http://www.examiner.com/article/texas-committee-hears-smart-meter-health-hazardsThe issue of Smart Meters in Texas returned to public attention
Tuesday when the Senate Business and Commerce Committee heard testimony
about the health effects of the meters.
The mandatory replacement of analog electric meters with digital Smart Meters has come under fire for a number of reasons.
Opponents nationwide have testified that radiofrequency emissions from Smart Meters cause headaches, nausea and insomnia.
A Hurst woman told the Dallas Morning News in June that her autistic daughter began having seizures when their Smart Meter was installed.
A recent Texas Tribune article
quoted a Dallas resident who was not only "deeply concerned about the
health hazards" but told the committee "Every consumer should be given a
choice and not an ultimatum."
The Dallas Libertarian Examiner published its first article about the Smart Meter controversy in March 2010
and then began reporting on a Ft. Worth resident's standoff with
electric company installers who continually attempted to replace his old
meter.
That resident, wishing to remain anonymous, was dubbed "Mr. Smoot," acronym for "Smart Meter Opt Out Texan."
"So here it is October 12, 2012," Smoot reported, "And I still have my original meter."
In fact he was informed by the meter reader that his house has the
only analog meter still in use in a neighborhood of several thousand
homes.
"There were no battles, no threats, no heated confrontations with
installers," Smoot said. "I simply stood in my doorway and told a steady
stream of Oncor and contract technicians that I didn't want a Smart Meter. And I kept my privacy fence gates padlocked at all times."
Smoot explained to meter installers that he wanted them to wait while an opt-out provision was under consideration in Austin.
According to reports the Public Utilities Commission is currently
studying the need for an opt-out clause and may come to some sort of
conclusion near the end of the year.
In addition to health concerns, opponents of Smart Meters nationwide
have complained about inaccurate readings, radiofrequency interference
with medical and other devices in their homes, and privacy and security
concerns.
But another problem little mentioned in the media came up when an
Oncor worker and union rep testified about several cases of the base of a
Smart meter "burning up" after being installed.
The result has been damage to people's homes with the homeowners being required to pay for repairs out of their own pockets.
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