High readings from smart meter in Hikurangi, Northland

by | 29 Mar, 2016 | Latest News

Website editor’s note:  The following report has been contributed by Whangarei journalist Clare Swinney. 

High readings from smart meter in Hikurangi, Northland

A woman in Hikurangi, Northland had concerns about the radiofrequency radiation, (RFR) emissions from the smart meter installed on her family’s home and asked her power provider if it could be removed.  She was advised by an unsympathetic employee that it would not be removed, as the emissions were no different from those emanating from other RFR-emitting devices around the home.

The homeowner decided to get the meter, which is a Landis + Gyr E350, tested.

In order to test the smart meter’s RFR emissions, a Cornet ED78S Electrosmog meter was used and held approximately one foot away at about midday on Monday the 28th of March, 2016.

A few seconds after the Electrosmog meter was turned on a reading of 230milliWatts/ meter squared, (mW/m2) was witnessed.  This was a few seconds before a video camera was turned on, and this emission was then quickly followed by 5 other high emissions, which were recorded on video and were as follows: 240.0 mW/m2, 205.0mW/m2, 230.1mW/m2,  230.1mW/m2 and 219.7mW/m2. There were about 5 second intervals between each of these emissions of radiofrequency radiation.

According to the science-based conclusions in the Bioinitiative Report 2012, bioeffects are clearly established and occur at very low levels of exposure to RFR.   Thus, the comparatively low level of 0.1mW/m2 and below is regarded as safe for during the daytime and 0.01mW/m2 ideal for the night.  Clearly, these repeated bursts of levels over 200mW/m2 were unsafe, particularly at a family home.

The homeowner contacted Nova Energy Limited the next day, as she had heard that this company was considerate of those who did not want a smart meter.    This was confirmed as a Nova agent* advised that they will do what they can to try and get the smart meter removed, but this will be at a yet unspecified cost to the homeowner.   This may be in the vicinity of between $120 and $160, based on other recently received reports.

Here is the video: https://youtu.be/r4c4zIciLPc 
 

*Note: Nova recently organised the installation of a new Ferraris analogue meter at a home in Christchurch using the services of a company called Legacy Metering Group; please see this link for details.

Smart meters are NOT compulsory in NZ

If you do not want to be exposed to unnecessary microwave radiation from a smart meter, you can say no to a smart meter.

While some staff from some electricity retailers have reportedly made claims to the effect that smart meters are compulsory or some sort of government requirement, it is NOT compulsory to have a smart meter in NZ.

If you already have a smart meter you can ask your electricity retailer to organise for the smart meter to be removed. Another possible option is for the modem and any ZigBee chip in the smart meter (these are the parts of a smart meter which produce pulses of RF radiation*) to be removed.

You can read about this option at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/comparing-analogue-ferraris-meters-with-smart-meters-which-have-had-the-modem-removed/

 

Many people in NZ are saying “NO” to smart meters

If you do not already have a smart meter, and do not want to expose yourself to the potential risks of smart meters, which include health and fire risks, as well as higher bills, you may like to read this link to find out about how other New Zealanders are successfully preventing smart meters from being installed at their homes and businesses.

You can read a summary of why many people are saying no to smart meters HERE.

 

NB: If you would like to keep up to date with information about the “smart” meter issue in NZ, please sign up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz. Thank you

Smart meter radiation measured in Whangarei

by | 27 Dec, 2015 | Latest News, Science

On December 22, 2015,  Whangarei journalist Clare Swinney used a Cornet ED 78S model EMR test meter to measure the microwave radiation (also known as radiofrequency radiation) adjacent to a smart meter which had been installed at a friend’s home.

As you can see from the video below, the smart meter was shown in the test to emit brief pulses of microwave radiation every six seconds or so.

 

The pulses of microwave radiation measured during this brief video clip were quite high; over 100 milliwatts per square metre or 100,000 microwatts per square metre.  The highest pulse measured on December 22 was over 140,o00 microwatts per square metre. The previous day, the highest measurement had been 258,000 microwatts per square metre.

The Bioinitiative Report (which was written by an international coalition of scientists concerned about the health effects from microwave radiation exposures) recommends a maximum exposure of only 1,000 microwatts per square metre.

The brand and model of the meter being measured in the youtube clip is a Landis+Gyr E350 series smart meter.  (This type of meter is also being installed in the Waikato area by WEL Networks Ltd where the meter is being termed a “smart box”.)

Landis+Gyr smart meters are also being installed in other parts of NZ including the South Auckland region by Counties Power. Network Tasman Ltd (which covers the Nelson and Golden Bay area) also indicated that it would install this type of meter as did Alpine Energy which is in Central Canterbury. NB:  If you go to www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz and type Network Tasman into the search box you will found a lot of information about this company’s activities or you can go to this link.

(Links to more information about the Landis+Gyr E 350 series type of meter will be included at the bottom of this post.)

The meter appears to be owned by Metrix. (Metrix is a division of Mighty River Power which was partially privatised by the NZ governemnt.  Metrix’s company motto is “Power is Information“).

What if you don’t want to be exposed to microwave radiation from a Landis+Gyr smart meter?

If you have a Landis+Gyr E 350 type smart meter at your home and do not want to be exposed to the potentially carcinogenic microwave radiation from the meter or you have developed symptoms like this lady since its installation, these meters do have a removable modem and ZigBee chip.

Your electricity retailer should be able to arrange for the removal of the modem and ZigBee (also known as “communications module” for you.  Once these components have been removed the meter will no long produce pulses of microwave radiation.  (You can read more about smart meters with their modems removed at this link.

Smart meters are NOT compulsory in NZ

Please note that while staff from some electricity companies have been telling their customers that smart meters are compulsory or are some sort of government requirement, this is NOT true.  (There is more information about this issue at this link )  If you do not want a smart meter because you are concerned about the higher bills that could follow a smart meter installation, or Time of Use pricing, many people in NZ are successfully refusing to have a smart meter installed using the techniques described at this link

 

Links to further information about Landis+Gyr E350 series smart meters

 

Is the WEL “smart box” a way to facilitate “smart” water metering?

A WEL “smart box” is a “smart meter”

Is the WEL “smart box” a health hazard?

 

Shame on you, WEL Networks Ltd

Did you agree to have a WEL Networks “smart box” installed because you thought it was compulsory?

If you would like to keep up to date with information about electromagnetic radiation and health, including the “smart” meter issue in NZ, please sign up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz. Thank you