Michigan House of Representatives hearing on utility companies cutting off electricity to customers refusing Smart Meters, 2nd hearing scheduled Jan. 30 to hear more customer testimony (VIDEO)

Posted on January 18, 2018 by admin

Michigan House Energy Policy Committee hearing January 16, 2018

From WLNS 6

Skubick: Customers come to Capitol to speak out against DTE

By Tim Skubick
January 16, 2018

http://wlns.com/2018/01/16/skubick-customers-come-to-capitol-to-speak-out-against-against-dte/

LANSING, Mich (WLNS) – They were using words such as “bullies, terrorists, and monsters” to describe the conduct of DTE energy regarding the installation of smart meters to measure your energy consumption.

One person described DTE’s conduct as “terrorists” while another said they were “malicious, aggressive, unfair”.

DTE lobbyist Rodney Cole, Jr said he believes the utilities are doing the best job they can right now.

The House Energy Committee took testimony from disgruntled DTE customers regarding the utilities behavior on installing smart meters.

Many consumers don’t want them.

Customer Dan Schulte agreed to the meter and describes what happened then. “I allowed them to put the meter in and then they cut the power and laughed about it.”

Schulte called the utility “monsters”.

Senator Patrick Colbeck accuses the utilities of bullying. “It is. They bring out four trucks and try to intimidate these people. It’s not right.”

State Rep. Gary Glenn said “after the kind of testimony I heard today and I have no reason not to believe them. I don’t understand why DTE and Consumers would continue to allow this to happen.”

“We take customer complaints very seriously,” insisted Rodney Cole, Jr., the DTE lobbyist.

The utility is preparing a report on this issue.

So when this reporter asked if these people are over-reacting, Cole answered, “there’s some additional information that we’ll be able to provide. This is something we’ve tried to educate the public on.”

The committee will consider a measure to give consumers a choice to use the meters or not.

http://wlns.com/2018/01/16/skubick-customers-come-to-capitol-to-speak-out-against-against-dte/

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Kentucky utilities try again to get approval for Smart Meter roll-out; Attorney General calls proposal “premature”

Posted on January 18, 2018 by admin

Last March, [Attorney General Andy] Beshear successfully fought to get smart meters cleaved from a plan to increases rates as too expensive. “After careful review of the filings in this case, we find little support that smart meter deployment will benefit the ratepayers in any way,”  Beshear said at the time.

From Louisville Courier Journal

Rejecting smart utility meters could cost you $260-$540 a year in LG&E and KU rate plan

January 3, 2018
By James Bruggers

For the second time, two big Kentucky utilities have asked regulators for permission to install 1.3 million smart meters on their customers’ homes and businesses.

This time, Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities are offering to let customers who reject the new technology to opt out but at a substantial cost.

Chris Whelan, the spokeswoman for both, broke it down like this:

  • For KU customers, the proposed opt-out charge would consist of a one-time fee of $72.71 and $32.45 per month.
  • For LG&E electric customers, a $57.86 fee and $22.70 recurring monthly charge.
  • For LG&E natural gas customers, the proposed costs are $57.86 followed by a $21.80 recurring monthly fee.

The companies say the meters save money and allow them to respond more quickly to restore power during outages, such as big storms.

They had proposed, and pulled, what they call “advanced meters” from a rate increase proposal last year, amid various controversies and concerns about cost. Whelan said that for customers who get the new meters, there would be no immediate change in rates despite the $350 million in installation costs.

In a news release, the company said those costs would be “more than offset by the savings and benefits advanced meters provide over their lifetime and is comparable to the amount other utilities have invested.”

Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear isn’t buying it.

“This move is premature, and this office continues to have serious concerns with smart meter applications,” he said in a written statement Wednesday. “In a settlement … just last year, the companies’ agreed to withdraw a similar smart meter application.

“In return, our office agreed to participate in a process to voice our concerns, but not to support a new application less than a year later.”

The Kentucky Public Service Commission will scrutinize the proposed Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity filed by the companies over the next few months, said Andrew Melnykovych, the commission spokesman. The PCS approved a Duke Energy plan for smart meters in Northern Kentucky last year. There, the opt-out fee was $100, plus $25 a month.

Nationally, tens of millions of the advanced meters have been installed, <https://www.courier-journal.com/story/tech/science/watchdog-earth/2016/11/2 3/lge-and-smart-meters-get-tin-foil-hats/94335358/> sometimes controversially with concerns about health effects from radio frequency waves, privacy and security. Duke tells its customers that the radio signals are far below the levels emitted by common household appliances and electronics, including cellphones and microwave ovens, and that their customers’ data is secure.

At least one public interest group opposes the meters, which would replace those that need to be read in person monthly by LG&E personnel.

“Too much is unknown in terms of reward, while cost is very high,” said Cathy Hinko the executive director of the Metropolitan Housing Coalition, which participated in meetings with the utilities and other groups in recent months. “I find the lack of specificity of savings from other areas that have used smart meters to be unnecessarily elusive and, therefore, unreliable.”

Advanced meters will offer customers near-real-time energy-use information through an online dashboard that can help them better manage their power usage and save money, the companies said. Whelan said a current dashboard used in a pilot program would be replaced with one that’s easier to use.

Advanced meters also allow utilities to better determine where outages are occurring, quickly diagnose the cause of the outage and, at times, respond more efficiently, the news release said.

“We’ve learned a great deal about advanced meters through the pilot programs we’ve offered over the years,” said David Huff, director of energy efficiency and emerging technologies for the companies. “Today’s advanced meters are much more sophisticated than those 10 years ago, and we are receiving positive feedback from customers who participate in our current early adopter program.”

Last March, Beshear successfully fought to get smart meters cleaved from a plan to increases rates as too expensive. “After careful review of the filings in this case, we find little support that smart meter deployment will benefit the ratepayers in any way,” <https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2017/03/09/ag-beshear-want s-big-cut-lge-ku-rate-plan/98960212/> Beshear said at the time.

Whelan said the meters would be installed over three years, possibly starting later in 2018, for a program that would be completed in five.

https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2018/01/03/opting-out-smart-meters-would-cost/1000201001/

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Cell phone and cordless phone use causes brain cancer: a new review

Posted on January 18, 2018 by admin

From Safer EMR
December 4, 2017

Increased Brain Tumor Risk from Wireless Phone Use:

2017 Supplement to the BioInitiative Report

Radio frequency radiation should be classified as “carcinogenic to humans” (Group 1).

In May, 2011, radio frequency radiation (RFR) was classified as a ”possible” human carcinogen (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of the World Health Organization (WHO) based upon an increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma observed in human epidemiological studies.

Since then, RFR exposure has increased in most countries as few countries took any precautionary actions due to confusion sowed by the wireless industry. The emerging fifth generation of wireless technology, known as 5G, will further increase RFR exposure.

The RFR exposure limits adopted by most countries were established in 1998 by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP). The limits were based on short-term thermal (heating) effects from RFR and ignored non-thermal biological effects.

Although the ICNIRP guidelines were updated in 2009, they still do not cover long-term health risks from non-thermal exposures. ICNIRP’s current RFR exposure limits are 2 to 10 W/m2 depending on frequency. ICNIRP has 14 members; many have ties to industries that want to maintain these permissive guidelines.

In contrast to ICNIRP, in 2007 27 RFR scientists reviewed the literature on non-thermal health effects and released the BioInitiative Report. In 2012 when the report was updated, the authors concluded that health risks can be observed with an RFR exposure of 30 to 60 μW/m2. Applying a safety factor of 10, they proposed a precautionary target level of 3–6 μW/m2which corresponds to three hundred thousand to three million times less exposure than the ICNIRP limits allow.

This supplement to the BioInitiative Report written by Lennart Hardell and Michael Carlberg examines the case-control research on brain tumor risk published since 2011 when IARC classified RFR as “possibly carcinogenic.”

The report finds consistent evidence of increased risk for glioma and acoustic neuroma associated with mobile phone and cordless phone use. These results are supported by results from animal studies showing genotoxic, co-carcinogenic, and tumor-promoting effects from RFR. Animal research finds evidence for an indirect mechanism for RFR-induced cancer, namely, oxidative stress on the cells leading to free radical production and DNA damage.

The supplement concludes that RFR should now be classified as “carcinogenic to humans” (Group 1) based on the IARC definition for this category:

“an agent may be placed in this category when evidence of carcinogenicity in humans is less than sufficient but there is sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity in experimental animals and strong evidence in exposed humans that the agent acts through a relevant mechanism of carcinogenicity.”

—

Lennart Hardell, Michael Carlberg. Use of Wireless Phones and Evidence for Increased Risk of Brain Tumors: 2017 Supplement. BioInitiative Working Group, November, 2017.

The supplement to the BioInitiative Report is available at: http://bit.ly/bioinitbrain2017.

Bioinitiative Report: www.bioinitiative.org

http://www.saferemr.com/2017/04/cell-phone-and-cordless-phone-use.html

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Retired U.S. government physicist warns Maryland legislature about Smart Meters and wireless exposure

Posted on January 18, 2018 by admin

Posted on What is 5G
January 13, 2018

In this letter, Ronald M. Powell Ph.D. urges Maryland State Legislators to protect the health of the people of Maryland from the onslaught of wireless radiation. This document addresses the health impacts of radiation from smart meters, cell towers, WiFi in schools, and 5G small cells.

——————————————————

Dear Maryland Legislators,

Kindly consider these questions:

  • Do you care about the health of children?
  • Do you care about the health of adults?
  • Do you care about the exploding costs of health care?

If your answer to any of these questions is “Yes”, then PLEASE LISTEN to the scientists and the physicians of the international biomedical research community. They are trying to warn everyone about the adverse health effects of the radiofrequency radiation that is employed by wireless devices. Simply stated:

Radiofrequency radiation is harmful to health.

Why so?

The levels of manmade radiofrequency radiation in our environment, including right here in Maryland, are increasing. This increase is caused by the introduction of more and more wireless devices, without an understanding of the health consequences. These consequences can manifest differently in different individuals. Examples include sleep disruption; stress, anxiety, or irritability; headaches; ringing in the ears; concentration, memory, or learning problems; fatigue; loss of balance; eye problems; heart palpitations or arrhythmia; nerve pain; cancer; and many more.

These problems arise because all living things are bioelectrical in nature, including human beings. That is why electroencephalograms and electrocardiograms work; they measure the tiny electrical voltages that operate the brain and the heart. Unfortunately, the radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices is strong enough to disrupt many natural biological processes. That disruption can cause, or exacerbate, a host of chronic illnesses, leading even to death.

Yet such illnesses can go unexplained for several reasons:

  • Many of the symptoms caused by exposure to radiofrequency radiation can have other causes, too, complicating diagnosis.
  • The public does not yet know which symptoms can be caused by exposure to radiofrequency radiation and thus may not recognize the possible cause.
  • Physicians are not yet trained to recognize the symptoms of exposure to radiofrequency radiation and to recommend remediation.

No one is immune to harm from radiofrequency radiation. So you may already know someone who is showing the symptoms of overexposure, perhaps even someone in your own extended family. But the connection to radiofrequency radiation may not yet have been made. The result can be continued suffering and a lost opportunity for recovery.

What are examples of the sources of radiation?

For the remainder of the letter:

Click to access Protecting-the-Maryland-Public-from-Harm-by-Wireless-Technology.pdf

http://whatis5g.info/5g/2018/01/protecting-maryland-public-harm-wireless-technology/

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Braces, earrings, and hip replacements: metal in or near the body can increase a person’s absorption of wireless radiation (RFR)

Posted on January 17, 2018 by admin

From Environmental Health Trust

Metal Can Increase Wireless Radiation Absorption Into The Body

 Published Research Indicates That Metal Implants Effect Electromagnetic Radiation Absorption Into The Body

The presence of metal in or near the body can significantly increase a person’s wireless exposure. Metal can reflect and refocus wireless radiation, resulting in much higher SAR absorption rates into the body. The FCC, states, “Electrically conductive objects in or on the body may interact with sources of RF energy in ways that are not easily predicted. Examples of conductive objects in the body include braces, orthodontics and implanted metallic objects. Examples of conductive objects on the body include eyeglasses, jewelry, or metallic accessories.”  

Published research shows that eyeglasses with metal frames and metal jewelrycan affect the SAR levels. For example, a study found the SAR measured in the eye closest to the phone increased up to almost 30% when metal glasses were a part of the calculation. Similarly, publications have reported that the peak SAR can be up to 25% higher when a 900 MHz phone is pressed up to an ear pierced with a metallic object such as an earring. Another study looked at the SARs into the leg and reproductive organs when a cell phone was placed in a pocket alongside a keychain with a metal ring and found that the presence of a metallic ring significantly increases the averaged 10g SAR inside the testicle by more than 20% at 1.8 GHz.

People have a variety of metal implants in their body, from dental implants, the pins used for broken bones, hip replacements and brain implants.  Metallic implants inside the body have been found to increase the SAR levels in several studies.  Increased SAR levels in the brain from implanted metal is a serious concern that regulatory agencies have not addressed.   

Wireless and Other Types of Electromagnetic Radiation Can Increase the Metal Released In The Body From Dental Fillings and Braces 

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Capitol Weekly picks AT&T’s Bill Devine as 11th most influential person in Sacramento

Posted on January 16, 2018 by admin

Capitol Weekly publishes a yearly list of the top 100 influential behind-the-scenes power players in state government.

AT&T lobbyist Bill Devine was rated #11 for 2017.

Capitol Weekly describes him as “ubiquitous in Capitol corridors,” “AT&T’s Field General.” The Los Angeles Times says he is “a fixture in the Capitol and at fundraisers,” and “AT&T’s chief operative.”

However, even though he is a ubiquitous fixture and AT&T’s field general, Bill Devine hasn’t registered as a lobbyist since 2006.[1] The LA Times included Bill Devine in its amazing 2012 expose about telecom influence-peddling in California government (excerpts below). It also reported that Secretary of State and former state senator Alex Padilla received an unprecedented amount of money from AT&T while he was a legislator. To date, Secretary of State Padilla has taken no action on AT&T and Devine’s failure to comply with state rules.

The bill referred to below is SB 649.

http://capitolweekly.net/capitol-weeklys-top-100-list-3/

Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list – 2017

11. Bill Devine
Ask any Capitol denizen what companies consistently maintain the tightest grasp on California’s levers of power and inevitably AT&T appears at the top of the list.  Bill Devine is AT&T’s Field General in Sacramento, and his influence is only growing with AT&T’s 2015 acquisition of El Segundo-based DirecTV and pending merger with Time Warner.  Devine was a driving force in the year’s most closely-watched telecommunications bill – legislation that would expedite the local installation of “small cell” devices necessary to expand 5G wireless statewide.  The company also remains the largest individual corporate donor to candidate campaigns across the state. It is the signature sponsor of what has been – for more than a decade — the single largest legislative fundraiser, the annual Speaker’s Cup event at Pebble Beach. Devine is folksy, friendly and ubiquitous in Capitol corridors. He has every legislator on speed dial, and in an era when flashy tech companies like Airbnb and Uber dominate the headlines, no company has left a greater footprint on technology-related public policy in California than AT&T.

——————————————-

www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-att-20120422,0,4280264.story

AT&T wields enormous power in Sacramento, April 22, 2012

Excerpts:

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California: Former PG&E executive Nancy McFadden named 2017 most influential person in state capitol — “she runs the government”

Posted on January 12, 2018 by admin

Every year, Capitol Weekly picks the top 100 most influential, behind-the-scenes power players in California government.

In August, Capitol Weekly named former PG&E executive Nancy McFadden as # 1 for 2017 — the most influential person in Sacramento.

“She runs the government,” said Capitol Weekly editor John Howard to Mark Keppler of the Maddy Institute.

McFadden is Governor Jerry Brown’s chief of staff.

Capitol Weekly also ranked former PG&E executive Dana Williamson, Brown’s former cabinet secretary, as 29th most influential in the capitol. Williamson officially left that position this year, but she now works offsite as a private political consultant, and she is Jerry Brown’s political adviser and legislative strategist and runs Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s election campaign.

Together these two PG&E representatives have complete and unrestricted access to the Governor, hold the keys to all facets of Jerry Brown’s administration, including powerful appointments to regulatory agencies such as the CPUC, political favors and punishments, and private information and power over the public. Since Jerry Brown is also the de facto head of the California Democratic Party, the rank-and-file march in step with this drum, or else.

No reform of utilities or the regulatory structure in California is possible until this oligarchy, this “company town” situation, is confronted and dismantled once and for all, brick by brick. Until that happens, PG&E and the utilities will continue to harm Californians with impunity and teflon-coated immunity.

Maddy Report
Nov. 2, 2017

http://capitolweekly.net/capitol-weeklys-top-100-list-3/
Capitol Weekly’s Top 100 list – 2017

1. Nancy McFadden
 Nancy McFadden, chief of staff to the governor, is at the top of this year’s list, and here’s why: She shapes every major political and policy issue that emerges from the administration and manages the staff to get it done. Whether it’s extending the state’s cap-and-trade program or pushing for new revenue to overhaul the state’s crumbling infrastructure – the two biggest issues of the year for the Brown administration — McFadden was at ground zero when the deals were cut. Indeed, she seems to be everywhere when negotiations reach critical mass, and nothing happens unless McFadden signs off on it. McFadden works out of the “horseshoe” – the suite of offices inside the Capitol housing key administration officials – so she has a relatively low public profile. Even among reporters and others who follow state politics and the Capitol, McFadden is largely invisible and rarely quoted. She also doesn’t return phone calls and emails – at least to us. But her presence is felt throughout the government, in both policy and personnel, and her fingerprints are everywhere. McFadden has been in and out of state and federal government over the years, and came to the Brown administration after a strategy stint as senior VP at PG&E. She later brought some former PG&E colleagues into the horseshoe, and they rose to major positions as well. She was a senior adviser to former Gov. Gray Davis, and before that she was deputy chief of staff to Al Gore. McFadden also served as general counsel to the U.S. Department of Transportation in the Clinton Administration. Her blend of policy and politics experience is pure gold in government, where every major decision is part politics, part policy and part communications spin.

29. Dana Williamson
We figured that after Dana Williamson left her gig as Gov. Brown’s cabinet secretary, we could drop her from the list and get a new name in the fold. But no such luck. Williamson, now working as private political consultant in Sacramento, is very much Brown’s political adviser and legislative strategist. Everyone we spoke to said Williamson did Brown’s heavy lifting in negotiating the extension of California’s cap-and-trade program – the administration’s highest-priority legislation of the year. Williamson also is tasked with handling Xavier Becerra’s election campaign for attorney general. Becerra, who Brown appointed attorney general to replace Kamala Harris, faces his first statewide election next year.  Like Nancy McFadden, (see No. 1), Williamson has PG&E experience. Before becoming cabinet secretary in 2013, she served as a senior adviser to Brown, and she was a deputy communications director and deputy political director for former Gov. Gray Davis.

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Lawsuits in California claim faulty PG&E Smart Meters started house fires

Posted on November 17, 2017 by admin

The video shows meter vendors GE and Landis & Gyr.

http://abc30.com/video/embed/?pid=2660552

He noticed several PG&E employees got there almost as quickly, and he says one of them removed the smart meter while the firefighters worked. Firebaugh’s fire chief saw it too.

He says he is never seen that before, but he thinks he knows why they may have wanted the device.

‘Investigation after the fire was put out revealed that in all probability the fire was caused by a problem in the electrical panel and the problem in the electrical panel, in my belief, was the Smart Meter that was installed in the panel by PG&E,” said John Borboa.

Dozens of people have blamed smart meters for fires over the last several years and the issue has been a topic of discussion for the California Public Utilities Commission.

In 2014, a report from the CPUC acknowledging concern about smart meters as the possible cause of some fires said the commission’s staff determined none of the fires they examined were caused by smart meters.

Jose Valdez is not convinced.

His insurance company is suing PG&E over the fire at his house and they not alone.

“Active arcing going on, electrical activity happening with flames going up the side of the house,” said Don Macalpine.

Fresno firefighters put out the fire at the Sandoval home. Deputy Fire Marshal Don Macalpine says there’s no clear evidence it started with a smart meter malfunction, but their investigation doesn’t rule it out.

A second lawsuit filed on behalf of the Sandoval’s’ insurance company blames PG&E and the smart meter.

In fact, at least five lawsuits in California make the same claim about smart meters.

When I asked for PG&E’s response to the lawsuits, the company’s representatives asked me for a list of questions. They answered none of them, but they did send me a statement saying smart meters have to meet safety requirements and standards spelled out in the national electric safety code.

And they added, “Although we won’t comment on active litigation, we can say that PG&E stands behind the safety of our Smart Meters.”

But Valdez sees his differently now, as a possible threat attached to his home, in what he considers to be one of the worst possible positions.

“My kids’ bedroom is right next to the garage and who knows what would’ve happened after that if it would’ve been in the night,” said Valdez.

Both Fresno County lawsuits are set for trial in 2018.

http://abc30.com/lawsuits-claim-faulty-pg-e-smart-meters-started-house-fires/2657513/

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Michigan: DTE turns off power to another family as winter approaches

Posted on November 11, 2017 by admin

There is no opt-out from digital meters in Detroit. DTE puts on a digital meter, which they claim does not transmit, in place of the Smart Meter,  However, the dirty electricity created by digital meters is still present and causing health problems, and the violation of Constitutional privacy protections via the collection of personal energy data by the utility company still takes place.

DTE and the other utility companies must be making a great deal of money from Smart Meters to so adamantly refuse customer requests.  And where is the investigative reporting?

From Fox 2 Detroit 

Family chooses to live with no power rather than a DTE Smart Meter
by Hilary Golston
November 9, 2017

(WJBK) – It’s a debate that continues to rage on, can the radiation Smart Meters give off, cause cancer?

A family in Lenox Township in Macomb County, is worried not only about their health but the question of surveillance. So much so that they’re living without power and using a generator instead 

They claim their power was cut off by DTE Energy because they don’t want the Smart Meter and haven’t been set up to get the new opt-out version. They’re sticking it out because they feel it’s their right to. “My mom passed away from brain cancer so the health issues is a big concern,” said Cindy Michaels.

And the Michaels can’t help but wonder what the Smart reader she had on her home had to do with it. It is one of three basic reasons they’re not okay with this new type of meter. The second is that they worry about the meters being surveillance.

“We don’t consent to that, absolutely not, there’s no reason to,” said Tony Michaels. “We have a meter that’s already working.”

But the main reason is choice.

“We should have the choice as a citizen to be able to choose between a Smart Meter or to keep our analog meter,” Cindy said.

Right now their power is out, turned off by DTE. They claim because they won’t get the Smart Meter and haven’t been set up for the new digital opt-out meter.

The family is running a generator in the meantime, which is noisy enough for neighbors to hear. 

“It’s not bothering us at all, but we can hear it,” said one neighbor.

Despite the noise, cold and expense they won’t relent and are standing firm.

“We’re going to have to, there is no choice,” Cindy said.

FOX 2 reached out to DTE tonight and they wrote in part:

“We are confident in the safety, security and benefits provided by Smart Meters. We also recognize that this is a very emotional issue for a small number of our customers. Those customers can choose to opt-out of the program for a fee and receive new digital meters that do not wirelessly transmit usage information.”

The claim Smart Meters are safe are backed up by the American Cancer Society. They say because, the amount of RF radiation you could be exposed to from a Smart Meter is much less than what you could be exposed to from a cell phone, it is very unlikely that living in a house with a Smart Meter increases risk of cancer. 

“We have been fighting DTE on this pretty much since 2015,” Cindy said.

And the Michaels say even as it gets colder they won’t yield. They spend about $50 a day on the generator. They say their power was turned off by DTE on Nov. 4 which adds up to $250 so far.

Late tonight DTE said they will schedule a time to install the new digital meter once the family’s dogs are secured and a lock is taken off the meter.

The cost to opt-out is $67.20 and $9.80 per month. Since the digital option doesn’t transmit wirelessly, a meter reader stops by. DTE says it has to do this to replace the remaining old, obsolete meters to comply with a Michigan Public Service Commission request.  They’ve done about three million so far.

http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/family-chooses-to-live-with-no-power-rather-than-a-dte-smart-meter

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Why does the American Cancer Society claim Smart Meters are safe? AMI, wireless corporations are top corporate sponsors. Follow the money.

Posted on November 11, 2017 by admin

“The claim Smart Meters are safe are backed up by the American Cancer Society. They say because, the amount of RF radiation you could be exposed to from a Smart Meter is much less than what you could be exposed to from a cell phone, it is very unlikely that living in a house with a Smart Meter increases risk of cancer. “ [1]
Family chooses to live with no power rather than a DTE Smart Meter, Nov. 9, 2017, Fox 2 Detroit

In articles or industry presentations about Smart Meters, cell towers, cell phones, or other wireless technology, the American Cancer Society is frequently cited saying there is no cause for concern and these devices are safe and safe for children. An ACS representative told me by phone that their scientists don’t see any reason for concern, any need to warn the public, or any reason to change their position on wireless safety or oppose bills like SB 6495 “based on the research they’ve seen”.

Position based on research or based on corporate contributions?

Look at ACS corporate ties.

Top ACS corporate sponsors are Smart Meter/AMI manufacturing and technology companies Siemens, GE, IBM, and Accenture, Illinois energy company and Smart Meter proponent Ameren, wireless companies AT&T and Motorola, and Microsoft. There are likely many more corporate ties slightly lower down the contribution list. [2]

In addition, CEOs of Ameren Corp.,Motorola Solutions, IBM, and Accenture sit on the American Cancer Society‘s Global Council for CEOs Against Cancer – “an elite group of CEOs of the largest and most influential corporations who serve in an advisory capacity on time sensitive, industry, subject matter, or geographically relevant topics pertaining to the global cancer burden.” [3]

This explains ACS’ entrenched position on wireless hazards, and why it supports wireless technology..

Stay engaged with ACS on their cellphone app

ACS has even developed a fundraising app for cell phones, one of several apps it has launched. [4]

The all-new American Cancer Society FUNdraising app has been completely redesigned from the ground up. It’s now easier than ever for event participants to raise and track donations (for Relay and Strides events) plus stay engaged with the American Cancer Society. 

Download our Mobile FUNdraising App

Collecting donations to help finish the fight against cancer has never been easier.

The American Cancer Society FUNdraising App enhances Relay For Life and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer events by making it easy and FUN to raise money and track your progress. [5]

Safety backed up by the American Cancer Society

“‘We are confident in the safety, security and benefits provided by Smart Meters..‘…The claim Smart Meters are safe are backed up by the American Cancer Society. [1]

So, when you are told that the American Cancer Society has said Smart Meters or cell phones or Wi-Fi in schools are safe, respond with “you get what you pay for.”

Sources:

[1] http://www.fox2detroit.com/news/local-news/family-chooses-to-live-with-no-power-rather-than-a-dte-smart-meter

[2] https://www.cancer [dot] org/our-partners.html#Corporate_Alliances
http://www.johnsoncitypress.com/Charities-Fundraisers/2016/10/23/City-participants-fight-to-end-cancer-at-Relay-For-Life

[3] http://www.cancer [dot] org/our-partners/ceos-against-cancer/ceo-global-council.html

[4] https://relaynation.relayforlife [dot] org/blogs/16/294

[5] https://www.cancer [dot] org/involved/donate/download-mobile-app.html

 

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