Headaches with smart meter on bedroom wall resolve after modem removal

Site editor’s note: Earlier this month I received this email from a lady asking for help as she had developed headaches after moving into a new home with a smart meter on the bedroom wall.

 

Here is the first email from this correspondent:

 

“I have recently become aware of the health risks posed by smart meters when moving to my new location in Christchurch.

 

“A smart meter is directly located on the outside wall of the bedroom and since sleeping in that room, I have been waking up with sharp pain over my right eye with headaches only getting better when I leave the room/ house throughout the day. Upon closer inspection of the smart meter box I felt light-headed, and had difficulty ‘finding words’ when talking.

 

“I contacted Contact Energy and they are willing to remove the chip from my smart meter for a $125 fee (although at first I received the usual – it’s like sleeping next to your cell phone speech).

 

“I was wondering if you were aware of any community members in Christchurch (south of city centre) that could possibly perform a RF reading after the chip has been removed to verify that it was ACTUALLY removed?

 

“Thanks for your help,

 

“[Name]”

 

 

An email discussion ensued while this lady was waiting for the technician from her electricity retailer to remove the modem (the part of the smart meter which produce microwave radiation) from the EDMI Mk7A smart meter. In NZ, this  type of smart meter usually communicates through the Vodafone cellular phone infrastructure.

 

Quoting from a subsequent email:

 

“…the symptoms have only  got worse over the week, so hopefully starting next week I will be able to have a good night’s sleep again.

“I have always been sensitive to EMF sources, although never this aware.

“My husband is closer to wall with the smart meter and I have been waking up on his side of the bed with intense nausea during the night. (I might add: I have not changed eating habits etc.)  And now that we have been there for close to three weeks and I have become so tired/ unconcentrated/ exhausted and unmotivated over this short space of time.

 

 

 

I received the following email the day after the technician came to the home and removed the modem

“Unfortunately I wasn’t at home when the electrician called me for the modem removal.

 

[She had hoped to be home and document its removal –Ed]

 

“On the upside – today I woke up and for the first time in three weeks there was no pressure feeling in my head and no stabbing pain above my eyes. I am so relieved. My husband noted as well that over the last few weeks the first thing I uttered in the morning was: I have a headache!”

 

Editor’s comment:  In the cases that have been reported to www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz, when symptoms develop after installation or a smart meter, or after moving to a new home that has a smart meter, removal of the modem usually results in the resolution of the symptoms.

If you are in this situation, based on reports that I have received, it is important to prioritise removal of the smart meter (and avoid being in close proximity to the smart meter, if possible, while waiting for the removal of the modem. ) This is because exposure to the microwave radiation produced by smart meters has been reported as a possible trigger of electrosensitivity reactions.

 http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25478801

 

Also:  As a general rule beds and work desks (or anywhere else where someone spends a significant amount of time) should be located at least 1-2 metres away from any type of electricity meter, including analogue (Ferraris) meters due to the high magnetic fields associated with the meter and household wiring.

 

NB:  If you are interested in getting updates on the smart meter issue in NZ you can sign up to the free email list at www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz

Company removes modem from smart meter

Hi Katherine,

We have just successfully had the transmitting modem removed from our smart meter.  We had our house tested by Paul Waddell [from www.safespace.net.nz – Ed] recently and he made the recommendation that we have this done.

Our provider, Mercury Energy, refused to do this and insisted that the meters were safe………….which of course we know that they’re not!

Powershop said they would do it and so did Contact Energy, and we decided on Contact.  They were very helpful and we didn’t need to do anything to instigate the change over and then the removal of the modem.
A lovely contractor just came today to do the job and the charge is $125.   Well worth it.

I’m happy to talk with anyone who wants advice on how to get this done.  Many thanks, and keep up the great work!

 

Site editor’s note:   A follow up note from this happy customer stated how the home felt “better” after the modem’s removal.

If you d not want to be exposed to pulses of microwave radiation from a smart meter, there are two options in NZ:

1)  To get the smart meter removed

(See https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/how-to-get-rid-of-a-smart-meter/ )

OR

2) To get the smart meter’s modem removed/disconnected.

Many, but not all brands of the smart meters on the NZ market  have modems which can be disconnected or removed.  (For more information about this please see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/government-and-electricity-industry-positions/comparing-analogue-ferraris-meters-with-smart-meters-which-have-had-the-modem-removed/)

For general information on getting rid of an unwanted smart meter, please see this link: https://stopsmartmeters.org.nz/how-to-get-rid-of-a-smart-meter/

NB: To sign up for emails on the smart meter situation in NZ please visit www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz