That seems like a ridiculous decision. Its my understanding the BGE owns the meters. If BGE wants to replace its own meters, it should have every right.

I have just read the report and I have a few issues with the PSC's findings:

1) I find it hard to believe some of the claimed costs to the utility of opting out.

2) Many customers in other states have reported higher bills after Smart Meter installations. PG&E in CA has been removing Smart Meters for over a year now at no cost over billing, health and safety concerns.

3) In Section 5, the PSC is somehow convinced that the Smart Meters to be installed in MD don't pose a fire hazard. This decision seems to be based on the word of the utilities alone. Are the meters Safety tested by UL or a similar authority with traceability to NIST? I don't believe so.

4) Since these meters are RF transceivers, are they tested for Electromagnetic Compatibility (Interference) by UL or a similar authority with traceability to NIST?
In other words, is there any documented proof that the safety and accuracy of these meters won't be affected by outside interference, or that they won't cause interference themselves?

30 minutes of searching on the Internet shows evidence of billing issues, health problems and fire safety hazards associated with the installation of "Smart Meters" in several U.S. states, like TX and CA as well as other countries, such as Australia.

Some utilities that had early approval are now being forced to remove these meters due to the outcry from consumers. Yet, here is the MD PSC seeming ready to roll over for the utilities after some perfunctory hearings.

Anyone who believes that the utilities will commit to a program of this magnitude just for the benefit of the customer is naive at best. Based on serious issues around the world regarding Smart Meters, this program needs true close inspection and oversight for the benefit of the citizens of MD.

This is much todo (or dodo, as my spell checker suggests) about nothing. There may be issues, but everyone should deal with them, not fight against "smart" meters. For example:
1. If the plastic used in the meters is a fire hazard, then such use should be banned in any electrical device - whether "smart" meter, dumb meter, or toaster. (And require that they be UL tested.)
2. The radio-frequency scare is bogus - everyone uses a cell phone, which is much worse when you hold it next to your head. If you're concerned about the "smart" meter, then don't hug it all day.
3. And I've heard stupid ideas about privacy, as if the meter can tell what appliance you have running and know whether or not you are home. Ridiculous! If modern appliances provide a radio frequency signal that can report it they are running (which some have claimed), don't blame it on the meter. Someone could drive by your house and read it. So make any unauthorized reading of it illegal or require that such appliances have a way to disable this "feature".

Sure, let people opt out of a "smart" meter, but make them pay extra for the manpower used to read the old one.

Mike,
1. At this time there is no requirement that Smart Meters be UL tested and almost none of them are. There have been many documented fires.
2. I'm not concerned about the "radio-frequency scare" you refer to. I believe this is a red herring to divert attention from the real issues. The RF issue I am concerned with is the susceptibility of the electronics in these meters to outside interference. This can cause a myriad of problems in electronics that are not properly shielded.
3. This time-of-day use capability of Smart Meters is not so much a privacy threat (another red herring?). The real threat is that they give BGE the ability to change rates by the hour. Right now, they can only change peak billing by the month. But, if they can measure your usage by the hour, they can decide to charge more during the hours it is most convenient for you to be using electricity, thereby forcing you, for example, to run your dishwasher at 2:00 A.M. to save money.

As far as extra manpower cost for opting out: How many expensive IT professionals do you think will be needed to support this system? That's a lot more expensive than meter readers!

Ado

Or maybe adieu...

The biggest issue is the security of the meters. There are all sorts of issues.

Evidence #1: http://threatpost.com/en_us/blogs/researchers-find-security-flaws-smart-meters-033110

Evidence #2: http://krebsonsecurity.com/2012/04/fbi-smart-meter-hacks-likely-to-spread/

Forget RF issues, or modernization issues... if someone can remotely turn off my electricity because of a hack, now I have issues.

I have had a digital meter on my house for over a year and my bill has gone down because now they read the meter and not guess what the dial says. It is not a smart meter though, so i cannot speak on that issue.

I don't think people should have to pay to opt out and keep what they have. They've already paid for the meter they don't want via the federal stimulus bill and their BG&E bills.

The Federal government is only paying about half the cost of Smart Meters. We will be forced to pay the remaining cost for this program that does nothing good for us and is mostly to benefit the utilities.

http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/california-health-department-cites-smart-meter-health-risks-in-report

Safety Guidelines

The guidelines currently used by the FCC were adopted in 1996, are thermally based, and are believed to protect against injury that may be caused by acute exposures that result in tissue heating or electric shock.

FCC guidelines have a much lower certainty of safety than standards. Meeting the current FCC guidelines only assures that one should not have heat damage from SmartMeter exposure. It says nothing about safety from the risk of many chronic diseases that the public is most concerned about such as cancer, miscarriage, birth defects, semen quality, autoimmune diseases, etc.

Therefore, when it comes to nonthermal effects of RF, FCC guidelines are irrelevant and cannot be used for any claims of SmartMeter safety unless heat damage is involved (Li, 2011).

There are no current, relevant public safety standards for pulsed RF involving chronic exposure of the public, nor of sensitive populations, nor of people with metal and medical implants that can be affected both by localized heating and by electromagnetic interference (EMI) for medical wireless implanted devices.

http://lamesa.patch.com/blog_posts/california-health-department-cites-smart-meter-health-risks-in-report

http://vimeo.com/36960439 - Washington, DC PEPCO Smart Meter Going Haywire - (Measured by Trifield Meter on 2/16/12)

After the above video was released PEPCO altered their website and delated the section claiming that the meters were only broadcasting up to six times per day and admitted in a letter to the Washington, D.C. Office of People's Counsel that their meters were broadcasting thousands of times per day.

Once this admission was made PEPCO had a legal duty to inform customers of know harms of RF radiation, to apologize and to immediately remove the harm. Has PEPCO done this?

Wow, a lot of uninformed people out here. I guess I can expect as much from a nanny state like MD that believes the government is here to "help" you.

First of all, there are great concerns about the safety of these so-called "smart meters". The radio waves that are emitted can be harmful. Some people are more sensitive than other and have become sick. The long term effects of this electronic pollution could lead to cancer and other illnesses. There is also the fire hazards of these meters. Anyone that spends a little time researching these two issues alone will be overwhelmed with a plethora of information, studies, and reports from many reputable sources.

As it was already mentioned, we need the freedom to control the use of the energy we are paying. I don't want anyone telling me I can't use certain appliances when it is convenient for me.

The other concern is privacy. Many new devices are built to communicate with these meters, having the ability to, not only be controlled, but to collect information about you. They have also found that some appliances have built in recording devices such as microphone and cameras. This is a fact. Again, more people need to research these issues.

I for one don't want anyone having this amount of control over my life. We are constantly having the tyrannical, out-of-control-spending government, as well as the greedy corporations force their way into every aspect of our lives. Enough is enough!

These meters can and will be able to determine your total electrical use as to type of equipment, how much power it uses and when you use it. I do electronic work and I know this can be easily done. The government is pushing this because they want the information to be turned over to the Department of Homeland Security to keep track of us! Just more Big Brother intervention to use against us. I also totally dislike the ability for someone to be able to intercept the transmited signals of my information and be able to change the signal which may cause me grief with billing. If people have cell phones, they have no right to cry about RF emmisions being a health hazzard.

I don't trust or belive ANYTHING that BGE has to say. Remember about 2-3 years ago when everybody suffered an increase of nearly 100% in their bills ? And of course, the infamous turning off of the A/C units all day long when they were supposed to cycle?

I have read some reports that there IS a danger from the RF of these smart meters adn that the signals from them are many, many times the strength of what a cell phone puts out.

Health dangers aside.... do you REALLY trust BGE to NOT turn off your A/C somehow with this meter ? It has all sorts of capabilities and I would not put it past BGE to rig it to be able to control what we use in our own homes.

BGE wants to keep us all in the "Dark" so to speak. In the last several years they have swithed over to a Radio system that is unable to be monitored so you dont' know what they are doind to repairs power line or restore power.

They lie to PSC and they lie to the Public.

hum, using frequencies.. isn't that a step backwards? the air's already jammed with transmissions.. can't wait for the first 1,000,000,000 monthly bill to be reported in the news coming from the angry customers of BGE. :D

Here is the testing that UL would perform on a Smart Meter:

http://www.ul.com/global/documents/offerings/industries/powerandcontrols/resources/UL_SE_VERI_Smart_Meter_Performance_Testing_2011_V3.pdf

I checked the UL Online Certifications Directory and could find no record of any Smart Meter testing for either the GE or Landis+Gyr meters that BGE and PEPCO claim to be installing.

All other issues aside, I believe if we are forced to accept these complex meters with power electronics and RF transceiver assemblies they should be required to be UL certified. UL certification generally includes follow-up and periodic manufacturing audits to assure that the original design doesn't get cost reduced to the point where it is no longer safe.

Lets clear something up. The smart meter cannot turn your ac on or off. That is a programthat you have to opt into which involves BGE installing a special thermostat in your home. It simply allows BGE to read your meter from a remote location. By doing this they can eliminate having someone who has to physically drive around and collect this information. Also add to the rf emissions, get over it. They are everywhere and unavoidable. As for the fire hazard, any meter can catch fire if it is faulty out improperly installed. We are talkingabout electricity here. Amazing how resistant people are to change without having all the facts.

For continual coverage of the smart meter situation in Maryland, please visit our website and join our group for updates. www.MarylandSmartMeterAwareness.org

Questions
1. Will these meters try to turn off my AC during the day? My (Carrier 25HNB636A-30) heat pumps are not compatible with this technology.
2. Will I still be able to choice another electrical supplier?
3. Will I need to have time of day service if I don’t want it or my electrical supplier does not offer it?

@proud.
As I said before, no they cannot turn your ac on or off unless you opt into the energy saving program which involves installing a thermostat in your home.

Yes you can still choose an alternate supplier.
I don't know what your third question means.

This statement ....
"As such, the commission will conduct additional proceedings to determine if customers will have the option to retain their analog meters or mandate that smart meters be installed in a radio frequency-free, or near radio frequency-free, manner, according to the ruling."

......Accurately defines the IGNORANCE that is permeating throughout the Maryland PSC

SMECO, PEPCO and BGE are ALL USING WIRELESS communication Infrastructures of various sorts!

How are they gonna work "radio frequency-free"

Beam me UP SCOTTY...Indeed . The MORONS have taken Control of the earth!

"Agenda 21 you say?? Read up on it and become educated."

Oh no! The big bad United Nations and Agenda 21!!!! More conspiracy theory Moonbattery...

Ah, here we go, Steve has joined in to add his usual useful and intelligent commentary to a serious and sensible discussion. Well, at least, it was...

Dude, I didn't bring it up.

This whole "Waaa!,Waaa!, Waaa!" my house might catch on fire is just a coverup for the Wingnuttery United Nations/Black Helicopters conspiracy.

Out of all the installations of Smart Meters the the number of fires versus the number of installations isn't even statistically significant...

Here is the whole Wingnut Smart Meter Conspiracy theory all rolled up in one complete with a phony English Lord..

http://www.smartmetersmurder.com/refuse%20powerpoint%202012%20final.pdf

"Statistical significance goes out the windows, and the catastrophe is 100% when it happens to YOU!"

Save that one for the Gun Nutter thread.

Wow Steve, I can't believe we actually agree on something. I feel kind of dirty. Lol. 29 out of 200000. I wonder how many analog meters caught fire in the same period. I'm betting at least that many. For the record, I do not work for bge. I am however an electrician and I remember watching the horror movies they showed us in my school that showed among other things, meters exploding that were caught on surveillance cameras. Look, bottom line is that electricity is dangerous. The risk can be minimized but at the end of the day, electricity can cause fires. I wonder how many of the naysayers on this sight have had thier entire houses rewired in the past twenty years or so. I can guarantee that if you haven't youare at a much greater risk from fire starting in your walls or especially attics than from a smart meter. Hell, why not shut off your power all together. Then you can be sure that your safe from fire. Oh and also the last thing bge wants is to shut your power off. Then they don't make any money off of you. The only way they are going to shut off your power is if you don't pay your bill or they are performing work on the grid requiring an outage.

Loose connections, mice, squirrels, degradation, faulty equipment, breakers that fail allowing too much current to be drawn on branch circuits. To name a few. As the years go on constant heating and cooling of electrical connections causing oxidation. If your house was wired prior to the seventies, aluminum or tinted copper wiring. Not that there is necessarily anything wrong with twenty year old wiring but as time passes the likelihood of a problem increases and I would be more concerned about old wiring causing an issue than would be of a faulty meter. My point is that older wiring is far more dangerous than the likelihood that you were unlucky enough to recieve a faulty meter. Would I rewire my twenty year old house? Probably not unless I saw evidence of problems. Would I rewire my fifty year old house. Yes. Metal doesn't last forever.

Nick.
There are two ways that SD-Service disconnect can be implemented with Smart Meters.
One is the typical electromechanical relay Make or Break contact, and then these days of electronics you have the SOLID STATE Relays that employ TRIACS essentially Bidirectional Diodes, triggered to conduct electricity both ways.

If a smart meter is installed on the premises employing SOLID STATE RELAYS and one of the diodes of the triac fails (open), what happens to the alternating sine wave supplied to the premises? and how do you think motorized appliances will behave to that power signal?

Will the refrigerator compressor start? Or FRY?

And what is the Circuit Breaker going to do at the Service circuit panel?
will it trip?
or say NO Overload here!

Steady as She goes?
Get in touch with me Fxgreek@gmail.com You are a competent electrician and a thinking and concerned man.

With your help, I am sure we can solve this riddle.

I thank you for your Input!

"Did you ever consider that might be part of a planned campaign by a collaboration of utilities, equipment vendors, and the government to undermine the credibility of serious dissent to this program?"

ROTFLMAO Tinfoil Hat Time

Stevie,
Go back to your cave!
You are out of your league here!
Unless of course you relish a total SMACK DOWN!

Minds are like parachutes - they only function when open.
Thomas R. Dewar
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/t/thomasrde142165.html#Q5dGltK30HAQ2QGA.99

"on health..The commission found no "convincing evidence" to support that claim,"
What planet is the Commission on?
It is not aclass 2 Carcinogen for nothing!

And this is the Commission that reads its EMF report every couple years and has no issue with the clear association on ELF EMF's with leukemia!
Can they read?

http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf
IARC CLASSIFIES RADIOFREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS
POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS

Let us keep in mind that the word "POSSIBLY", is used because they do not want to raffle any feathers, while they are getting the word out to the wise!

Here's a block diagram of a Smart Meter: http://www.ti.com/solution/docs/appsolution.tsp?appId=407
Notice all the electronics with direct interface to the power, including communication and signal processing. Here are plenty of opportunities for component failure as well as introduction of harmonics onto your power lines. Harmonics are a major cause of overheating and damage to other electronics on the line. Some of the optional features are interesting also, such as external relay control. All of this stuff is before the circuit breaker. Then, of course, there is the almost continuously operating RF transmitter which can easily couple to your power lines either through the circuit or inductively.
I have advanced degrees in Physics and Electrical Engineering and over 20 years of experience in RF, power electronics, electrical safety, and Electromagnetic Compatibility and I don't want a Smart Meter. Let's also not forget about time-of-day billing that will certainly result from this system.

Mr. M. Sullivan

I thank you for the link to the Texas Instruments website as it is a portal of wealth of information on the subject of the design Smart Meters.

I am an Electronics Engineer as well, and I share identically your concerns about Smart Meters that you have enumerated, and for the same reasons I do NOT WANT a Smart Meter attached to my house either.

Here is a Link to a Pictorial representation of the components break down of a typical Smart Meter http://www.ifixit.com/Teardown/Elster+REX2+Smart+Meter+Teardown/5710/1

And here is a link to a document that I have put together enumerating the concerns that I have regarding the Design , Construction and Deployment of Smart meters. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B3ABCMXdUxMALUVteTFaZzYtUjg/edit

I would be most grateful if you were to review it and offer me any suggestions you might have regarding any modifications that you might consider pertinent.

Complete Ignorance and Denial is in operation here.
Questions have been raised about the health impacts of RF Microwave radiation, so much so that the International Agency for Cancer Research has classified it as such!

Is the Commission saying.. "well just a little bit every day is OK?"
This is reminding me of the arsenic issue in water.. or the way lead was handled in this country.
1904 Child Lead poisoning is linked to lead base paints in Australian Medical gazette

1922 The League of nations bans interior lead paint and the Us declines to adopt it.

1930's The US industries rejected scientific evidence, claiming there was no proof of causation

1931 By this date, Spain, Yugoslavia, Poland, Great Britain, Sweden Tunisia Greece France Belgium and Austria have banned lead paint

1952 Many cases of lead poisoning in children are reported in Us press

1977 the WHO recommends the tolerable intake of lead as 430 micrograms a day

1978 The USA bans lead paint.

1985 The EPA discusses a total ban on leaded gasoline

1990 Clean air act amendments ban lead from gasoline

2004 the WHO includes lead on the list of Hazardous chemicals: a neurotoxin for children

hmm in 1997- 430 micrograms were safe!
This is corporate greed at its worst- putting our children's health in jeopardy!

Lead !
"The Centers for Disease Control (US) has set the standard elevated blood lead level for adults to be 25 (µg/dl) of the whole blood. For children however, the number is set much lower at 5 (µg/dl) of blood as of 2012[3] down from a previous 10 (µg/dl)."

A few years ago my grandchildren went in for a test I remember the doc saying that 3 was fine as 10 was the cut off for concern.

Now! they have lowered it to 5 as the cut off!
hmm

Know your history folks because history repeats and repeats itself!

MaryJane,
Lead was removed from gasoline at about the same time that it was removed from paint....The micro fine lead that was pumped into the air through auto emissions was the stuff that created serious problems, not paint...you know, that black city dirt that accumulates so fast and covers everything.
Today there are laws and rules related to lead that pass costs for perceived protection from lead to contractors and consumers....
Meanwhile, each time the State mills a road in a small town or worse big city, dust containing large amounts of lead contaminate the entire facade of these area's....the reason?...because there are NO regulations that can be enforced that pertain to government or their road construction contractors..none..zippo..
The State is by far the largest violator of their own laws, as well as EPA laws but there are no laws that apply to them...The illusion will continue with regard to publc safety being a concern...

George, this is some useful information regarding the design flaws in Smart Meters and installation that could cause safety issues. I don't know if it is my system, but it seems to be multiple fonts or cut & paste.
A requirement for full UL testing would mitigate many of these issues, for instance it could be required that all plastic material be tested to UL94 and UL746A (see http://www.ul.com/global/eng/pages/offerings/industries/chemicals/plastics/testing/flame/ ). MOVs can be coupled with thermal protection to meet the requirements of UL1449 ( see http://www.newark.com/pdfs/techarticles/littelfuse/Littelfuse_ThermallyProtectedTMOVVaristors.pdf ). It could be required that hot swapping not be allowed. Of course, these requirements would cost a lot of money and cut into the profitability of the utilities. I do not know of any conclusive research on the effect of EMR on terminal corrosion. I have not seen this and I believe environmental causes are the overall contributor. The idea of installation of meters off premises makes sense in theory, but I doubt it will ever happen except maybe in new construction due to costs. The analog meters that have been around forever are safe, reliable, and long lasting. Making Smart Meters just as safe would probably quadruple the cost.
Once again, there are other Smart Meter problems to consider, such as harmonics generation and EMC in addition to the time-of-day billing issues for the consumer.

Steve:

Your observations about conspiracy theories are spot on.

The pseudoscience and false prophecies are the least concerning issues.

Some of these theories are absolutely sickening. Spingola is an unrepentant anti-semite and Holocaust denier who suggests that smart meters are one part of a vast zionist conspiracy here (the second to last paragraph):

www.spingola.com/false_flags_for_israel.html

If it were this rabid anti-semite alone I would not hold it against the anti-smart meter activists.

However, Josh Del Sol, Josh Hart and Christine Hoch, three prominent activists, have had interviews on Spingola's hat show. None of them have apologized and nobody in the anti-smart meter community condemns these grotesque incidents.

Tells us quite a bit about the moral fiber of these activists.

George you blew your cover with this.

"Agenda 21 you say?? Read up on it and become educated."

Like I said "Tinfoil Hat Time"

Malaprops- You have returned. Sigh.. I though you said March?
I assume you are a new guy here ... I can tell by the language you use. LOL

LOL

"I happen to know Personally a number of these people "

And you admit that?

On a public forum no less!

Anyway I am thrilled to find in this Facebook buissiness that Dr. Devra Davis has a page!

anyway everyone should check it out for more information but I was glad to see this article by Dr. Davis and thought I would share it.
Its about your brain and microwaves. A little long so it may take some time.
"Almost two years ago Finland's Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority joined agencies in Britain, India and Israel in warning that regular use of cell phones could damage children's brains."

]http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-Right-to-Know-about-Gr-by-Devra-Lee-Davis-121223-868.html

Apparently, there are two factions in the anti-Smart Meter community. One is the nuts and conspiracy theorists. The other is composed of people with legitimate concerns who have the knowledge and/or research to have serious doubts about just rolling over for this program. Unfortunately, the first group gets more publicity because of the entertainment value and it makes all the anti-Smart Meter people look bad.
As i said in a previous post, scientists who provided early warnings about dangers such as lead in gasoline or methyl mercury were frequently attacked by those with a financial interest. They lost funding for research and suffered career damage.
Those groups in favor of Smart Meters for whatever reason prefer to perpetuate the nutjobs agenda because legitimate dissent is then lost in the noise.

ROTFLMAO I Googled "Smart Meter Safety" and the first link was this...

http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/Business_Consumer_Engagement/Better-customer-engagement-Lessons-from-National-Grid-s-Worcester-pilot-5092.html#.UPCCDImtzEU

Look at the first comment. It's from Georgie!

"The smart Grid is an AGENDA 21 project with the objective of population Indoctrination and control."

http://www.bioinitiative.org/

If anyone is interested in reading the scientific abstracts about RF microwave radiation you can go to Bioinitiave and read Dr. Henry Lai's abstracts.
http://www.bioinitiative.org/

......or you can watch this video with Tea Party Darling Heather Gass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8Fndf2EciSg#!

or you can watch this Trailer to the Movie Disconnect

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WexAKXIovLs&noredirect=1

Frank, should people have the freedom of choice for which meter they may have?

Here is number two Joe.

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2010/06/scientists-overwhelmingly-believe-in-man-made-climate-change/1#.UPCar3y9KSM

One more for you Joe without a single insult.

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/21/137309964/climate-change-public-skeptical-scientists-sure

I'll betcha the Maryland Flat Earth Society will be railing against the evils of Smart Meters at their "Turning the Tides 2013" conference in Annapolis tomorrow.

A simple question. I am sure that one of the brilliant posters here can provide a clear answer.

Is access to electrical power a civil right or a product to be purchased as is just like string beans or toothpaste?

I see the "Stank" has been hard at work. He's been serving quite admirably as the filthy rectal plug of the incontinent hospice dweller Ike. The only job that the "Stank" has ever been good at. ROTFLMAO

MaryJane is not a bad person. She is just naive, gullible and a useful idiot for EMF Portal from which she cuts and pastes abstracts about which she is clueless.

She makes some poor choices as you can see from her response to my Spingola complaint:

"You continue to bring this up . Issues like this are making strange bedfellows "

Since MaryJane is so concerned with name calling we must wonder why she would excuse collaboration with Spingola, who, if you read the link I provided, is one of the most vile, hate-filled persona among the anti-smart meter activists.

I am extremely curious about the outright lie she makes about my being paid to post. Again, I don't believe she is malevolent-- she is just following the useful idiot script.

So to those who are concerned about MaryJane she simply lacks intellect and common sense, and I believe that you will find that to be consistent with all of her posts.

You boys have been on the cell phone too long
LOL
a funny one for you.
Electromagn Biol Med. 2013 Jan 9. [
Effect of 900 MHz radıofrequency radıatıon on oxıdatıve stress In rat braın and serum.
Department of Biochemistry, Ondokuz Mayis University , Samsun , Turkey.
Abstract

The increasing use of mobile telephones raises the question of possible adverse effects of the electromagnetic fields (EMF) that these phones produce. In this study, we examined the oxidative stress in the brain tissue and serum of rats that resulted from exposure to a 900-MHz EMF at a whole body average specific absorption rate (SAR) of 1.08 W/kg for 1 h/day for 3 weeks. We also examined the antioxidant effect of garlic powder (500 mg/kg/day) given orally to EMF-exposed rats. We found that malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.001) and advanced oxidation protein product (AOPP) (p < 0.05) increased in rat brain tissue exposed to the EMF and that garlic reduced these effects (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the nitric oxide (NO) levels in the brain. Paraoxonase (PON) was not detected in the brain. There was a significant increase in the levels of NO (p < 0.001) detected in the serum after EMF exposure, and garlic intake did not affect this increase in NO. Our results suggest that there is a significant increase in brain lipid and protein oxidation after electromagnetic radiation (EMR) exposure and that garlic has a protective effect against this oxidative stress.

Indeed you should.

I am sure it will just drift to the other side as needed.

There seem to be a number of rational people on this board who are speaking out pseudoscience, quackery and fraud promoted by the anti-smart meter zealots.

If you have a background here are some documents that irrefutably expose the anti-smart meter fraud: I encourage you to examine these.

This is EPRIs response to the Sage Smart Meter report:
http://www.socalgas.com/documents/ami/epri_sagereport.pdf

The value of reading this document is its debunking of Cindy Sage pseudoscience through using principles and laws of physics. It is completely transparent and no industry bias can be claimed against its findings. The gross distortion in the Sage report is obvious to anyone who understands basic physics, but this document wraps it nicely.

Sage has an EMF consultancy that benefits from the anti-wireless propaganda. The BioInitiative report, edited by Sage, is effectively a marketing document to promote fear and her consultancy.

The other document debunks Daniel Hirsch, a hero of the anti-smart meter movement, again using the principles of physics:
http://eetd.lbl.gov/ea/ems/reports/schsa-042012.pdf

Finally, here is another document that describes all that is wrong with the anti-smart meter movement and it's willing partner in the sensationalist media:
http://www.puc.texas.gov/industry/electric/reports/smartmeter/SmartMeter_RF_EMF_Health_12-14-2012.pdf

You just cut that from a past post Mals .

http://www.bioinitiative.org/report/table-of-contents/

I was just in a deep read here about melatonin.
They have taken the science and organized it quite nicely. It is such an easier read than the abstracts as it is well organized.
Everyone should take the time to read this as it presents the science showing health impacts.

Let's take a look at the EPRI report MJ.

I lifted this quote. It's quite simple. It's not an obscure procedure or process that needs to be verified -- it's a statement of fact regarding Sage's report.

Tell us whether or not you disagree with it and why. My favorite part is "violates the laws of physics."

"Despite the claim of adopting “conservative” reflection values based on Hondou et al., the Sage Report, nonetheless used power density enhancements roughly 30 to 110 times greater than the FCC’s worst-case scenario, and, moreover, applied the enhancements uniformly to every point in space, which violates the laws of physics."

The more Malaprop poo poos Cindy Sage and Associates the more I am curious about their work. Assuming most people like their eyes and assuming most men like their testicles may I recommend the following link:

http://stopsmartmetersirvine.com/2012/03/06/warning-to-sce-customers-with-wireless-utility-meters/

Eyes and Testes – Safety standards for peak exposure limits to radiofrequency have not been developed to take into account the particular sensitivity of the eyes, testes and other ball shaped organs. There are no peak power limits defined for the eyes and testes, and it is not unreasonable to imagine situations where either of these organs comes into close contact with smart meters and/or collector meters, particularly where they are installed in multiples (on walls of multi-family dwellings that are accessible as common areas).

ding ding ding ding...that was my ridiculometer going off.

SAN DIEGAN FILES SUIT OVER SMART METER HEALTH ISSUES

"December 29, 2012 (San Diego)—A federal lawsuit has been filed by Celeste Deborah Cooney, who alleges that radiation from a bank of smart meters left her unable to reside in her home. Defendants in the suit include the SDG&E, the State of California, Attorney General Kamala Harris, California Public Utilities chairman Mi chael Peevey, and Itron Inc., manufacturer of smart meters used in San Diego.

Cooney, a former bank vice president in Massachusetts, moved to San Diego to pursue a new career as a musician. She performed at prominent locations including the Queen Mary and the Ritz Carlton. But in April 2011, she developed a ringing in her ears, a “shock to her heart”, numbness, chest pain, heart palpitations and sleep problems that she attributes to a bank of smart meters at an apartment complex near her home in La Jolla."........>> http://eastcountymagazine.org/node/12066?goback=%2Egde_3188262_member_199880079

Yeah I know !
This is America where anybody can sue anyone for anything!
Save your ridiculous adverse commentary, where it will find fertile ground, like the space between your ears?............and those of your piers!

George,
I do love your comments, clear engineering mind and sheer honesty.

hmm after my moment with the excellent Bioinitiave chapter on Melatonin, I did find myself watching some video's of the Cell phone Industry executive's being very clear that they "never said" RF emitted from cell phones "was safe".
If fact at the end of the Disconnect Trailer you will see cellphone executives talking how their concerns.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hXGZ7Waa44s

About your testes and eyes, the more we learn we know how much more research that needs to be done.

Maybe , rather then make RF free spaces we should just make some areas WIFI radiofrequency microwave hot spots . We could make sure there is a nice radius of tin foil around them and anyone who wants to live there can go soak in the rays..

We will air drop you garlic braids as part of our humanitarian work.
:)

Sadly,
these places already exist.
Did anyone read about the Indian Actress Juhi Chawla taking action against RF radiation surrounding her home in India.
The radiation levels were higher than 2000 megawatt per square metre all around her house!
from the Hindu times http://www.hindustantimes.com/Entertainment/Wellness/Is-mobile-phone-tower-radiation-a-health-hazard/Article1-889268.aspx

http://www.infochangeindia.org/environment/eco-logic/towering-infernal-radiation.html
a 2012 article, things are heating up in India!

I will never allow a smart meter to be placed on my home...the reason...that I've decided not to..that simple.

Still ducking the EPRI report MaryJane? Somebody like you who tells everyone to read should be able to get through it. Please let use know where you think EPRI got it wrong on Sage?

Mals- I have already hashed this out with you in countless posts in the past dear friends. Hey i thought you said you were going on vacation till March? What happened? Are they paying you overtime?

http://www.non-toxicnurse.com/the-dangers-of-smart-meters-hit-home/

This nurse has some extremely informative posts about Smartmeters for any of you interested in learning more about this issue.

Dr. Annie Sasco, Ph.D. (Epidemiology) with three Harvard degrees, the former Director of WHO's IARC (International Agency for Research on Cancer) for 22 years, has stated publicly that: "Contrary to Industry claims, there is CONCRETE evidence that EMF from wireless technology and cell phones causes cancer."

The Lethal Network

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-03-12/kolkata/31152252_1_radiation-level-watt-cellphone-tower

...Any radiation level between 100 and 1,000 micro watt is of severe concern and that above 1,000 micro watt is of extreme concern. Constant exposure to such levels will trigger health issues in 2 to 3 years. "Radiation affects areas of the body where fluid movement is less, like eyes, brain, joints, heart and abdomen. Localized heating in the body causes boils, drying up of fluids around eyes, brain, joints, heart and abdomen. There can be neuro-psychiatric problems like headache, memory loss, nausea, dizziness, tremors, muscle spasms, numbness, altered reflexes, muscle and joint paint, leg/foot pain, depression, and sleep disturbance," says Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI) director Jaydip Biswas.

In Kolkata, most cell sites emit radiation of nearly 100 watts. The government argues it has adopted the guideline of 9.2 watt/sq m set by International Convention for Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection as a safe limit. What it does not mention is that the norm is for exposure to radiation for 6 minutes a day.

"Also, for every 6-minute exposure, there is a 23-hour-54-minute cooling period. When exposure is for 24 hours, there is no time for the body to cool. Plain logic says it will cause immense harm," pointed out IIT Bombay professor Girish Kumar, who has been studying effects of non-ionizing radiation for a decade.

Why should ANYONE be slurred in any way for choosing to NOT have one of these on their homes or to have one? Why should anyone have to justify those decision to anyone else? Many are not electric engineers but are informed and read and see that there are enough questions out there that they decide to play it safe until more info or evidence is available. Me being one.
Isn't 'choice' what most people say others should have when it comes to doing for themselves?

Joe, you refuse to buy the product as packaged. If you feel that survival is at stake, move off the grid.

Nothing ignorant here at all. You are in name-calling mode.

Metering is part of a mega-trend of the same order as requiring the addition of ethanol to motor fuels. The national electrical grid will be managed in this manner. Period. The decision is being made for you. And you don't like it because you are used to being in control and using your money as you see fit.

Call me ignorant--or more accurately, insensitive-- for pointing it out.

And you believe that scarcity and cost of resources are not driving us toward a more collectivist society, I guess.

No worries on that

Microwave radiation is going to help decrease the population.
Survival of the fittist.... or those who take precautions
I mean look .. we already have decreased sperm counts in men who keep the phone in their pants.

http://ehtrust.org/latest-science-shows-mobile-phone-radiation-can-damage-sperm-and-affect-the-adult-brain-and-behavior-of-animals-prenatally-exposed/

stop ducking the EPRI report MaryJane

Your excuse "bias" is lame. Sage is biased -- her consulting practice and BioInitiative Report depend on fostering pseudoscience.

"but you should try this article as it clarifies why an electric company funded organization whose sole reason for existence is to support the corporation might be a little.. well a little biased."

The laws of physics trump "bias" whether you like it or not. The EPRI report is correct in its assessment of Sage and but you are free to explain.

Show us the "bias" in the EPRI report and stop the excuses.

Malaprop,
have you read the 2012 Bioinitive?
What do you think of the abstracts? Its the science.
Your thoughts?
Im busy here at another fabulous site.
http://www.wiredchild.org/

Cindy Sage Responds to EPRI’s Critique; http://eon3emfblog.net/?p=1908

“EPRI’s comment letter mischaracterizes information presented in the Sage Report, and then attacks its own mischaracterizations.”

Sage Associates Response to a critique of The Sage Report on RF Exposures from Wireless ‘Smart’ Meters February 14, 2011
[This response is available in PDF download from the Sage Report site. We reproduce it in full here for our readers' convenience. ]

SUMMARY
EPRI (The Electric Power Research Institute) conducts research on issues of interest to the electric power industry, and is largely funded by electric utilities in the United States. It has produced a comment dated February 2011 on the Sage Associates Smart Meter RF Assessment (January 1, 2011). [ Download PDF of EPRI document here. ]

We are gratified that this organization has detailed its opinions about the technical approach and conclusions of our Report. It allows for a fair and open discussion on whether our Report has properly addressed potential FCC violations for uncontrolled public access, conducted the correct technical analysis, and whether the conclusions of the Sage Report are reasonable. EPRI’s comment validates that the Sage Report has done so.

Ah, radiation sickness. One wonders what type of grievous ailments put old Ike into the hospice ward. This clears up a lot.

On a more serious note . Did you know the The UK Chief Medical Officers strongly advise that children and teenagers under 16 should not use mobile phones except for short essential calls?
Wierd huh? hmm take precautions they say....

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4123979

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AEOcB7Svhvw
Another great video! Cell Tower Microwave Radiation Presentation by Magda Havas

Have you read the EPRI response to Sage yet MaryJane? Someone who does as much reading as you should have no trouble with it.

"well I do believe she will be going!"

I wish her well. You will have a lot of explaining to do once she receives that education and then reviews your posts.

Indeed i have them all printed out for her!

When in doubt opt-out: fires, electrical damage to wiring and appliances, damage to eyes, damage to testicles, headaches, autism, cancer, ringing in the ear, privacy rights, hacking...

If any of these are of a concern to you then the best course of action may be to opt out.

Wired Magazines summarizes the issue quite well: Smart Meter Causes Dumb Fire

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2012/09/self-combusting-smart-meters/

Perhaps radiation damage is the reason for the "Stank's" exile in Mom's basement. Have an appendage growing out of your forehead, "Stank"?

@Frank You said........
"What does it matter? The moment you wrote "Agenda 21" it marked you as a wacko, regardless of whatever else you may have said."

When that COMMENT, comes from a stealthy persona such as you!

I KNOW I HAVE HIT BULL'S EYE REGARDING MY AGENDA 21 OBSERVATION!

But Heck, the Agents if inequity, perversion and subterfuge of the American way of life, have done such a remarkable job, that even the author reporter of the article we are commenting on, DID NO REALIZE that the Maryland PSC passed the buck till June, and that all they said was, we made a decision to NOT make a Decision regarding the OPT-OUTS, and the vested Industry interests true to form, send out the slithers to muddy up the waters, getting the threads off the discussion and off topic.

BUT Not to worry..............Go back and tell your handling paymasters , that Maryland legislature is in session and this time the OPT-OUT BILL WITH NO PENALTIES WILL PASS, AND THE PSC INDUSTRY LAPDOGS CAN FLAP IN THE BREEZE.

A smart Patch editor would shut this mess down...

Eliminating Buck would be a good start.

http://www.iarc.fr/en/media-centre/pr/2011/pdfs/pr208_E.pdf
The Key document
The International Agency for the Research of Cancer CLASSIFIES RADIO FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELDS AS
POSSIBLY CARCINOGENIC TO HUMANS

Wonderig what it means to live under Power lines?
California EMF Program. California Department of Health Services. An Evaluation of the Possible Risks from Electric and Magnetic Fields (EMFs) from Power Lines, Internal Wiring, Electrical Occupations, and Appliances: Final Report June 2002. California EMF Program, Oakland, CA, 2002.
http://www.ehib.org/emf/RiskEvaluation/riskeval.html

Want to read more...
about the Italian Supreme Court that has affirmed a ruling granting worker's compensation to a businessman who developed a tumor after using a cell phone for 12 years.
http://microwavenews.com/

http://marylandsmartmeterawareness.org/
If you are in Maryland and want to Opt out go to Maryland Smart Meter Awareness to get more information.

"The science, public health, public policy and global response to the growing health issue of chronic exposure to electromagnetic fields and radiofrequency radiation in the daily life of billions of people around the world. Covers brain tumor risks from cell phones, damage to DNA and genes, effects on memory, learning, behavior, attention; sleep disruption and cancer and neurological diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Effects on sperm and miscarriage (fertility and reproduction), effects of wireless on the brain development of the fetus and infant, and effects of wireless classrooms on children and adolescents is addressed. Mechanisms for biological action and public health responses in other countries are discussed. Therapeutic use of very low intensity EMF and RFR are addressed."
www.bioinitiative.org.

Thanks for the valuable information that you share MaryJane..!

More happening in India...Holding mobile towers as a health hazard, the Rajasthan High Court today directed telecom service providers operating in the state to remove within two months their towers falling in the vicinity of schools, hospitals and play grounds.

"It has further been held on the basis of report of inter-ministerial committee that the radiations are harmful and causes cancer, brain tumour, digestive disorder, tachycardia, and other diseases and disorders in human body," said Prateek Kasliwal counsel for petitioner Justice (rtd) I S Israni and others.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/294813/no-mobile-towers-near-schools.html

AGENDA 21 Progress Report.

You know you are being watched while on the streets, at traffic intersections, in the chain stores you go shopping, in the malls you frequent........BUT That is NOT ENOUGH surveillance for the globalists! OH NO Not at all!

Now they are fixing to watch you through your "SMART TV"

Like I have said before "SMART METERS ARE FOR DUMB PEOPLE"
__________________________________

Beware! Your new smart TV may soon be watching you!

"Soon to be a thing of the past are those pleasant hot summer evenings sitting in front of your TV dressed only in your undies (or less) sipping a nice ice cold beer or iced coffee. Would you dare do so with a new smart TV where something (or someone) is able to watch you back? Better be well dressed, behave nicely and especially be careful of what you say or perhaps the thought police may late one night be knocking at your door!" .................>>
http://www.emfacts.com/2013/01/beware-your-new-smart-tv-may-soon-be-watching-you/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=beware-your-new-smart-tv-may-soon-be-watching-you

My buddy works for the manufacturer and he told me the electric eye/automatic flusher on the urinal is stealing your thoughts....

The "Stank" back for more grueling humiliation. Ready to get your weep on, "Stank"?

BO, It's the hand God dealt you. You were born a dwarf, but you don't have to go through life being a drunken, angry dwarf.

LMAO "Stank". You still haven't related the history of how you came to be a hapless, Cheetos-scarfing teenager relegated to Mom's basement.

So after all this, what problem does anyone have in allowing a homeowner to make the choice of what kind of meter they want?

From this story "The Maryland Public Service Commission ruled Monday that public interest requires that Baltimore Gas & Electric, Potomac Electric Power Company and Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative provide customers with an additional option related to smart meters"

And some STILL want to deny others their right to choose. A right they hold dearly when it comes to destroying their own in the womb.

I don't understand why some disagree with he PSC on this. It is baffling.

The decision has already been made. Pathetic, habitual losers like the "Stank" lose once again. Hallelujah.

You somehow see participation on this forum as requiring a lot of effort and an inordinate amount of time. Are you slow?

This thread is going south. I'm no longer following.

Baltimore Sun Article in the subject matter, which gives you the opportunity to vote your opinion.

I voted! Thought you’d like to, too.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-smart-meter-options-20130113,0,1198201.story?page=2#tugs_story_display

Fire Department advisory to the Utility HOT SWITCHING installation Thugs.

Arlington Fire Department Smart Meter Fire Report
http://www.bantexassmartmeters.com/smart-meter-fire-report/

"........CUT the power to homes you will be working on, before pulling the meter...."

Here is the reason(S) the Utilities do not follow Safe electrical practices.

" SMART METERS are FIRE STARTERS!

The Management of the Electric Utilities NO matter the country of operation...DO NOT GIVE a HOOT about HOT switching under Load!

The Replacement Meter gets Damaged by the HOT SWITCH? NO PROBLEM! The Customer/Ratepayer Foots the BILL!

The Meter Base Sockets get Damaged on the customer's Meter Can? NO PROBLEM! The Customer/Ratepayer Foots the BILL!

The Installer Gets Injured in the PROCESS? NO PROBLEM! The DUMB Idiot did not know what he was doing! "

Why do it right of you got no skin in the game!

You can thank your RESPECTIVE PSCs and PUCs for that, that have been turned into Utility Lapdogs, and have betrayed the PUBLIC TRUST.

Smart Meter ARE ALL GOOD!
It says so here! An extensive analysis, by the title.
"Analysis:
Smart Meter and
Smart Grid Problems"

The Smart Meters ARE GOOD!
It is the SMART GRID that has the problems!
http://smartmeterharm.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/1-smart-meter-problems-dec-2012-final.pdf

Do they have Smart Meters on the FEMA concentration camps?

Noteworthy:

"As you may have noticed I have coined the term S&Ms for Smart Meters , because the (S)adistic electric companies are installing these monsters and it could only be (M)asochists who would want to Opt-In to have them installed. So, please use the S&M acronym freely when mentioning Smart Meters and share this email with others especially activists and groups."

Statement can be found here. http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=1223

Smart meters turn incendiary

Norman Lambe, a California-based Insurance adjuster, believes there is a problem with the meters.
"For myself, as an adjuster, I believe the smart meters are a real threat to the safety of your home, business and property. I have personally worked two large homeowner fires in which the smart meters were determined as responsible. Also, they have been responsible for several small fires in which appliances and computers have been destroyed."

http://www.wnd.com/2012/12/smart-meters-turn-incendiary/

Fiddler on the Roof!
Yiente the Machmaker!...Have I got a SMART METER FOR YOU!
A macth yes a PERFECT Match.!

Visit their website to learn how you can choose not to have a "smart meter", subscribe, and support them in completing the film:

http://takebackyourpower.net

VOX POPULI..Let them hear Us Loud and Clear!

"Dear MSMA Member,

Because we realize some of you do not have enough time to go on line and download a letter to your delegates, we are making it very easy for you to get involved. While letters and face-to-face meetings are much more effective, signing the petition below is much simpler and will have some impact. The petition urges your Maryland Delegates to support the NO FEE OPT OUT House Bill 1038 introduced by Delegate Glenn Glass. Please by all means feel free to forward this message to any non MSMA member who might respond favorably. Click on the link below to add your name.

http://signon.org/sign/maryland-house-bill-1038?source=c.fwd&r_by=7048862

Jonathan Libber, President

Maryland Smart Meter Awareness"

http://tinyurl.com/HB1038

Not another one of these worthless petitions..... How'd the last dozen or so work out?

Because we realize some of you do not have enough time to go on line and download a letter to your delegates, we are making it very easy for you to get involved. While letters and face-to-face meetings are much more effective, signing the petition below is much simpler and will have some impact. The petition urges your Maryland Delegates to support the NO FEE OPT OUT House Bill 1038 introduced by Delegate Glenn Glass. Please by all means feel free to forward this message to any non MSMA member who might respond favorably. Click on the link below to add your name.

http://signon.org/sign/maryland-house-bill-1038?source=c.fwd&r_by=7048862

Jonathan Libber, President

Maryland Smart Meter Awareness"

http://tinyurl.com/HB1038

Waste of time. Plus you get your name in a database that will be sold time after time.

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