Project Censored at http://www.projectcensored.org/ is dedicated to exposing and opposing news censorship.
The presentation of this year’s Top 25 censored news stories represents the collective efforts of 219 college students and 56 professors from 18 college and university campuses as well as 13 additional community evaluators.
Censored Story #14 for 2013 is entitled: “Wireless Technology a Looming Health Crisis” with a description as follows:
“As a multitude of hazardous wireless technologies are deployed in homes, schools, and workplaces, government officials and industry representatives continue to insist on their safety despite growing evidence to the contrary. Extensive deployment of ‘smart grid’ technology hastens this looming health crisis. [emphasis added]
By now many residents in the United States and Canada have smart meters—which transfer detailed information on residents’ electrical usage back to the utility every few minutes—installed on their dwellings. Each meter has an electronic cellular transmitter that uses powerful bursts of electromagnetic radio frequency (RF) radiation to communicate with nearby meters, which together form an interlocking network. Such information can easily be used to determine individual patterns of behavior based on power consumption.
Utilities sell smart grid technology to the public as a way to ‘empower’ individual energy consumers, allowing them to access information on their energy usage so that they may eventually save money by programming ‘smart’ (i.e., wireless-enabled) home appliances and equipment to run when electrical rates are lowest. In other words, a broader plan behind smart grid technology involves a tiered rate system for electricity consumption that will be set by the utility, to which customers will have no choice but to conform.”
The designation for #14 was partially based upon the content of the following article:
“Looming Health Crisis: Wireless Technology and the Toxification of America”
Smart Grid Awareness 
Karen,
I tip my Tin Foil hat to you. Suggest your neighbors visit this website. Let them learn for themselves the dangers of smart meters and associated wireless networks. You concentrate on getting well.
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In response to Karen regarding the ComEd smart grid program:
In the state of IL our legislature last year approved a 2.3 billion dollar smart grid program written by lobbyist for the two main power suppliers with ComED being one of them. Our legislators were literally bribed by the utilities to do this. The most significant cost of this program is the smart meter installed on all homes/businesses and a statewide mesh network (radio transmitter/receiver system) polluting the environment with 24/7 transmissions which is addressed in the health issues.
Not one additional watt of power will be generated by this huge expenditure. The cost saving they use to justify this is nothing short of fraudulent and the equipment installed on your house in not UL/CSA certified and a number of fires have been reported after installations.
Since these devices are basically computers they suffer all the same problems of hackability, software upgrades, obsolescence and introduce dirty electricity into your home. The real purpose for the smart meter is to eventually charge you time of use rates which means you will pay twice as much or more for the same amount of electricity used.
You can do what others all over the country and throughout the world are doing get involved, start a group and fight for your rights under the 4th, 5th and 14th amendments. Go to your city council and speak up. Notify your utility via certified mail you do not want this hazardous devise installed on your home. Good luck and stand up for your rights! If not you, then who? … and know there are many more people fighting with you. This web site is an excellent resource to find groups who can help you.
I live in Chicago and just received a flyer that my home is going to get a smart meter. I called Comed to tell them I don’t want the smart meter, they said it’s their equipment and I had no choice, I told them I read it the papers that there will be an opt out program, then they said there might be for 25 – 40 dollar a month fee, I said “fine I will take that”. They told me that the supervisor will be calling me in two business days.
If I can get advice on what to say if they try to force me I would be grateful, I want to try everything I can before they attempt to put a smart meter on my house.
Then If I lose and am forced I would like to know if I can do /buy anything that can really help protect my family.
Also is there any lawsuits yet to get analog meters back in Illinois?
Thanks for your comment, and I am sorry that you are now entering the realm of having to fight for your rights in terms of protecting your safety, health, and privacy from a smart grid program literally being crammed downed people’s throats.
Regarding lawsuits, the most notable one in Illinois is “Naperville Smart Meter Awareness v. City of Naperville.” The lawsuit is still active but there has been no activity on the docket since July 2013. Information about the lawsuit can be found at http://thetruthaboutsmartgrids.org/legal/federal-lawsuit-against-the-city-of-naperville-il/. The eventual outcome of the lawsuit could have implications beyond Naperville. In general, however, it is difficult for private citizens to fight the deep pockets of the smart grid industry in court. Utilities have the financial resources to drag out the court proceedings and hire biased experts, etc.
Sufficient evidence exists to call for a moratorium on the installation of new smart meters and the return of analog meters to those who want them. Unfortunately, few people in authority will listen. On health issues, information that can be used as “evidence” in your fight can be found at the following links:
http://thetruthaboutsmartgrids.org/2013/11/09/the-aaem-states-the-evidence-is-irrefutable/
http://thetruthaboutsmartgrids.org/2013/09/07/no-studies-show-smart-meters-safe/
Ideas can also be found at the Take Back Your Power website; one link is:
http://www.takebackyourpower.net/take-action/
Specifically for ComEd, the latest news report I have seen is at the following link:
http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20131004/NEWS11/131009854/comed-floats-25-monthly-fee-for-smart-meter-refusers#, where a $25 per month fee is being “floated” by ComEd for people to opt-out of the smart meter program. The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) is to rule on the issue by Feb 16. It is putting the cart before the horse for ComEd to coax people to accept smart meters before having the issue decided by ICC. Basic advice at this point is to “stand your ground.” Inform ComEd in writing you do not want the smart meter and put a sign on your present meter indicating something like: Attention: Do Not Install Smart Meter.
Based upon information that I have received, ComEd is allowing customers to opt out of smart meter installations. They are not advertising this option so as to reduce the number of people who would take advantage of the program. It is quite frustrating to see that people are not being properly informed of their rights or options. Based upon the experience of another ComEd customer, you can elect not to have a smart meter installed at your property after which you would receive a letter that in part states:
“We acknowledge your decision to not have ComEd install a smart meter at your location. Smart meters offer customers numerous benefits. … Please be advised that there could be additional charges associated with you not having a smart meter at your location. These charges will not apply at this time. ComEd will contact you prior to any charge being included on your electric bill resulting from your decision. … Thank you. Michael B. McMahan, Vice President, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Implementation”
So be firm with ComEd representatives and do not accept any communications where someone tells you that you do not have any choice in the matter.
Thank you for the comment. I did get the call, and I did get the letter. I feel helpless because I am very ill which is why I looked up what “smart meters are. I told them health reasons. Unfortunately my neighbors are ignorant to this subject. We hope that there will be places to move to and will be looking after my treatments and when my health improves or even before.
At first they said there was no opt-out and then I told them I read about it, then they admitted there was a delay and then in another call they said there was going to be a vote on the opt out and have me on the list.
I need to call my Mother to tell her what to do and I am going to offer to pay her extra fee she is not well either.
Well, at least you are opt-ed out for now. My understanding is that ComEd plans to allow people to opt-out; the vote would be in terms of how much may be charged for the opt-out on a monthly basis. It is a shame that ComEd started installing these meters before finalizing the opt-out program. Of course, it is even more shameful that ComEd installs these meters at all without any pre-market health impact studies having been performed.
Karen,
When the supervisor or smart meter advocate calls you back, simply insist that you want to opt-out. If he asks you why, you say, “Health Concerns, or Health Reasons. He will tell you that a “small amount” of people are asking to be on a delay list. (delay list to ComEd is the same as opt-out). The “small amount” wording is to make you think that your concerns are not shared by many others. Then you will receive a letter in the mail telling you that Smart Meters offer customers numerous benefits…..etc. and informing you of possible future charges. The letter will be signed by Michael McMahan. And that is it. Stick to your guns and get the opt-out.
Thank you for your comment. I am seriously ill. And I did tell them health reasons. I hope that I can be meter free for the duration of my treatments (14 months) but do not want the meter at anytime. Unfortunately my neighbors are ignorant to the fact and if I say anything I am met with rolling eyes. Like I should be wearing a tinfoil hat!
I did get the letter!
Karen, I too live in Chicago, but have not received a notice yet. I found a ComEd schedule that showed they were starting instillation this month, south of Cermak. It showed that north of Cermak would not start until 2016, but I don’t know if that schedule is trustworthy. I did not know much about these until last spring, after spending 2 weeks in a small condo my husband and I own in Arizona. Every day I had this tremendous pressure in the front of my head and it made me nauseous. Someone pointed out the new meters to me and I started researching it, much to my dismay. We went back in October and the same thing happened. I know I can not live with one of these things on my home, but what is even more disturbing is the fact that everyone else around us will have them. I have since become aware of the fact that I can go into any home or store and know if they have a smart meter, just by the way I feel. When I drive into an area where they are installed everywhere, I have the same feeling. The longer I expose myself to it, the worse the symptoms become. It is horrible and I suspect there are many people like me who have no idea what is wrong with them. They will march off to their doctor and get a prescription for some illness this will be attributed to.
I would love to see some kind of class action law suit against ComEd, but I have no idea how to make that come about. They need to be forced to disclose the negative side of these meters to the ignorant public and they need to not be allowed to extort an opt out fee to keep ourselves safe. I have set up an email account in the hopes of collecting a list of people in Illinois who share our concerns. Hopefully, with enough people and input, we will have the power to do something. If you would like to contact me, you can email me at: Illinois4safepowerdelivery@live.com
To Ann
google Lis Barris and see
http://www.electrosmogprevention.org/take-action-against-smart-meters-ca/3116/
Liz Barris helped initiate a class action lawsuit in California that would have no direct applicability in Illinois. A blog posting on this website describes the announcement of the lawsuit filed last June. http://thetruthaboutsmartgrids.org/2013/06/12/lawsuit-filed-by-customers-against-utilities/. She could still be someone to contact for general insight on the matter.
Class action lawsuits generally are filed on behalf of a group of people who have been in some way injured by the actions of a company. Usually, the attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means that they will receive a portion of the award but charge their clients no fees if the suit is not successful. That portion can be high, ranging from 30% to 50% of the total award. Unfortunately, I would expect that this type of lawsuit would be filed subsequent to smart meter installations when actual injures can be documented. Although I am not an attorney, my impression is that it may be difficult to have attorneys take on such cases based upon the threat of injury. In addition, depending on the exact nature of any future class action lawsuits that might involve ComEd, opting out of a smart meter installation might make you ineligible for participation in the suit. In some cases, being charged a fee to opt out might be considered an injury but that would depend on the exact wording of any lawsuit that might be filed.
Thanks, I will keep her name on file if and when the time comes that there are enough people to get a lawsuit together. I do agree not having a meter could possibly prevent someone from being part of a lawsuit. On the other hand, for those of us who have become sensitive to these meters, it is not only our homes that are a problem. Being in an area where all of the homes have the meters, for me is a problem. I know it may sound unbelievable to many, but just driving down the street brings on the horrible feelings of these things. Same with many stores I once shopped in. I avoid them if I can. I don’t know what it will be like when all of my neighbors finally get their meters, but I can only imagine it will not be good. These people are creating a world in which many of us will not be able to function anywhere. I view that as criminal and hopefully their is a compassionate lawyer out there who will feel the same. I am also keeping a detailed diary of the days I encounter the meters, as I understand it can be used as evidence in court. I hope others who are feeling the effects of the meters are doing the same.
Yes, in general I agree. The technology should have never been deployed for a number of reasons. What is most defendable is having the right to refuse RF transmitters being attached to your own home. Beyond that it will harder to show that smart meters are causing the problem when emissions are coming from outside your property as compared to someone else’s Wi-Fi router, cell phone, etc. This is comparable to 2nd hand smoke.
Thanks, Jean. 🙂
Ann,
Thanks for replying. I am very ill. I told them that, they are going to “delay” I cannot afford the risk at all. I pay a heavy water bill because I don’t want their meter. We shall see if this delay lasts. I hope there are lawsuits and I hope we all win.