Grid: Claims, Pitfalls, and Unintended Consequences”.
The event is free. (Koha are welcome.)
North Shore Talk
Dr Don Maisch will also be speaking on the North Shore on Thursday November 28. Please see this link for details: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/dr-don-maisch-north-shore-talk/
Events are also planned for Palmerston North and Wellington; please check back for details as these will be posted when they are available.
More information about Dr Maisch and his work may be found at his website www.emfacts.com.
by Katherine | 4 Nov, 2013 | Events, Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Uncategorized
The Peasant Film Club (which regularly runs documentaries on interesting topics) will be hosting a West Auckland showing of the outstanding new documentary on “smart meters” Take Back our Power on Thursday, December 5.
The screening will take place at the premises of WEA Waitakere, 9 Henderson Valley Rd, Henderson, West Auckland.
Details and a map of the venue location may be found at this link: http://localwatch.net.nz/peasants/
The venue seats 30 people, so if numbers are too high to acommodate everyone, there will be a repeat screening on Friday December 6.
(For more information about the documentary or for details of other screenings, plesae see this link https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/free-screenings-of-take-back-your-power-updated/ )
by Katherine | 30 Oct, 2013 | Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Uncategorized
Free screenings of the new documentary Take Back Your Power on the smart meter issue are being organised around NZ.
Please check back at this post as it will be updated from time to time.
If you would like to organise a screening in your area, please email through this link www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us for information and support.
2014 Screenings of Take Back Your Power
For details of 2014 showings of Take Back Your Power, please visit this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/2014-screenings-of-take-back-your-power/
For details of the screenings that have already taken place, you can see the links below:
The first screening of Take Back Your Power was held on October 29, 2013 in Hamilton, thanks to people at Wake Up Waikato https://www.facebook.com/groups/WakeUpWaikato/ taking the initiative to do this.
Auckland screening on November 30, 2013 please see this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/take-back-your-power-free-auckland-screening/
For details of the West Auckland screening on December 5, 2013 please see this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/west-auckland-screening-of-take-back-your-power/
For details of the Christchurch screening on December 2, 2013 please see this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/free-screening-of-take-back-your-power/
For details of the Hawkes Bay screening on December 3, 2013 please see this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/hawkes-bay-screening-of-take-back-your-power/
Screenings planned for other towns and cities will be publicised on this site as soon as soon as details are known. These screenings are being organised by volunteers.
NB: If you would like to organise a screening in your community centre, church, school or tertiary institution or other venue, you can buy a copy of the DVD from the producer at this link www.takebackyourpower.net (it will take 3-4 weeks for the DVD to arrive in NZ). Instructions from the film producers for people who want to host screenings may be found here: http://www.takebackyourpower.net/screenings/host-screening/
(Please note that while the producer would like people hosting free (or donation) screenings to buy 30 DVDs (they give special price for bulk purchases) they realise that this is not financially feasible for everyone and will waive this request if you cannot afford it.) Further information about running a free screening in NZ may be obtained by emailing through this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/ )
When you have the details of your public screening organised, please email www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz through the Contact form at this link https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/ so that a notice can be posted on this website. Thank you.
by Katherine | 30 Oct, 2013 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
Website editor’s note: Below is an email from a website visitor, reporting on how Genesis finally agreed to remove the transmission chip from a “smart meter” installed without consent – but only after a formal complaint was made. According to this correspondent Genesis will now be requiring customers to agree to a “smart meter” (which Genesis Energy describes as an “advanced” meter) as part of its terms and conditions.
If any representatives of Genesis are reading this post and this is not in fact Genesis’s policy, please send an email through the Contact form and I will amend this post accordingly.
Thank you.
Email to www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz from a customer of Genesis Energy
Hi there
I discovered to my horror that Genesis Energy had installed a smart meter at my new property without my consent. On initially querying this the company spokesperson stated I could go to another company if I wished but Genesis would not be removing my meter. I then approached the Commissioner for Gas and Electricity and they intervened with a formal complaint. Several weeks later the smart meter has been disabled and from now on Genesis Energy have included in their terms and conditions for any customer wishing to be supplied by Genesis Energy that they are required to agree to allow us to install our metering equipment of choice.
See copy of email below…. A little win but thank you for your website which was a source of support and information for our family.
Email from Genesis Energy to customer
You are correct in your statement that smart meter installation is not mandatory. We have not communicated this. It is mandatory that all of our meters are within the new certification requirements by 2015, smart meter or not. It is Genesis Energy’s choice to utilise Advanced Meters for this purpose.
With the exception of your meter due to the concerns you have raised, we have included it in our terms and conditions for any customer wishing to be supplied by Genesis Energy that they are required to agree to allow us to install our metering equipment of choice. We exercise this right based on the fact that consumers can choose whom it is that they want to supply their power, even after the Advanced Meter is installed.
Advanced Meters do have the capability to feed back into the grid, however the software for this is not yet available. They were built with this very function in mind and are definitely not an attempt to make home generation of electricity more difficult, We have not yet implemented the software required but will be doing so in the near future. They will then be able to provide a better service to consumers who choose to do this as they record the electricity being generated and returned each half hour.
It is not possible for us or the meter owners to remotely change the digital reading, at all. Due to the strict regulations surrounding meter calibrationand measurement of electricity use this function was not built in to the meters.
Mechanical meters, however, are not locked at all…
[Website editor’s note: I have edited out part of this email which included a description of how to interfere with the operation of an analogue meter as this is potentially dangerous.]…
The security and safety of a mechanical meter is immensely lacking in comparison to the Advanced Meter when it comes to altering the readings.
Advanced Meters are sealed and have tampering sensors which will communicate any interruptions to the safety seal. Also, the usage is recorded every half hour and as such any unusual activity or unusual jumps in the amount used can be queried or examined by the consumer, in which case we can obtain the data if necessary to scrutinise it closely. We chose these meters to support greater transparency of power usage for our customers to better manage their costs.
I hope you find this information useful, and wish you the best for the future.
Kind regards
[Representative of Genesis Energy; Name withheld for privacy reasons.]
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