Americans Trying to Stop Their Analog Meters from Being Replaced with “Smart” Meters and/or Meters with the RF Turned Off

in #technology3 years ago (edited)

By B.N. Frank

Utility “Smart” Meters – electric, gas, and water – are expensive, unnecessary, and plagued with problems including fires and explosions, measurement errors (see 1, 2, 3), and MUCH MORE.

Research has determined that they DO NOT SAVE meaningful amounts of energy. Of course American utility companies don’t want to talk about any of this. They’ve received BILLIONS in federal stimulus to install “Smart” Grids and “Meters” and these meters are extremely profitable.

“Smart” Meters are 2-way transmitting which allows utilities to collect minute-by-minute customer usage data which they can analyze in order to market more products and services to customers as well as sell to 3rd parties (see 1, 2). The 2-way transmitting feature also allows utilities to remotely turn off services and ration customer usage.

Approximately 57% of Americans already have “Smart” Meters and utilities plan to install more. A group of Maine residents has not given up the fight to keep their traditional analog meters.

From EMF Safety Network:


Save the analog meters in Maine


Maine Utilities New Smart Meter Scam


Simmering in the background with little notice since early 2019, Central Maine Power Company’s (CMP’s) proposal to get rid of analog electric utility meters opened for public comment at the Maine Public Utilities Commission (MPUC). The comment period ends Monday the 22nd. (Docket 2019-00044)

In 2011 the MPUC ordered CMP to provide two “opt out” alternatives for customers who didn’t want the controversial smart meters, an electromechanical (analog) meter, and a “radio off” smart meter. CMP was ordered to retain enough analog meters for the opt out customers. At that time they had 600,000 analog meters.

CMP now claims they are out of analog meters. They are proposing to only offer “solid state” meters. Solid state meters are in fact smart meters. “CMP appears to have violated their requirement to keep enough electromechanical meters for opt out customers”, said Ed Friedman, spokesperson for the Maine Coalition to Stop Smart Meters. “If they truly “misplaced” or scrapped the approximately 594,500 meters not being used by current opt out customers, they need to be held accountable.” he added.

Former State Representative Andrea Boland pointed out CMP’s history of vacant pretenses of expertise and failures. “Now”,she said, “they set out to again dissemble and deceive in an attempt to convince the MPUC that smart meters are not smart meters and the order permitting opt-outs by customers (even at a hefty monthly penalty) is not a valid order.”

Maine Coalition to Stop Smart Meters wants to save the analogs because smart meters, including “radio off” smart meters, create dirty electricity which is a heath hazard.

Elisa Boxer, one of the original complainants to the MPUC in 2011 said: “We presented evidence from engineers and other experts that digital solid-state meters were not an acceptable alternative to analogs for several reasons, including the emission of transients onto the home wiring. Voltage transients, otherwise known as one type of “dirty electricity,” are spikes of electromagnetic interference (EMI) that travel along the wiring in the walls and have been implicated in cancer cases worldwide.” (see Woodward & Harding oscilloscope comparisons)

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Woodward & Harding-Power Quality Comparison: Smart Meter v Analog

These emissions from home wiring may be one reason why smart meters have had such devastating health effects. Dr. Beatrice Golumb MD PhD, Professor of Medicine at UC San Diego said: “Our survey study shows this smart meter induced electrical sensitivity often led to catastrophic impacts in the lives of those affected”. She requested the PUC “please ensure purely analog electromechanical meters remain available for those who wish them”, citing this as an issue of importance for the health of vulnerable members of the public.


Golumb, 2020, EMF Medical Conference 2021

Dr. Albert Manville, retired wildlife biologist specializing in bird impacts from towers, powerlines and wireless radiation wrote: “concerns with smart meters (with or without transmitters) include radiation sensitivity, cancers and other health problems caused by the radiation frequencies, issues with dirty electricity, high maintenance costs, privacy and hacking concerns, fire dangers, and unfair opt-out fees we pay each month (at best, our meter is read every other month but we’re billed each month – double dipping).”

Summary of Symptoms after Exposure to Wireless Utility Meters

Thanks to: Maine Coalition to Stop Smart Meters.


It’s been well documented that “Smart” Meters 2-way transmitting feature creates high levels of harmful electromagnetic radiation (see 1, 2, 3). There have been numerous reports worldwide about health issues in people and animals after “Smart” Meters have been installed (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10). Some utilities now allow customers to “opt out” because of the complaints and lawsuits.

“Smart” Meters have also been associated with grave cybersecurity risks. Before Trump left office, additional federal legislation was passed to address their vulnerability. Many legislators have taken action against “Smart” Meters for various reasons (see 1, 2, 3). More awful details have been exposed in free online documentary, Take Back Your Power. Opposition to these meters is worldwide.

Activist Post reports regularly about “Smart” Meters and other unsafe technology. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites:

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I've heard rumblings about these "smart" meters but never really knew what they were talking about. Thank you for putting this out there. I'm definitely going to be looking into it further.