by Katherine | 11 May, 2015 | Latest News, Users Feedback
Website editor’s note: The following email is from a New Zealander who described herself in an earlier email as usually being an “upbeat and energetic person” who found herself suffering inexplicably from chronic tiredness and headaches after moving house. Her doctor was not able to find a cause for her symptoms. Eventually a friend suggested that the smart meter at her new home might be the cause of the symptoms so she contacted www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz and described her symptoms. She also reported that a computer that was placed close to the smart meter was “playing up”.
The Landis+Gyr E350 series smart meter which was installed at her home contains a combines a modem and a ZigBee chip that are combined into a single “comms” [communications] device which is removable. At this customer’s request, the lines company that had installed the smart meter sent a technician who removed the comms device.
Below is a follow-up email from the customer after the comms device was removed:
Hi Katherine,
Thank you so much for your kind thoughts with this email.
My headaches have certainly ceased since having the comms unit removed from the meter.
I know so many people have baa..humbugged me for it and comments have been flying through various media about what a load of rubbish about health issues with these meters.
During the time of experiencing headaches we ended up purchasing a new mattress, new pillows – thinking it was tension etc. as my husband was experiencing unsettled sleep also. But my headaches were progressively getting worse. Even my doctor couldn’t help me figure out why.
I know it wasn’t a matter of it being all in my head (excuse the pun) because my next course of action was to get my eyes checked for the possibility that I needed new glasses. I know it didn’t have anything to do with my eyes because I have NOW only just needed new glasses (no headache symptoms, just blurred vision).
After the unit was removed, It probably took just over a week (nearly 2) for me to realise I was no longer waking up with a throbbing headache (it was actually my husband that mentioned one morning that I wasn’t moaning about having a headache) and I can honestly say that all my eating, sleeping and any other…whatever habits…. had not changed except for having the comms unit removed from the meter.
I just say it’s similar to me being lactose intolerant – eating dairy makes me sick – but if I want to eat ice cream, I have soy dairy free. So my meter was making me sick and if I have to have a power meter, then I have one without the comms unit LOL !!
Thank you again for your kind thoughts
Regards
[Full name supplied]
NB: If you are interested in the smart meter issue, please sign up to the free newsletter at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
by Katherine | 16 Mar, 2015 | Government and Electricity Industry Positions, Latest News, Uncategorized, Users Feedback
Website editor’s note:
The following email was received by www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz in late February 2015:
I have been really ill, requiring hospital treatment 1 or 2 times a month since 2 weeks after having smart meter put in. I had tremors, sharp head pain, urine infections, kidney pain, heart palpitations and severe weight loss, also thyroid problems. The meter was on outside wall by my headboard. I moved out of the bedroom after being told about smart meters. My symptoms have improved remarkably, but I now have to endure Graves Disease and severe eye disease. For about 18 months I was slowly deteriorating to the point that I honestly thought I would not live. My family thought I was not going to live. How can these meters be allowed?
Regards
[Full name supplied but removed to protect privacy]
In response to an email from www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz more details followed:
Hi Katherine, sorry to take so long with my reply. I was with Genesis. I asked them to remove modem and they said that they had made a decision in November 2014 to not take any more out and that I would have to change power company if I wanted it removed. This decision was made as there were so many people wanting them removed, so I was told. The power meter is 18 inches from my head on outside wall.
This customer’s response was to change to another electricity retailer. Her new company:
“… told me to get a letter from my GP and send it to them. I got a letter and sent and the modem was removed within a few days. I live in [name of location of residence supplied].
Within a few days of moving out of the bedroom into my spare room, I noticed the pain in my head stopped. I had been so sick for about 18 months and no one could explain the reason for it.
One day I was so unwell I got in car and went to my GP. I just said to him that there IS something wrong with me and I want every blood test possible taken.The results showed I had thyroid problems. I was at [name of NZ hospital] every 2 weeks for the next year. I have had Radioactive Iodine treatment. That terrified me after what the radiation from the smart meter had done to me.
I had tremors, heart palpitations, sharp pains up the side of my head, nausea, up 4 or 5 times a night to toilet and developed Thyroid Disease [while the smart meter was installed and prior to the modem being removed – Ed] .
Smart meters are known to cause thyroid cancer*, so guess I’m lucky to have asked for tests when I did. Also recurrent urine infections with no reason for them.
Five weeks have passed [since the modem was removed] and I feel like new. All symptoms have gone completely. My eyes have been affected badly is the only problem I have now. I am also left with Graves Disease and need to now wear sunglasses, even to watch tv and inside the house until lights off and into bed. I feel very lucky. I can’t remember who first told me about smart meters and the health problems they cause. Hope this letter helps in any way.
Regards [full name supplied]
Website editor’s note: Reports of “smart” meter-related problems (whether health problems, fires, increased bills or any other problems) may be reported in confidence to www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz via our Contact Form at this link.
Information is not posted on the website unless permission is given for this to be done.
*Ed note: I am not aware of any scientific publications on smart meters and thyroid cancer; however at least one study has shown that cell phone radiation can stimulate thyroid cell division. Many smart meters in NZ use the cellular network frequency. http://thyroidworldcongress.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/O022_Mizrachi.pdf
by Katherine | 14 Jan, 2014 | Latest News, Users Feedback
From a site visitor:
“We are with Contact and the lady who I spoke with was supportive of our decision to have the smart meter removed. We told her that since moving into this house, we had not been sleeping properly (waking throughout the night or not being able to get to sleep) and had frequent light to moderate headaches. She put the order in straight away. She said she has been receiving more requests recently and hearing about people becoming ill from “smart meters”.
“I was surprised how straight forward it was. The company was notified of our choice to have a replacement meter and the very next day I received a call from the company, Vircon saying they will be available to replace it that very day! I was thrilled. It’s great to see that freedom of choice is still respected in NZ.
“We had the ‘smart meter’ for about 5 months and didn’t realise our ill health was attributable to it until stumbling upon the information thanks to your website. We noticed we felt less stress and after a week could sleep deeply and properly once more! We have now been free from the ‘smart meter’ for 13 months and no longer get the headaches and feel very peaceful at home again.”
Site editor’s note: Contact Energy is one of the companies which has helped people to get rid of unwanted “smart meters” Other companies are listed at this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/how-to-get-rid-of-a-smart-meter/
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