READER'S EDITORIAL: AN OPEN LETTER TO HELIX WATER DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS REGARDING SAFETY AND ACCURACY OF SMART METERS
Editor's note: On April 6, Helix Water District will hold a hearing on smart meters for water district customers. Susan Brinchman believes two smart meters installed on her home by SDG&E are causing health problems including headaches, dizziness, ringing in the ears, hearing loss, heart palpitations, sleep loss and more. Her efforts to have SDG&E remove the meters have been unsuccessful. Brinchman has compiled data on safety concerns including complaints to the Califiornia Public Utilities Commission from residents with smart meters claiming health issues. ECM has asked Helix Water for records on smart meter safety and complaints and will publish once received.
"Show me the proof that my doctor is incorrect in stating that exposure to rf radiation from smart meters is causing me health problems, aggravating my medical condition." - Susan Brinchman
By Susan Brinchman, M. Ed
Founder, American Coalition Against Smart Meters and Smart Meter Dangers website: www.smartmeterdangers.org
Whereas the Helix Water District has conducted a pilot study on the use of radiation-emitting smart meters at 322 locations in Mt. Helix without informing the public about potential health risks,
Whereas the California Public Utilities Commission has had many thousands of health complaints about smart meters,
Whereas the California Public Utilities Commission has had thousands of inaccuracy, privacy, and security complaints about smart meters ,
Whereas 35 California municipalities, including entire counties have formed anti-smart meter resolutions and ordinances as a result of overwhelming public concern and damages to health,
Whereas the California Public Utilities Commission has ordered Pacific Gas & Electric to develop a plan allow all customers who have these concerns to opt-out and this plan is based on overwhelming public demand by millions of customers in these municipalities and throughout the state and this could happen here,
Whereas Pacific Gas and Electric has proposed to charge customers up to $500 to opt-out of radiation-emitting transmitters in smart meters and pay higher costs thereafter and this could happen here,
Whereas utility customers throughout the nation have complained of extremely high bills after the installation of smart meters and this could happen here,
Whereas in Atlanta, GA, water utility customers are involved in a class action lawsuit against their water district due to the malfunctioning and extreme overbilling of water customers due to smart meters and this is entirely possible here ...
I ask you to answer the following, with full documentation, to be presented to the public with complete and full transparency in extended hearings during hours when the public can attend, with no limits on public input about this very important matter related to the current Mt. Helix pilot project and future proposals for increased use of smart meters in Helix Water District.
1. Whose idea was the use of smart meters in HWD, what discussions and research was done? What was done to protect and inform the public about health and other risks of smart meters used in your pilot study in the Mt. Helix area? What warnings did you provide the public with regarding their exposure to radiation from these meters? Please provide the minutes and all details.
2. RE: the idea that Helix Water District thinks: "Smart meters are safe"
Name one health authority that has guaranteed that smart meters are 100% safe and could not cause health or safety problems - show me any document from a health authority that guarantees this.
Show me the proof that you have read all the criticisms of the CCST report on health effects of smart meters. These are located in a number of places. One is http://www.smartmeterdangers.org/index.php/position-statements/80-health....
Show me the independent health, safety, and environmental studies or research that proves rf radiation from smart meters is safe, at the exact frequencies emitted. Studies paid for by utility companies or CCS, an affiliate of a principle agency promoting the smart meter program in America are not independent, as these are conflicts of interest that render them as useless as "tobacco science".
Show me the proof that you are not experimenting on the public for profit.
Show me the proof that this board and company has conducted a complete review of the independent scientific literature pertaining to the exact frequencies emitted and microwave/wi-fi/rf radiation of this type and concluded there is no possible risk to health.
Show me the proof that you are aware of the news from Northern California that PG&E has been ordered by the CPUC to allow people concerned about these dangerous, unwanted utility smart meters to opt-out, and that they have drawn up a proposal that will allow people to do so for $500 in the first year, paying higher rates for this privilege thereafter.
Show me the proof that you aren't just using the CPUC mantra cooked up to coverup the smart meter problems throughout the state, caused by CPUC and utility company errors.
Show me how the Food and Drug Administration has something to do with smart meter certifications, since Mr. TimRoss cited that as a reason you feel these are safe.
Show me the proof that you have read the CCST report fully, that admits there are research gaps and does not certify that smart meters are safe.
Show me the proof that your sources have used a current standard, not obsolete ones that haven't been changed in 20 years, ignoring all research.
Show me the proof that you deny the validity that 6,000+ studies on microwave and rf radiation, especially at these frequencies that show dire health effects are likely, such as bleeding from the brain, disturbance of the electrical signals to the brain and heart, cancer, inflammatory illnesses, and disruption of the thyroid.
Show me the proof that my doctor is incorrect in stating that exposure to rf radiation from smart meters is causing me health problems, aggravating my medical condition.
Show me what you will say if I tell you that I don't want your smart meters in my town or anywhere in Helix Water District, I think we have enough radiation exposure, enough illness in America, enough children born with autism and neurological problems, enough trouble without HWD adding more of a burden to our healthcare system and our neighborhoods.
3. Re: the idea that "Smart meters are accurate"
Show me the proof that your smart meters will be accurate, always.
Show me what you will say to customers who are overcharged. Will you say, "Our meters are accurate: you must have a leak. You are lucky that we didn't detect this leak all those other years. Hand over the $800 per month or we'll shut off your water", such as other utilities have, following the installation of smart meters.
Show me the proof that your smart meters are not going to produce higher billing for customers, as they did in Atlanta GA, where there is now a lawsuit against the water authority for this reason.
Show me the absolute proof that in an environment with extensive wireless frequencies your meters will not be interfered with, will not malfunction, and overcharge customers, as has been reported in other areas.
4. "Smart meters will help the customers"
Show me the proof that smart meters will not create higher costs from lawsuits about health or billing. Show me that smart meters will help more than your company.
Show me the proof that you aren't just looking to profit from smart meters by reducing employees in this time of job loss in the state, that you aren't just looking to find a new way to gouge customers.
Show me the proof that you won't be defending yourselves and Helix Water Authority in lawsuits related to these smart meters for the rest of your lives.
Show me proof that you are being responsible and protective of the public health and customer rights.
You are accountable to the public and we will not tolerate more polluting of our environment with radiation for profit and through ignorance.
The views expressed in this editorial reflect the views of its author and do not necessarily reflect views of East County Magazine. If you wish to submit an editorial for consideration, contact editor@eastcountymagazine.org.