Engineer expert Robert Palma gives a good 5-min. testimony to the Iowa legislature on why smart meters are dangerous and why a no-fee opt-out is imperative for current installations:
"Smart" meters are the gas, electric, water, propane and solar utility meters being put on homes to replace the old analog meters ("smart" being a marketing term used by industry to psychologically steer consumers to adopt these devices -- inferring "smart" is a good choice when it is not).
If the gas, electric and water meter(s) on your home no longer have the little dials that spin around but now have a digital display, you have a smart meter -- and the industry now has some newer units made to look like the older ones with dials, but that also emit microwave radiation using digital technology. If there is an FCC ID number somewhere on the face of the meter, then the device is transmitting data using wireless radiation.
Some communities converted to digital meters so they no longer have to pay workers to walk from house to house doing monthly meter readings. They can have an employee do a drive-by instead, aiming their data reader from the street at your meter to track your usage. In communities that have gone on the "smart grid", the drive-by readings are eliminated and the data is sent via wireless radiation to the utility company. From a business model, this makes sense for cost saves.
As cost-saving as this is, the smart meters emit high amounts of wi-fi radiation 24/7 and it goes through the walls and into our homes, schools and businesses. Where housing units are close together, multitudes of meters are mounted in a bank where radiation exposure compounds.
In some systems, the digital data collected from the "smart" meters travels from house to house in a grid, compounding as it goes so that houses further down the line are getting radiation exposure exponentially. The data goes to a transfer station which sends it to a third-party analyst who may sell your usage data to smart appliance and other manufacturers. Some see this as an invasion of privacy. Since the data is sent via wireless signals, there are no secure wires to protect your data and it is therefore far easier to hack into. Criminals could identify your patterns and know when the way is clear to break into your homes and businesses. Further, from a national security standpoint, undesirables could readily shut down the entire grid leaving us vulnerable and stranded in the dark without water, gas or electricity.
Our bodies need a break from the wi-fi radiation we are constantly bathed in. If the smart meters and other devices are emitting radiation 24/7, it can be harmful to our cells, disrupt our circadian rhythm, and impair the required cell repair and regeneration while we sleep that otherwise keeps us healthy. The result is a toxic build-up that shows up sooner rather than later in some as behavioral problems that look like ADD or Autism, sleep disruption, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, nausea, nosebleeds, skin rashes/flushing and more. The long-term accumulative effects may include cancers, infertility, genotoxicity, neurotoxicity and more. See the Science page.
Please see the brochure Are-They-Smart-for-You-v3.pdf for a good visual of how the smart grid works and additional information.
See Scientists’ Statement on RF/EMF & Smart Meters Harm: The effects of pulsed radiofrequency and electromagnetic radiation emissions of smart meters; especially as it pertains to those adversely affected, as prepared for a Pennsylvania Supreme Court case:
d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/yesmaam/pages/9103/attachments/original/1638544479/Scientists-Statement.pdf?1638544479
The largest U.S. water utility indefinitely deferred their AMI project after citizens provided the facts: https://www.wsscwater.com/AMI
Fire incidence increased significantly in many states after smart meters were installed. See the expert 2021 presentation, The Discovery and Science of Smart Meter Fires:
https://alpaca-chinchilla-x6xf.squarespace.com/s/2021-The-Discovery-and-Science-of-Smart-Meter-Fires-print.pdf
Thank you to StopSmartMetersBC.com for compiling a list of Canadian and U.S. areas with opt-outs: https://stopsmartmetersbc.com/metersgrid/smart-meter-opt-out-options-and-fees/
This one-minute video illustrates how utility meters, in this case water meters, pulse radiation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VYVrHXmAxp0
This three-minute video prepared for the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities demonstrates how electric meters pulse radiation thousands of times per day:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-fEjgvtJto
New Hampshire issued a groundbreaking legislative commission report documenting wireless risks. Dr. Kent Chamberlin served on that commission, he is the Chair and Professor Emeritus of the University of New Hampshire's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. Dr. Chamberlin and Cece Doucette, Director of Massachusetts for Safe Technology, share the scientific literature on biological effects of radiofrequency radiation as it pertains to smart meters used for grid modernization and electric vehicles:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_w9KweALQY&t=388s
Dr. Chamberlin's slides: https://alpaca-chinchilla-x6xf.square...
Cece Doucette's slides: https://alpaca-chinchilla-x6xf.square...
Chattanooga, TN has become a national leader in fiber-to-the-premises, and has hard-wired the smart meters to the premises which eliminates the need to have radiating antennas; FTTP has also closed the digital divide:
qz.com/streaming-services-antenna-state-subscriptions-report-1851291285
Dr. Alexia McKnight was deeply harmed by a smart meter on her home. See her TedX Talk:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-ua-e-rY5M
Dr. McKnight and Cece Doucette presented the facts and solutions as invited speakers for a health and wellness professional development day at Dr. McKnight's children's schools: www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jlyuRcKI5w&list=PLMAz9ZRXjYmpnVJ1BLF3Yx_-jnO4nY9tK&index=23
The following article illustrates how communities are starting to tune in to this issue. Out in the Berkshires in Massachusetts, residents, including a doctor, are raising the health issue with the digital water meters and their State Representative is listening: New water meters spark radiation fears in Housatonic
After citizens educated their neighbors and public servants on the risks, the Town of Wayland, Massachusetts in 2018 Did Not Pass Article 24 for Advanced Water Meter Reading Infrastructure: https://www.wayland.ma.us/town-clerk/files/april-2-2018-annual-town-meeting-results
The utility company ENMAX has a program in place for ratepayers to send in their own readings from their electric and gas meters; this can be a good model for other communities where customers wish to opt out of digital meters: https://www.enmax.com/services/meter-services/meter-reading/submit-a-meter-reading
Smart meters and faulty wiring can cause dirty electricity in the extremely low frequency (ELF) range. The major cause of ELF magnetic fields are wiring violations of the electric code. There are 3 wires for electricity: hot, neutral, and ground. The neutral and ground should only be connected where the electricity enters a building. This means the current in the hot and neutral wires are the same but flowing in an opposite direction. If this is the case there is zero ELF magnetic fields (+1 ampere, plus -1 ampere equals zero amperes and thus zero ELF magnetic fields).
An all too common problem (and violation of the National Electric Code [NEC]) is the neutral and ground wires are connected together within a building. This means that an ELF magnetic fields will exist because the current in the hot and neutral wires are no longer equal. Dirty electricity can cause significant health issues and wear and tear on appliances.
See Virginians for Safe Technology for information including industry myths vs. facts sheet, and funding paid to politicians from their energy company.
Rhode Islanders for Safe Technology created this brochure to hand out in the community, including farmers markets: www.ma4safetech.org/s/RI4SafeTech-Smart-Meter-BROCHURE-2024.pdf
Solutions
Where smart meters are optional: http://www.electrosmogprevention.org/stop-ca-smart-meter-news/where-smart-meters-are-optional/
A Roadmap to Challenging Smart and Digital Meter Mandates:
https://childrenshealthdefense.org/wp-content/uploads/8.5x11-Roadmap-to-Challenging-Smart-Digital-Meter-Mandates.pdf
See the National Conference of State Legislatures webpage for a map of the U.S. showing various policies on utility meters: https://www.ncsl.org/energy/smart-meter-opt-out-policies.
In Massachusetts, National Grid offers an opt-out from their digital electrical meters, at a cost; Eversource does not offer an opt-out: www.nationalgridus.com/MA-Home/Metering/Automated-Meter-Reading
National Grid also offers Massachusetts customers an opt-out from AMR gas meters:
AMR Decline Application: dyzz9obi78pm5.cloudfront.net/app/image/id/5df1092eec161c565bfcd912/n/lig-decline-amr-meter-app.pdf
Remove AMR Meter Application: dyzz9obi78pm5.cloudfront.net/app/image/id/5df109308e121c8f7441b54e/n/lig-remove-amr-meter-app.pdf
This is a good example to follow, State of Vermont's Department of Public Services no-fee opt-out: https://publicservice.vermont.gov/electric/smart_grid
Refurbished analog meters are available for purchase: https://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/10/09/buy-your-analog-meter-here/
People are already getting sick, and some municipalities have taken action. The State of Hawaii has arranged for an "opt-in" if a smart meter is desired, rather than blanketing the entire society: http://mauiindependent.org/smart-meter-victory-maui-utility-consumers/
Massachusetts has two bills to allow ratepayers to choose an analog meter without being penalized by a fee. See all six sponsored MA bills below, and consider sharing these with your local, state and federal public servants as most have only been told of the financial benefits of wireless technology without being informed of the biological radiation risks: sites.google.com/site/understandingemfs/massachusetts-emf-bills-2025-26?authuser=0
Smart Meter Education Network out of Michigan aims to support the fight against smart meters for the protection of one's health, privacy and the environment. This group offers how-to information: http://www.smartmetereducationnetwork.com/
Consider hosting a screening of the film Generation Zapped in your community to educate your friends, family and public servants: http://generationzapped.com/
Dr. Tim Schoechle, Ph.D. presents Getting Smarter About the "Smart Grid": The Technological Alternative Needed for a Successful Energy Economy, a one-hour talk and Q&A given at Creating Safe Havens in a Toxic, Electromagnetic World, a conference hosted by the International Institute for Building-Biology & Ecology:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DRHDAdbgWUc
Dr. Darren Schmidt, Chiropractor, explains how "smart" meters affect your body:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z2Mt00xY8eU&t=1821s#t=4.967528
A group of doctors in Eugene, Oregon prepared the following document for their water and electric board: http://www.national-toxic-encephalopathy-foundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Biological_and_Health_Effects_of_Microwave_Radio_Frequency_Transmissions.pdf
Hawaiian Electric offers ratepayers information on mitigating dirty electricity:
www.hawaiianelectric.com/electrical-services/power-quality/publications
Several dedicated groups have developed additional websites to help us understand the impact of utility smart meters:
Halt "Smart" Meters in Massachusetts: http://haltmasmartmeters.org/
Smart Grid Awareness has a great archive of research, as well as insight on safety, fires and privacy: http://smartgridawareness.org/
Here is a master list of articles from Smart Grid Awareness that is searchable:
http://smartgridawareness.org/about/listing-of-website-articles-with-links/
Lawsuits
Stopsmartmeters.org lists some lawsuits that have been won, and others that lost but offer lessons learned:
https://stopsmartmeters.org/smart-meter-lawsuits/
Addressing Controversy with Research
Dr. Federica Lamech, MBBS, authored Self-Reporting of Symptom Development from Exposure to Wireless Smart Meters’ Radiofrequency Fields in Victoria. It is a well documented 92 case series that is scientifically valid. It clearly demonstrates adverse health effects in the human population from smart meter emissions. This was endorsed by the American Academy of Environmental Medicine: https://www.emfacts.com/2013/11/wireless-smart-meter-case-studies-in-victoria-australia/
This article addresses the no-credible-evidence controversy: http://smartgridawareness.org/2014/02/27/smart-meter-no-credible-evidence-controversy/
Dr. David Carpenter wrote the following rebuttal article endorsed by 50 physicians and EMR experts: https://maisonsaine.ca/sante-et-securite/electrosmog/smart-meters-correcting-gross-misinformation.html
Retired U.S. Government physicist Ron Powell, Ph.D., from Maryland, has authored several papers to help consumers and public agencies understand the implications of smart meters including illness symptoms, questions to ask your energy company, FCC limits, a ranking of meter types and more: http://www.scribd.com/doc/291507610/Documents-on-Wireless-Technology-and-Health-by-Ronald-M-Powell-Ph-D
Jerry Flynn served in the Canadian military for 26 years specializing in wireless radio systems, radiowarfare and electronic warfare. He provides a history of military knowledge of harm from electromagnetic radiation, and why he is gravely concerned for the rollout of smart utility meters and the rest of our wireless devices: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-F3nf47kAs
Grassroots Environmental Education offers a generic opt-out letter to send to utility companies and local municipalities: http://grassrootsinfo.org/pdf/smartmeteroptout.pdf
The following article explains why digital meters with the wireless signals turned off can still a biological hazard due to dirty electricity, and why pure analog meters are the best solution: http://www.smartmetereducationnetwork.com/dirty-electricity-and-smart-meters.php
Solar Panels & Meters
In the U.S., most companies installing solar panel energy systems also install a solar smart meter to capture data. The Itron Solar Meter is one such device and residents, landlords and business owners would be wise to ensure they are installed with maximum distance in mind, avoiding heavily used common areas or sleeping areas: https://www.itron.com/na/solutions/product-catalog/solar-meter
CreatingHealthHomes.com offers the following article to better understand Solar Panels and EMFs: http://www.createhealthyhomes.com/solar_panels.php
Jeromy Johnson of EMF Analysis offers these insights: https://www.emfanalysis.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Dark-Side-of-Solar-Draft.pdf
Bill Bathgate may be able to offer additional support: bill.bathgate@defiltersllc.com, www.defiltersllc.com
R Blank of Shield Your Body provided a webinar with Building Biologist Cathy Cooke, Solar Power and EMF Health: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nXMy7axpJLA
Good short article on solar farm fires: https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/risk-management/news/fire-a-major-hidden-danger-for-solar-farms-419868.aspx
The backup articles: https://www.firetrace.com/fire-protection-blog/how-often-do-solar-farm-fires-occur
https://www.firetrace.com/fire-protection-blog/what-happens-when-a-solar-farm-catches-on-fire https://www.energy.gov/eere/solar/articles/assessing-fire-risks-photovoltaic-systems-and-developing-safety-concepts-risk
Note: The information provided here is publicly available on the Internet.
It is intended to provide a starting point to inform you of EMF dangers.
Please do your own research, draw your own conclusions, and act accordingly to protect those you love.