There are about as many reasons why people are saying “no” to smart meters as there are people who oppose smart meters, however some of the more common reasons are listed below:
1) Health reasons, including a possible increase in the risk of developing cancer.
Smart meters produce microwave (also called radiofrequency or RF) radiation which has been classified as a “possible carcinogen” (type 2B) by the World health Organisation’s International agency for Research on Cancer. (Please see this link for more information about smart meters and health.)
2) Many people have reported unpleasant symptoms after moving into a home with a smart meter, or after a smart meter has been installed at their home.
Two examples of how NZers have been adversely affected by smart meters may be read at this link and this link.
3) Many people have reported higher electricity bills after a smart meter has been installed.
(If you go to www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz and type “bills” into the search box you will find a few articles about this aspect of smart meters.)
There are a few different ways by which smart meters may increase electricity bills. These include the fact that electronic meters measure electricity differently from the traditional electromechanical (Ferraris) “analogue” meters. (You can read about this here.)
Smart meters can also allow for Time of Use (TOU) pricing which electricity companies may use to charge more for power at times of the day when it is most needed.(like winter afternoons and evenings.) This can result in an increase in bills with no change in electricity use. (Please see this link for details: http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/what-is-time-of-use-tou-pricing-and-how-could-it-affect-you/)
Smart meters can also measure a contaminant on the electricity lines known as “reactive power” or “reactive energy” and although “reactive power” cannot be used by lights or appliances, a recent request for information made to the Electricity Authority under the Official Information Act showed that companies are legally allowed to charge for this useless electricity.
If useless reactive power is added to bills, bills can increase significantly.
4) Reported fires and electrical problems
There have been problems with fires and reported electrical problems after some smart meter installations in NZ. For more information about this, please see the following links:
http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/are-smart-meters-causing-fires-in-new-zealand/
http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/uncategorized/smart-meters-causing-electrical-problems/
5) A smart meter may jeopardise your ability to keep your home warm in winter
A smart meter may interfere with your ability to keep your home warm in winter.
The link below explains how this could occur:
5) Smart meters may adversely affect your privacy
Many people who are concerned about privacy oppose smart meters because the data collected by smart meters can be “de-aggregated” by computers to provide information about what appliances in a home are in use and when. (For more information about privacy and smart meters, please see this link: http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/category/privacy-2/ )
In NZ smart meters have been installed without prior notice; if you do not want one it is important to take action
Smart meters are NOT compulsory in NZ and for information about what other Kiwis are doing to prevent a smart meter please see this link. http://www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz/latest-news/your-options-if-your-electricity-retailer-sends-you-a-notice-to-say-it-plans-to-install-a-smart-meter/
IMPORTANT UPDATE: Geovital Academy for Radiation Protection and Environmental Medicine has recently warned that “stealth” smart meter installations are planned for more states in Australia. For more information about this issues, please go to this link of our website or to this link to read the original story at en.geovital.com
NB: The website of the award winning smart meter documentary Take Back Your Power is a great source of information about smart meters and running a screening of this documentary for family and friends and/or your local community is a very effective way to educate people about the smart meter issue.
For more information about smart meters the following websites are useful:
NZ: www.stopsmartmeters.org.nz
Australia: www.stopsmartmeters.com.au
North America: www.stopsmartmeters.org
UK: www.stopsmartmeters.org.uk
For an international directory of groups opposing smart meters please visit: https://takebackyourpower.net/directory/
Ed note: The NZ Journal of Natural Medicine frequently features articles about various aspects of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) and health. Previous issues have included articles about smart meters, “dirty electricity” and issue (19) features an interview with Professor Olle Johansson on electrohypersensitivity (EHS).
Issue 20 includes a review of Diana Crumpler’s excellent book Prostituting Science as well as an article on electrohypersensitivity.
If you would like to download a free sample of issue 20, you can find one at this link, while copies of issue 20 in print format may be purchased here or as a PDF here.
To purchase a copy or to download a free sample of any other issue, please visit our online shop at this link: https://naturalmedicine.net.nz/shop/
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