by Katherine | 13 Nov, 2012 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Privacy, Uncategorized
“Power is Information” is the corporate motto of Metrix, which describes itself on its website as “the leading electricity meter owner and operator in the Greater Auckland region”.
Metrix itself is owned by Mighty River Power, the State Owned Enterprise that the NZ government is planning to sell, despite strong public opposition. (One community group, Switch Off Mercury Energy has started a website (http://www.switchoffmercuryenergy.org/) and Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SwitchOffMercuryEnergy) to encourage customers of Mercury Energy, which is another subsidiary of Mighty River Power, to change to another electricity company and thereby make Mighty River Power a less attractive proposition for investors and thereby stop the sale of this state asset. )
Leaving aside the question of who owns Metrix now, and who may own it in the future, Metrix’s site states that “Metrix also manages non-half hour meter reading services”. By implication this suggests that the “smart meter” network that is owned and operated by Metrix is sending information about customers’ electricity use back to the company every thirty minutes. Which brings us back to the company motto “Power is Information”.
Overseas, part of the impetus for utility companies making the investment in “smart meters” and the “smart grid” has been the potential to gather additional data about their customers’ electricity use, identify periods of peak demand more accurately – and develop differentiated tariffs for those times when there is highest demand for electricity. In practice, this has the potential to mean that electricity companies put a premium on the price of electricity at the times of the day when it is most needed – such as when people arrive home from work and start cooking dinner, and turning on heaters etc in the winter. This is great for electricity companies, but not so great for families that are already struggling with high power bills. (In NZ over the past few years, median electricity prices have been rising at almost twice the rate of the average hourly wage (See: http://switchoffmercuryenergy.org/category/campaign/ ).
There are also privacy concerns about the use of “smart meters” to gather information about customers’ electricity use. Data about electricity use could be used to infer patterns of activity in a household, including when people are at home or not at home, what appliances they use at certain times of the day etc.
If this data is intercepted in transit (or if there is a problem with security within any company that handles data related to electricity use) the potential for misuse of this data – such as by criminals who might plan burglaries at times when customers are not at home – could have serious consequences for the householder.
Even if there are no data security breaches we might also ask, should a company like Metrix, which is owned by a State Owned Enterprise, be allowed to gather this sort of detailed information about what their customers are doing in the privacy of their own homes? (Overtones of “Big Brother”, anyone?)
If Metrix’s owner Mighty River Power is privatised, as the government would like to do, its new owner(s) might be a multinational corporation, or perhaps a company owned by a foreign government. (One of China’s SOE’s China Huadian’s Corp recently invested $232 million to build a new power station near Moscow.
See: http://www.cnbc.com/id/47512207/Top_10_Countries_for_Chinese_Investments?slide=3 )
Remember Metrix’s slogan: “Power is Information”? They are quite “in your face” about it, really.
Should any company, regardless of its ownership, be allowed to install technology into people’s homes that can be used to gather information about their daily activities?
by Katherine | 5 Nov, 2012 | Information in Other Languages, Uncategorized
www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
NZの各地で，電力会社は今までのアナログメーターに
かえて，新しいスマートメーターを導入しようとして
います。
困ったことに，スマートメーターは、顧客の使用電力
に関するデータをマイクロ波で転送します。電力会社
は，スマートメーターによって生じるマイクロ波
は、NZ安全基準内であるため安全であると言います。
しかし、NZ安全基準は，電波によって生じる熱量のみ
を考慮する時代遅れの基準であり，より低いレベルの
マイクロ波放射が健康障害を起こしうるという新しい
研究を無視しています。
世界保健機関の国際がん研究機関（IARC)も，最近，携
帯電話の利用と脳腫瘍の関連を示す研究成果を受けて、高周波（マイクロ波放射も含む）は癌を起こ
す可能性があることを認めました。 http://electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/iarc-rf-carc/
したがって、アナログメーターをスマートメーターと
入れ替えることにより，市民の健康が危険にさらされ
ることになります。
よくある質問
Q: スマートメーターによる健康障害の可能性に関し
て，もっと知りたいのですが？
A: 次のサイトをご覧ください（英語のみ）。
http://www.magdahavas.com/havas-report-on-smart-meters-for-ccst/
Q: スマートメーターに換えたくない場合は，どうす
ればいい？
A: 電力供給会社に，スマートメーターは欲しくない
と連絡してください。それでも，メーター交換のため
に技術者を送ってくるかもしれません。あなたのメー
ターが家の外にあれば，メーターの箱に鍵をかけてしまうという手もあります。（こちら
のリンクもご覧ください。
https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/how-to-avoid-getting-a-smart-meter/
Q: うちには、もうスマートメーターが設置されてい
ます。アナログメーターに戻すことができますか？
A: これは，電力供給会社次第です。ある会社は，ス
マートメーターを取り除いてほしいという複数の要求を拒否しました
。あなたの電力供給会社が協力してくれない場合は，
次のサイトをご覧ください。www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
Q: スマートメーターが設置されてから，今までにな
かった健康障害を経験しています。これらは，スマー
トメーターのよるものでしょうか？
A: マイクロ波放射に敏感な人は，スマートメーターの設置により，頭痛
，動悸、睡眠障害などを経験することがあります。
（http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=2292 参照）しかし，新し
い病状は，他の原因があることもあり得るので，医者
の判断が必要です。
Q: スマートメーターによって火事が起こることがあ
ると聞きました。本当ですか。
A:
オーストラリアとNZでスマートメーターに火がついた
ことがレポートされています。火事の原因になったこ
ともあります。
http://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/05/11/smart-meter-linked-to-house-fire-geelong/
http://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/05/19/northcote-fire-questions-safety-of-smart-meters-emergency-services/
http://www.3news.co.nz/Fire-prone-meter-boxes-causing-concern/tabid/423/articleID/159133/Default.aspx
このサイトの目的は何ですか。
１）スマートメーターからのマイクロ波放射が健康の
及ぼすかもしれない危険に関して，ニュージーランド
市民に知らせること。
２）スマートメーターによって，ニュージーランド市
民の健康，さらに命が危険にさらされることがないよ
うに， 皆がこの危険な可能性のある技術を 拒否する
よう勧める。
何か私にできることがありますか。
このページをコピーして，家族，友達，同僚，近所の
人に渡し，また教会，図書館，喫茶店で配りましょ
う。
近所の家にスマートメーターが設置されれば，あなた
にも影響が及びます。ぜひ，警告してあげてくださ
い。
スマートメーターを設置するのは，義務ではありませ
ん。
このページは，www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/resourcesよりダウンロードすること
ができ、他にも役立つ情報があります。
www.stopsmartmeters.orgのサイトでサインアップしていただけれ
ば，最新情報をその都度お送りいたします。
by Katherine | 1 Nov, 2012 | Information in Other Languages, Uncategorized
I le tele o vaega o Niu Sila o lo’o ua fa’afeso’ota’i atu kamupani eletise ia i latou o lo’o fa’atau atu a latou eletise mai nei kamupani, o lo’o fuafua nei e fa’afesuia’i mita tuai ini ‘mita fou maoa’e’.
Peita’i o nei “mita fou maoa’e” e fa’aaoga ai le malosi fa’aatomika e fa’ailoaina atu ai ia fa’amatalaga o eletise o lo’o fa’aaogaina e a latou tagata o lo’o fa’atauina a latou eletise mai nei kamupani.
O lo’o ta’u atu e kamupani eletise i nei tagata fa’atau eletise mai ia i latou, e saogalemu nei “mita fou maoa’e” aua o le malosi fa’aatomika o lo’o fa’aaogaina e fetaui ma le malosi o lo’o fa’atagaina e Niu Sila i ana taulafono mo le saogalemu o tagata.
Ae peita’i la, o tulafono mo le saogalemu a Niu Sila ua matua tuai lava ma le le talafeagai mo onoponei; aua ua na ona fuaina o le malosi e fa’avevelaina ai mea pei o le paoa fa’aatomika i ogaumu fa’avevela mea’ai (o microwaves), ae fa’agalo ma le fa’aaogaina su’esu’ega o lo’o ta’u mai ai e matua la’ititi lava se malosi o le paoa fa’aatomika e a’afia ai soifua maloloina o tagata.
O le ‘upu moni, e fa’avasegaina e le fa’alapotopotoga a le lalolagi mo su’esu’ega ua ta’ua fa’aperetania o le “World Health Organisation’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) le malosi o le paoa fa’aatomika o lo’o fa’aaogaina i microwaves e fai ma ‘auala po’o mafua’aga e fa’atutupu ai kanesa ona o su’esu’ega na faia ma ua fa’apea ai o le fa’aaogaina so’o o telefoni fe’avea’i ua fai ma ala e maua ai kanesa i le fai’ai.
http://electromagnetic-health-blog/iarc-rf-carc/
O le fuafuaga la e fa’apea e fesuia’i mita tuai ma “mita fou maoa’e” o le a avea ma fa’afitauli i le soifua maloloina o tagata lautele.
O Fesili e masani ona fesili ai nisi tagata:
Fesili: O fea ou te maua mai ai ni fa’amatalaga e uiga i fa’afitauli o le soifua maloloina e ‘auala mai i “mita fou maoa’e”?
Tali: Asiasi ane i luga o le komepiuta www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
Fesili: O le a sa’u mea e fai pe afai ou te le mana’o e fa’afesua’i la’u mita tuai i se “mita fou maoa’e” e la’u kamupani eletise?
Tali: Ta’u i lau kamupani eletise e te le mana’omia se “mita fou maoa’e”. Ia e mataala ina ne’i mea ua tuli ane seisi e fa’apipi’i ma fa’afesuia’i mita po’o lou mana’o iai pe leai. Afai o lau mita e tu i fafo o lou fale, ona loka lea o le pusa mita ina ia le mafai e seisi ona fa’afesuia’i mita ae e te le o i lou fale.
Fesili: O lea ua iai la’u “mita fou maoa’e”. E mafai ona ‘ave’ese ae fa’afesua’i ma se mita tuai?
Tali: E fa’alagolago la le tali i lau kamupani eletise. Ua iai se kamupani eletise se tasi ua le mafai ona taliaina ni talosaga se tele e ‘ave’ese “mita fou maoa’e”. Afai e le fesoasoani lau kamupani eletise asiasi ane i luga o lau komipiuta mo nisi fa’amatalaga. www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
Fesili: Ua ou lagonaina ni fa’afitauli i lo’u ola maloloina talu ona uma ona fa’apipi’i le “mita fou maoa’e” i lo’u fale. E mafai ona tu’ua’ina le “mita fou maoa’e” ona o nei fa’afitauli ua a’afia ai lo’u ola maloloina?
Tali: O nisi tagata e faigofie ona a’afia mai le malosi fa’aatomika lea e fa’aaoga i microwaves ma maua ai i ma’iulu, tata fa’atopetope le fatu, ma le lelei le moe pe afai e iai se “mita fou maoa’e” i o latou fale. Peita’i e tatau lava ona asiasi atu i lau foma’i pe a iai ni fa’ailoga fou ina ne’i iai nisi mafua’aga.
Fesili: Ua ou fa’alogo e mafai ona fa’atupu mai se mu po’o se afi i “mita fou maoa’e” nei. E moni lea manatu?
Tali: Ua iai ni ripoti mai Ausetalia ma Niu Sila e fa’apea ua mu “mita fou maoa’e” ma o isi ua avea ma ni afi ua mu leaga ai fale. http://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/05/11/smart-meter-linked-to-house-fire-geelong/
http://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/05/19/northcote-fire-questions-safety-of-smart-meters-emergency-services/
http://www.3news.co.nz/Fire-prone-meter-boxes-causing-concern/tabid/423/articleID/159133/Default.aspx
Fesili: O a sini autu o le www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
Tali: O sini o lenei fa’alapotopotoga “Taofia mita fou maoa’e”
1) E fa’ailoa atu i tagata Niu Sila le fa’afitauli e o’o i le soifua maloloina o tagata e maua mai i le malosi fa’aatomika e maua mai i “mita fou maoa’e.”
2) E fa’alototetele tagata Niu Sila ina ia te’ena le fa’aaogaina o “mita fou maoa’e” aua e fai ma ‘auala e lamatia ai lo tatou ola maloloina.
Fesili: E fa’apefea ona ou fesoasoani?
Tali: Fa’amolemole kopi ane lenei fa’asalalauga ma tufa atu i tagata o lou aiga, o au uo, ma e tou te faigaluega, ma tu’u ane i pusa meli i le pitonu’u o lo’o e alala ai, ma nofoaga e potopoto ai tagata e pei o falesa, faletusi, ma fale’aiga. O lenei fa’asalalauga e mafai ona maua mai i le komipiuta. www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz E maua fo’i ma nisi fa’amatalaga e mafai ona fa’asoa atu.
Saini ane lou suafa i le lisi lena e imeli atu ai nisi fa’amatalaga fou.
by Katherine | 1 Nov, 2012 | Information in Other Languages, Uncategorized
Oku lolotonga tu’ukai ‘i Nuusilani ‘e he ‘u ngaahi kautaha ‘uhila ‘ae founga lau mita fo’ou ‘oku ui koe “smart” pe “advanced” ko hono ‘uhinga ‘oku fakalakalaka ange ‘a ‘ene lau ae ‘uhila ‘oku ne ngaue ‘aki.
Ka koe pango ‘oku me’a ngaue aki ‘ehe founga fo’ouni ‘ae huelo ivi’i atomi ‘koe oku ma’u ‘ihe microwave ke lau ‘aki ‘ae ‘uhila. ‘Oku malava pe ke uesia ai ‘ae moui lelei ‘ae kakai. Ka ‘oku ikai ke kau ‘ae fo’i mo’oni ia ko’eni i he fakamatala ‘ae ‘u kautaha ‘uhila, ihe enau tu’uaki. Ko ‘enau fakamatala ‘anautolu ia oku malu pe ‘ae founga fo’ouni ‘o fakatatau kihe lao. Ka ‘oku te’eki ke liliu ‘ae lao ‘ihe me’ani, he oku kei tōlalo ‘ae lao ia ‘ihe tafa’aki koe‘ kene fakatokanga’i ‘ae fu’u fakatu’utamaki ‘ae ivi’i atomi ‘o tatau ai pe koeha ‘a ‘ene lahi.
Ne fekumi ‘ehe potungaue ‘oe World Health Organisation International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) ‘o nau ma’u hake oku malava pe ‘ke fakatupu ‘e ivi’i atomi ‘ae mamahaki fakaaekanisa, ‘ihe ‘enau fakatatau kihe fa’a tupu ‘ae tuma ‘ihe ‘uto ‘oe tangata mei he fu’u lahi koe ae ngaue ‘aki ae telefoni to’oto’o.
http://electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/iarc-rf-carc/
‘E malava ke uesia ‘ae mo’ui lelei ‘ae kakai koe’uhinga pe koe taumu’a ae ‘u kautaha ‘uhila ke fetongi’i ae ‘u mita motu’a takua ‘oku nau pehe koa oku lelei ange pe toe fakalakalaka ange ae founga lau mita fo’ou.
Ngaahi fehu’i pea mo hono ngaahi tali (FAQs)
F: ‘E lava nai keu ma’u meife ha fakamatala ‘oku toe fakaikiiki ange ‘o fekau’aki pea moe ngaue ‘aki ‘ae mita fo’ou mo hono ngaahi fakatu’utamaki kihe moui?
T: Vakai kihe link ko’eni link http://www.magdahavas.com/havas-report-on-smart-meters-for-ccst/
F: Koe ha ‘ae me’a teu fai ke ‘oua ‘e hange e’ he ‘eku kautaha ‘uhila ‘o liliu ‘a ‘eku mita lau ‘uhila?
T: Fetu’utaki kiho kautaha ‘uhila pea ke fakamatala ‘oku ‘ikai teke fiema’u ke fetongi’i a ho mita. Fakatokanga’i ange ‘e lava pe kenau fekau’i ha taha ngaue ‘uhila ke alu atu ‘o liliu ta’e ‘iai ha’o ilo kiai. ‘o ka pehe pea ke loka’i ‘a ho’o puha ‘uhila ‘o kapau ‘oku tu’u ‘i tu’a fale ke ‘oua tenau lava ‘o fetongi’i ‘i he taimi ‘oku ‘ikai teke ‘i ‘api ai. Vakai ki heni https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/how-to-avoid-getting-a-smart-meter/ ke ma’u ae tali‘oku toe fakaikiiki ange.
F: Fefe nai ‘o kapau neu hiki mai au oku ‘osi i’ai pe ‘ae mita fo’ou ia ‘i he puha lau ‘uhila ‘i hoku ‘api?
T: ‘E fakatefito ia ‘ihe kautaha ‘uhila ‘oku ke ngaue ‘aki; he ‘oku ‘iai e kautaha ‘e ni’hi ‘oku ‘ikai ke toe tali ‘e kinautolu ke toe fakafoki kihe founga lau mita motu’a. ‘ O kapau ‘e ikai ke fakafiemalie ‘ae tali ‘e oatu e ho kautaha ‘uhila pea ke kataki ‘o vakai kihe website ko’eni www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz ke ma’u mei ‘iai ha tokoni.
F: Talu moe liliu eku mita, Kuou a’usia ‘ae ngaahi ongosia fakaaesino ‘oku fo’ou. Ke pehe nai oku ‘iai ha na fekainga’aki mo hono fetongi eku mita lau ‘uhila pe ikai?
T: ‘E kehekehe pe ‘ae tali he ‘oku iai ‘ae ni’ihi ia ‘oku fu’u ongo ngofua kihe ngaue ‘ae ivi’i atomi pea tenau a’usia ‘ae langa ulu, pe koe ta oma ‘ae mafu, mo ikai ma’u ha mohe lelei. Kaikehe e kei fiema’u pe ha a’ahi kiho Toketa kene ‘oatu ha tali oku mahino he ‘e malava pe ke ongosia ‘ae sino ia ‘i ha ngaahi me’a kehe ‘o ikai koe’uhinga koe mita fo’ou pe.
F: Kuou fanongo ‘oku malava pe ke hoko ‘ae mita fo’ou koha fakatu’utamaki ‘ihe kamata ha afi , oku mo’oni nai eni pe ikai?
T: ‘Io, ne iai ha ngaahi ongoongo mei Aositelelia ‘o pehe pe mei Nuusilani foki ne hange he mita fo’ou ‘e ni’ihi ‘o fakatupu ‘ae afi ‘o vela ai ‘a ‘e nau ngaahi ‘fale.
http://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/05/11/smart-meter-linked-to-house-fire-geelong/
http://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/05/19/northcote-fire-questions-safety-of-smart-meters-emergency-services/
http://www.3news.co.nz/Fire-prone-meter-boxes-causing-concern/tabid/423/articleID/159133/Default.aspx
F: Koe ha nai ‘ae ngaahi taumu’a oe www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
T: Koe ngaahi taumu’a oe website ko’eni:
1) Ke ne fakamafola ‘ae mo’oni ki he kakai o Nuusila ‘o ne fakamatala’i ae fakatu’utamaki fkaaesino e malava ke hokosia fakatupu mei he ngaue aki ‘ae founga lau mita fo’ou koe oku pehe koe koe fakalakala.
2) Ke ne pole’i ae kakai ‘o Nuusila ke oua tenau tali ae tekinolosia fo’ouni koe ‘uhinga pe ‘e hoko koe fakatupu mahaki moe fakatu’utamaki ‘oka ne kamata ha afi.
F: koe ha nai ha me’a teu fai keu lava ‘o tokoni atu ai?
T: Kataki ‘o tufaki atu ha ‘u la’i tatau ‘oe la’i pepani ki ha taha pe ‘i ho ngaahi kainga mo ho’o ngaahi maheni ‘i he nague’anga, moho siasi, moho kaunga’api pea ki ha feitu’u pe ‘oku ke ilo ‘oku tokolahi ai ‘ae kakai.
Teke lava ‘o ma’u ‘ae tatau ‘oe la’i ongoongoni pea mo ha ngaahi fakamatala kehe ‘ihe website ko’eni www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/resources/
‘O kapau ‘oku ke fiema’u ha ngaahi fakamatala mo ha ongoongo fo’ou pea ke kataki o lesisita ‘a ho’o email pe ko ho’o tu’asila ke mau meili’i atu kiai.
by Katherine | 1 Nov, 2012 | Information in Other Languages, Uncategorized
1、在新西兰的很多地方，电力公司正在联系他们的客户，因为他们计划使用一种“智能”或者称为“高端”的电表来替代旧的模拟电表。
2、然而不幸的是，新的”智能电表”是通过微波辐射来传输客户使用电力情况的数据。在通常情况下，电力公司会告知他们的客户新的”智能电表”是安全的；因为他们所产生的微波辐射处于新西兰安全标准范围之内。然而，现行的新西兰安全标准已经过时，因为他们仅仅只考虑到了微博辐射加热所产生的影响， 却忽略了目前一些研究中所表明的：更低水平的微博辐射可能会成为一种健康危害。
3、事实上，世界卫生组织的国际癌症研究机构最近将射频辐射 （其中包括微波辐射） 归类为一种可能性的人类致癌物。下面是一个关于使用手机和脑瘤之间关系的链接。http://electromagnetichealth.org/electromagnetic-health-blog/iarc-rf-carc/
4、使用“智能电表”来替代现行模拟电表这个计划正在将公众健康置于不必要的风险之中。
5、常见问题解答
问： 从那里可以获得更多关于“智能电表“健康影响的信息？
答： 访问此链接 https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/health-issues/
问： 如果我不希望电力公司用“智能电表“来取代模拟电表，我应该怎么做？
答： 告知您的电力供应商您不需要“智能表”。但是需要注意的是，该公司可能会派送一个技术人员去更换电表，而对于您所陈述的要求置之不理。如果您的电表在室外，当您不在家的时候可能需要去锁住电表盒以防任何人更换您的电表。请参见 https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/how-to-avoid-getting-a-smart-meter/
的详细信息。
问： 我家已经有了一个”智能电表”。我可以去掉它并替换为模拟电表吗？
答： 这可能取决于您的电力公司 ；目前至少有一个电力公司已经拒绝了多个请求去除”智能电表”的用户要求。如果您的电力公司不愿意提供帮助，请访问 www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz 来获取更多详细信息。
问： 自从我家安装了新的“智能电表”，我遭遇了新的健康问题，这是否和“智能电表”有关？
答： 相对于其他辐射，有些人对微波辐射更为敏感，当他们家中被放置了“智能电表”，这些人有可能会遇到一些诸如头痛、 心悸、 睡眠困难等症状。但是，重要的是，对于新的症状需要医生来做出评估，因为也许可能有其他的原因。http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=2292 )
问： 我听说”智能电表”可能引起火灾风险。这是真的吗？
答：澳大利亚和新西兰均有报道称”智能电表”引起着火。针对于一些案例，智能电表已经导致了严重的房屋火灾。
http://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/05/11/smart-meter-linked-to-house-fire-geelong/
http://stopsmartmeters.com.au/2012/05/19/northcote-fire-questions-safety-of-smart-meters-emergency-services/
http://www.3news.co.nz/Fire-prone-meter-boxes-causing-concern/tabid/423/articleID/159133/Default.aspx
www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz 网站的目标是什么？
答： 这个网站的目的是：
1） 告诉新西兰人来自“智能电表”的微波辐射所潜在的健康风险
2) 鼓励新西兰人去拒绝这种科技，使我们的健康甚至生命不要被放置于这种潜在的科技风险中。
问： 我能做什么？
答： 请把这本册子进一步复印并分发给您的家人、 朋友、 同事、您居住环境
周围的信箱以及人们聚集的地方，比如教堂、 图书馆、 咖啡馆等等。这本册子
还可以通过 https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/resources/ 进行下载。这个链接也有很多其他的资源可
以共享。
同时请访问此链接 www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz来报名加入我们，获得更进一步的更新。
by Katherine | 1 Nov, 2012 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Uncategorized
The position of the NZ electricity industry appears to be that “smart” or “advanced” meters are safe.
The change from analogue (electro-mechanical) meters to microwave emitting “smart meters” has been led by “Arc Innovations”, a Christchurch based company which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meridan Energy. The company’s website is
http://www.arcinnovations.com/
Arc Innovations commissioned Dr Bill Heffernan, Senior Research Engineer with the Electric Power Engineering Centre (EPECentre) to do research on health effects of “smart meters”. The EPECentre is located at the University of Canterbury.* Its website is http://www.epecentre.ac.nz/. You can see from its “People” page that although it is university based it acknowledges “Industry partners”, so its independence may be questionable. Its industry partners include Meridian, Mighty River Power, Transpower and other electricity generating/transmitting companies. http://www.epecentre.ac.nz/membership/partners.html
(You can see a screenshot of the industry partners, taken in 2013, below.)
Dr Bill Heffernan’s research project was overseen by Dr Allan Miller, Director of the EPECentre. A media release about his work, which, perhaps predictably found no health problems associated with “smart meters” may be found at this link http://www.epecentre.ac.nz/#
* Interestingly, the University of Canterbury also has a Wireless Research Centre at http://www.wrc.canterbury.ac.nz/, the home page of the site, as accessed October 28, 2012 states: “The Wireless Research Centre (WRC) of the College of Engineering, is a key research theme within NZ, focusing on wireless communications. We join together leading academic researchers from around the world, technology and communication based companies, students and Government to undertake ground breaking research in the field of wireless communication.”
by Katherine | 1 Nov, 2012 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Uncategorized
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that the Australian government is considering mandatory installation of “smart meters” in some Australian businesses, so that electricity companies can remotely turn off “non essential” electrical devices such as deep freezers (fancy a freezer full of rotten food, anyone?) or “air conditioners” (never mind that some people may swelter to death in the heat of an Australian summer because their electricity company considers air conditioning to be some of frivolous luxury!)
Medium sized businesses will be able to “op out” of the programme, while households will be given the chance to “opt in”. The article states “The ‘opt in’ recommendation could avoid big price rises for households that do not change their usage.”
The proposed roll out, the Sydney Morning Herald reports, will be accompanied “by intensive public education” (presumably propaganda to try to blindside the public into believing that “smart meters” are safe and essential) as well as “special protections for low-income households.”
There are interesting comments on this issue at this link:
by Katherine | 6 Sep, 2012 | Uncategorized
This page features photos of different types of meters. The analogue electro-mechanical meters are easy to recognise as you can see a spinning metal disc inside.
There appear to be a number of different types of “smart” or “advanced” meters in use in NZ. Please note that serial numbers, barcodes etc have been blurred so as to protect the privacy of the people who supplied the images.
The image above is a “smart meter” in an NZ home.
The image above is a “smart meter” in an office.
The image above shows a “smart meter” in an industrial building.
There are also new electronic meters that are not “smart meters”. An example is given below:
Above: A new electronic meter which is NOT a “smart meter”.
Thank you to everyone who supplied the photos!
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