by Katherine | 30 Oct, 2013 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Uncategorized
The Northern Advocate is reporting that 25,000 Wel Networks is beginning to install “smart meters” for 25,000 Top Energy customers.
WEL Networks Chief Executive Dr Julian Elder was quoted as saying that there will be “no increase in energy or lines charges related to the change of meters.”
He would not say how many meter readers would lose their jobs in a part of NZ where unemployment is already high.
If you live in the Far North Area and do not want to have to face the potential health risks or the possibility of a large increase in your bill (such as faced by the Henderson family, see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/huge-bill-increase-due-to-smart-meter/ that may result after a “smart meter” installation, please visit this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/how-to-avoid-getting-a-smart-meter/
For the full story on the Far North roll out please see this link:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11107168
by Katherine | 30 Oct, 2013 | Latest News, Smart water meters, Uncategorized
The Bay of Plenty Times has reported that “smart water meters” are being considered for Tauranga. According to the article the new technology could be in use within two years and”involves the remote activation of a radio signal from a transponder attached to the meter.
The putative “benefit” to residents is that “that the householder can set a limit on how much they want to pay for water so that when the figure is exceeded, it triggers an alarm.”
There is already a limited trial of “smart meters” for water occurring in Tauranga, according to the article.
Full details are at this link:
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/bay-of-plenty-times/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503343&objectid=11106076
by Katherine | 30 Oct, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized
The Wairarapa Age has reported that the electricity bill for a Masterton mother of three has skyrocketed from between $140-190 per month to $500-600 per month since the analogue meter was replaced with a “smart meter”.
No one is home between 8 am and 4 pm in her household and electricity use is modest. The family showers daily but does not use a heater.
Ms Henderson is quoted as saying:
“When we come home the kids will watch tele, I might do a couple of loads of washing and have a shower but apart from that we don’t use that much … it must be the Smart meter. It seems to be spinning all the time, even when there is nothing on. They reckon I use about 72-85kW per day. That’s just bull … ,”
The full story may be read at this link (but before you go to the link, please scroll down for a possible explanation why Ms Henderson’s bill has become so exorbitant):
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/wairarapa-times-age/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503414&objectid=11137868
Editor’s note: One reason why “smart meters” are associated with higher bills may be that “smart meters” can read not only the actual electricity that your lights, appliances etc consume, but “reactive power” which can be produced by devices (such as energy saving compact fluorescent light bulbs and many other modern appliances, including some of the new-style TVs) that contain “switch mode power supplies”. If this useless “reactive power” is added to your bill, your bill will go up. Devices that can contain switch mode power supplies may also produce harmonics or transients spikes in the wiring (known colloquially as “dirty electricity” or DE*) which is a health hazard. (Whether or not an appliance produces DE in household wiring depends upon how well its power supply has been engineered.)
Some modern appliances produce significant amounts of dirty electricity (DE) including energy saving light bulbs, many new TVs, some computers etc. (For more information DE please see this link: www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/health-issues/ )
NB: It is also possible that Ms Henderson’s meter is simply faulty.
NB: For other consumer complaints from the USA and Canada about “smart meters” increasing bills please see the following:
http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2011/01/05/news/19local_01-05-11.txt
http://www.coastreporter.net/article/20120406/SECHELT0101/304069971/-1/sechelt/high-power-bill-connection-alleged
by Katherine | 28 Oct, 2013 | Uncategorized
The International Society of Doctors for the Environment (ISDE) and Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association (IDEA) has produced a document aimed at helping schools to create a safer environment for students and staff by reducing exposure to electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in schools.
While the report focuses on the use of Wi-Fi and cell phones in schools, “smart meters” are another source of EMR thus should also be avoided in the school environment.
The document (which includes contributions by scientists) may be read at this link: http://wifiinschools.org.uk/resources/safeschools2012.pdf
Meanwhile, British doctors have written an open letter about the health and safety issues with Wi-Fi and cellulars phones. The letter is posted on the website of the Safe schools Technlogy Alliance http://ssita.org.uk/british-doctors-initiative/
and may be read at this link: http://ssita.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/British-doctors-letter-wifi-10-July-2013.pdf
by Katherine | 25 Oct, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized
People in Hamilton have the opportunity to attend a free public screening of the new documentary that covers the health, privacy, financial and other issues relating to the new “smart” or “advanced” meters. The screening has been organised by Wake Up Waikato and you can connect with them through their Facebook page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WakeUpWaikato/
Details for the screening are below:
Date: Tuesday 29 October
Time: 7 pm
Venue: Infinity Spiritual Centre
481 Anglesea St (between London and Rostrevor Streets; across the road from Repco)
Hamilton
NB: Details for screenings in other parts of NZ may be found at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/take-back-your-power-free-public-screenings/
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 for people who want to host screenings may be found here: http://www.takebackyourpower.net/screenings/host-screening/
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 a notice can be posted on this website. Thank you.
by Katherine | 24 Oct, 2013 | Events, 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.
For details of the Hamilton screening on October 29, see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/hamilton-take-back-your-power-free-screening/
For details of the Auckland screening on November 30, please see this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/take-back-your-power-free-auckland-screening/
For details of the Christchurch screening on December 2, please see this link:
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/free-screening-of-take-back-your-power/
For details of the West Auckland screening on December 5, please see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/west-auckland-screening-of-take-back-your-power/
For details of the Hawkes Bay screeing on December 3, 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 for people who want to host screenings may be found here: http://www.takebackyourpower.net/screenings/host-screening/
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 a notice can be posted on this website and a poster can be created to advertise your event. Thank you.
by Katherine | 20 Oct, 2013 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Uncategorized
It has recently been brought to my attention that there is a formal exemption process that may be used to avoid getting a “smart meter” or an electronic meter that is not a “smart meter”. (Presumably this form could also be used to have an existing “smart meter” or electronic meter replaced.)
For people who are electrosensitive and cannot tolerate any dirty electricity that may be produced by the switch mode power supply in an electronic meter (even an electronic meter that is not a “smart meter”) the exemption from getting “smart meter” (or other electronic meter) is vital to health.
Given that the dirty electricity (DE) (likely to be created by the switch mode power supply in all electronic meters) has been associated with higher risk of cancer, it would seem that anyone with a personal or family history of cancer or any other condition (such as asthma) that is likely to be aggravated by increased exposure to DE would also have grounds to apply for an electromechanical analogue meter.
The form is available from this section of the Electricity Authority’s website: http://www.ea.govt.nz/industry/market/metering/ specifically from this link www.ea.govt.nz/dmsdocument/887
NB: As soon as we have the information available, I will post makes and models of genuine new analogue electromechanical meters that are available and suitable for use in NZ. (The North-American based website www.stopsmartmeters.org has reported that there are fake analogue meters on the international market http://stopsmartmeters.org/2013/10/11/trojan-horse-analog-meters-investigated/)
by Katherine | 20 Oct, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized
Dr Annie Sasco, who worked for INSERM (France’s national institute for health and medical research) has been fired after she spoke out about the cancer risks from cell phones at a conference where she delivered a lecture on childhood cancer.
You can read more about this (and also follow links to conference proceedings) at this link:b
http://mieuxprevenir.blogspot.co.nz/2012/05/dr-annie-sasco-silenced-after-london.html
by Katherine | 18 Oct, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized
Don Maisch PhD from www.emfacts.com is the author of a number of articles about “smart meters”. One of these, Smart Meter Health Concerns: Just A Nocebo Effect or an Emerging Public Health Nightmare? was published in issue 9 of The NZ Journal of Natural Medicine, which is still available from the Journal’s website at http://www.naturalmedicine.net.nz/store/
The article may also be downloaded (for free) from Don Maisch’s site at this link: http://www.emfacts.com/papers/
by Katherine | 15 Oct, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized
A free public screening of the new documentary on “smart meters” Take Back Your Power (which covers the health, privacy, financial and other issues with “smart meters” and the planned “smart grid”) is being planned for Auckland on the afternoon (after 4 pm) of Saturday, November 30. Details are as followed
Date: Saturday, November 30
Start time: 4.15pm
Venue: St Lukes Presbyterian Church, 130 Remuera Rd, Remuera, Auckland
At this stage, the programme for the afternoon-evening looks like this:
4.15: Welcome and Introduction
4.30: Take Back Your Power (104 minutes)
6.15 approx: Break for dinner (BYO dinner or go out to Newmarket; tea and coffee will be available.) For those who do not need dinner, there will be an opportunity to have questsions relating to “smart meters” answered during this time.
6.45: Resonance (90 minutes approx.)
8.15- 8.30: Questions and closing remarks
8.30: Clean up
We realise that people may not be able to attend the entire duration of the event; if you may need to leave during one of the documentaries, please take a seat on the edge of a row.
Please diary date this event and sign up for updates on the www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz email list on this page https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/ and you will be emailed details of the screening. Please also forward this link to anyone you think may be interested to attend. Thank you.
NB: If you would like to see the trailer for the documentary it can be viewed at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDMYc1qlhFY&list=UUBmSbCRd_Jj5NgV3xTwrkHA
The full documentary may be purchased or streamed from www.takebackyourpower.net
by Katherine | 10 Oct, 2013 | Latest News, Users Feedback
Hi Katherine
How are you?
I have some good news! Nova Energy will replace the meter with an analogue one, no problem! We have to pay
$55.
Meridian would not do anything despite my complaints.
So please put that out there..change to Nova…. they are still open to not doing smart meters, although they do support them they say, but also understand that not everyone wants them. I had quite a good chat with someone there who says that they are having other people phone them and wanting to get rid of their smart meter. I said that if they keep that policy they will get a lot of customers as people realise the health effects of the smart meters.
Yippee!!
Best Wishes and thanks for your support. If there is anything i can do to help the cause let me know.
– Name supplied
Note: All correspondence received through the Contact form on this website is treated in confidence and will not be posted on the site without written permission from the author. The site coordinator does not have a financial interest in any electricity company.
by Katherine | 29 Sep, 2013 | Latest News, Take Back Your Power, Uncategorized
Diary date:
The DVD of the new documentary Take Back Your Power will be screening on Monday, 2nd December, 2013 – free of charge.
The venue:
‘ The Portal’ (Project Lytellton Office – For other great things going on at Project Lyttleton, please see http://www.lyttelton.net.nz/)
Address:
54a Oxford Street (up path behind swimming pool)
Lyttleton, Christchurch
Start time: 7.15 pm.
(For other great things going on at Project Lyttleton, please see http://www.lyttelton.net.nz/)
The trailer for the movie may be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDMYc1qlhFY&list=UUBmSbCRd_Jj5NgV3xTwrkHA The website for the documentary is http://www.takebackyourpower.net/
NB: You can buy the DVD or stream it (for a small fee) on your computer by visiting this link: http://www.naturalmedicine.net.nz/environmental-health/take-back-your-power
NOTE TO READERS: If you have purchased a DVD and want to organise a free screening in your area, please email through the Contact form of this site ( https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/contact-us/) if you would like the details to be post on the website. Many thanks.
by Katherine | 27 Sep, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized
Electropollution expert Paul Waddell who runs www.safespace.net.nz will be speaking at WellFest in Auckland at 2pm on Saturday October 5 th.
Paul will be speaking in Seminar Room 1 and will discuss common sources of electropollution and their health effects. His talk will also include demonstrations of the equipment and techniques used to assess levels of electropollution and reduce exposure to safer levels.
The venue for the event is the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau. The address of the venue and a map can be accessed through this link: http://www.pacific.org.nz/about-us/contact-us/
There is an entry fee of $10 per adult (children under 12 are free). There is no further charge for the seminars.
SOURCE: http://www.naturalmedicine.net.nz/news/electropollution-talk-at-wellfest-october-5th/
by Katherine | 9 Sep, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
This message was recently sent through the Contact form:
Recently received my “Good News” letter from Genesis saying they were upgrading the meters in our area. Phoned Genesis to say I did not consent to my meter being upgraded and was told that it was the Law and my options were to change retailer or upgrade. Following their advice I changed my retailer to Nova and then called Genesis to tell them of my switch. I was then told I could in fact now remain on my standard meter and the information I had been given was wrong. “Oh, what a shame!” I said, “Had I been told this last week I would have remained with Genesis, but I am receiving a better rate on my controlled and anytime meters and the discount was greater with my new supplier.”
So the message to all is be persistent, shop around, let your concerns be known.
– Name supplied
Editor’s comment: It is commonly being reported to me that electricity companies are telling customers that it is compulsory to have a “smart meter” but the Electricity Authority has not made “smart meters” mandatory. See: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/is-it-compulsory-to-have-a-smart-meter/
(Note from website coordinator: All correspondence received through the Contact form on this site is treated in confidence. Comments are posted on this site only with the permission of their author. The site coordinator does not have any financial interest in any electricity company.)
by Katherine | 4 Sep, 2013 | Latest News, Uncategorized
The Peasant Film Club is showing “smart meter” related film clips at its next evening on Thursday September 5 in Henderson Valley, Auckland. For more information (including a map) please see the link below:
localwatch.net.nz/peasants/
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