!@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon - help!

Sweet Christ, there was a notice from Powerstream on the back door today (here in Ontario, north of Toronto) from the Powerstream company that over the next few weeks, they'll be installing "Smart (Frigging Stupid) Meters".

I already looked on their website's FAQ, and they specifically state that you cannot opt out. Gee, thanks for the mandate Government of Ontario, you ignorant assholes.

https://www.powerstream.ca/app/pages/CONWELCOME.jsp?para=showPage&docId=SmartMeterFAQ&section=SMARTMETER#Q9

Right, if we can't opt out of this piece of crap, which may be wireless (they say somewhere on a PDF that it would transmit information by wireless or"other technology"), what can I do to at least ensure that it doesn't broadcast into the house, either through the air or through the wires?

Or determine the frequencies?

If swearing more would help things, this whole post would be a streak so blue a sailor would blush. But I suppose I should get as much advice as I can from you guys to make it as safe as possible until I get the heck out of here and go off grid.

The only consolation (maybe) is that I found this on an official PDF:

"Will someone still come to read my meter? Yes, for now. When the SMART METER systems are fully operational we will be able to discontinue manual meter reading."

Maybe - just maybe - that means they won't go to wireless immediately, giving me a bit more time of backyard sanctitude and chance to get ready to leave. Hmm.

Ha, look at the PDF:

http://www.powerstream.ca/ContentMgr/images/PS_SmartMeter_v6.pdf

CFL bulbs all over it. There goes the neighbourhood. Welcome to the mainstream.

Peace

R.

Hi, Rticle,
 
Personally, I'd call them and tell them its a different type of meter or no electric to my house--which do they want to do?  They might think I was bluffing, but they'd have a surprise.  Then I'd tell them I'd take out a quarter page ad in the local papers and do what SArguna did!  (You might ask her if you could show them a copy of her letter.)
 
By that time, I'd think they might be begging to negotiate.

My 2 cents,
Diane
--- On Wed, 4/8/09, rticleone <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: rticleone <[hidden email]>
Subject: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon - help!
To: [hidden email]
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 11:20 AM






Sweet Christ, there was a notice from Powerstream on the back door today (here in Ontario, north of Toronto) from the Powerstream company that over the next few weeks, they'll be installing "Smart (Frigging Stupid) Meters".

I already looked on their website's FAQ, and they specifically state that you cannot opt out. Gee, thanks for the mandate Government of Ontario, you ignorant assholes.

https://www. powerstream. ca/app/pages/ CONWELCOME. jsp?para= showPage& docId=SmartMeter FAQ&section= SMARTMETER# Q9

Right, if we can't opt out of this piece of crap, which may be wireless (they say somewhere on a PDF that it would transmit information by wireless or"other technology") , what can I do to at least ensure that it doesn't broadcast into the house, either through the air or through the wires?

Or determine the frequencies?

If swearing more would help things, this whole post would be a streak so blue a sailor would blush. But I suppose I should get as much advice as I canfrom you guys to make it as safe as possible until I get the heck out of here and go off grid.

The only consolation (maybe) is that I found this on an official PDF:

"Will someone still come to read my meter? Yes, for now. When the SMART METER systems are fully operational we will be able to discontinue manual meter reading."

Maybe - just maybe - that means they won't go to wireless immediately, giving me a bit more time of backyard sanctitude and chance to get ready to leave. Hmm.

Ha, look at the PDF:

http://www.powerstr eam.ca/ContentMg r/images/ PS_SmartMeter_ v6.pdf

CFL bulbs all over it. There goes the neighbourhood. Welcome to the mainstream.

Peace

R.

















     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

So I gather this is a wireless meter? Scary. Loni

--- On Wed, 4/8/09, Evie <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Evie <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon -help!
To: [hidden email]
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 1:02 PM








Hi, Rticle,
 
Personally, I'd call them and tell them its a different type of meter or no electric to my house--which do they want to do?  They might think I was bluffing, but they'd have a surprise.  Then I'd tell them I'd take out a quarter page ad in the local papers and do what SArguna did!  (You might ask her if you could show them a copy of her letter.)
 
By that time, I'd think they might be begging to negotiate.

My 2 cents,
Diane
--- On Wed, 4/8/09, rticleone <rticleone@yahoo. ca> wrote:

From: rticleone <rticleone@yahoo. ca>
Subject: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon - help!
To: eSens@yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 11:20 AM

Sweet Christ, there was a notice from Powerstream on the back door today (here in Ontario, north of Toronto) from the Powerstream company that over the next few weeks, they'll be installing "Smart (Frigging Stupid) Meters".

I already looked on their website's FAQ, and they specifically state that you cannot opt out. Gee, thanks for the mandate Government of Ontario, you ignorant assholes.

https://www. powerstream. ca/app/pages/ CONWELCOME. jsp?para= showPage& docId=SmartMeter FAQ&section= SMARTMETER# Q9

Right, if we can't opt out of this piece of crap, which may be wireless (they say somewhere on a PDF that it would transmit information by wireless or"other technology") , what can I do to at least ensure that it doesn't broadcast into the house, either through the air or through the wires?

Or determine the frequencies?

If swearing more would help things, this whole post would be a streak so blue a sailor would blush. But I suppose I should get as much advice as I canfrom you guys to make it as safe as possible until I get the heck out of here and go off grid.

The only consolation (maybe) is that I found this on an official PDF:

"Will someone still come to read my meter? Yes, for now. When the SMART METER systems are fully operational we will be able to discontinue manual meter reading."

Maybe - just maybe - that means they won't go to wireless immediately, giving me a bit more time of backyard sanctitude and chance to get ready to leave. Hmm.

Ha, look at the PDF:

http://www.powerstr eam.ca/ContentMg r/images/ PS_SmartMeter_ v6.pdf

CFL bulbs all over it. There goes the neighbourhood. Welcome to the mainstream.

Peace

R.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

















     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi, Loni,
 
Yes, it is the meter that pulses every 14 seconds like SArguna wrote recently about.
 
Diane

--- On Wed, 4/8/09, Loni <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Loni <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon -help!
To: [hidden email]
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 4:25 PM








So I gather this is a wireless meter? Scary. Loni

--- On Wed, 4/8/09, Evie <evie15422@yahoo. com> wrote:

From: Evie <evie15422@yahoo. com>
Subject: Re: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon -help!
To: eSens@yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 1:02 PM

Hi, Rticle,
 
Personally, I'd call them and tell them its a different type of meter or no electric to my house--which do they want to do?  They might think I was bluffing, but they'd have a surprise.  Then I'd tell them I'd take out a quarter page ad in the local papers and do what SArguna did!  (You might ask her if you could show them a copy of her letter.)
 
By that time, I'd think they might be begging to negotiate.

My 2 cents,
Diane
--- On Wed, 4/8/09, rticleone <rticleone@yahoo. ca> wrote:

From: rticleone <rticleone@yahoo. ca>
Subject: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon - help!
To: eSens@yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 11:20 AM

Sweet Christ, there was a notice from Powerstream on the back door today (here in Ontario, north of Toronto) from the Powerstream company that over the next few weeks, they'll be installing "Smart (Frigging Stupid) Meters".

I already looked on their website's FAQ, and they specifically state that you cannot opt out. Gee, thanks for the mandate Government of Ontario, you ignorant assholes.

https://www. powerstream. ca/app/pages/ CONWELCOME. jsp?para= showPage& docId=SmartMeter FAQ&section= SMARTMETER# Q9

Right, if we can't opt out of this piece of crap, which may be wireless (they say somewhere on a PDF that it would transmit information by wireless or"other technology") , what can I do to at least ensure that it doesn't broadcast into the house, either through the air or through the wires?

Or determine the frequencies?

If swearing more would help things, this whole post would be a streak so blue a sailor would blush. But I suppose I should get as much advice as I canfrom you guys to make it as safe as possible until I get the heck out of here and go off grid.

The only consolation (maybe) is that I found this on an official PDF:

"Will someone still come to read my meter? Yes, for now. When the SMART METER systems are fully operational we will be able to discontinue manual meter reading."

Maybe - just maybe - that means they won't go to wireless immediately, giving me a bit more time of backyard sanctitude and chance to get ready to leave. Hmm.

Ha, look at the PDF:

http://www.powerstr eam.ca/ContentMg r/images/ PS_SmartMeter_ v6.pdf

CFL bulbs all over it. There goes the neighbourhood. Welcome to the mainstream.

Peace

R.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

















     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> Yes, it is the meter that pulses every 14 seconds like SArguna wrote
> recently about.

Not that I'm "Pro-Wireless Meter" or anything, but I somehow suspect
that this is not nearly as bad as it sounds. I mean, the amount
of information being sent is very, very low -- probably just an
account number ID and a meter reading. That's nothing compared
to voice, internet, video, etc. that a cellphone could receive/transmit.
Also, in some houses, the meters aren't close to where people
spend their time, so that is also helpful.

If I had reason to believe that such a meter was bothering me,
I'd place an EMF protection device on top of (or very close to)
it. Probably a Springlife polarizer, or a RADAR card.

However, I would probably do nothing about it, as there are
likely many other things in our houses or in our neighborhoods
that are causing us much more damage (for example, a
neighbors high-speed wi-fi router is probably much worse
than this meter, due to the huge amounts of data being
sent/received)

Marc

Heya Marc,

Part of my beef, my fury, my rancour with this is that it's an infringementI/we don't want. What really irks me is that between 800 Mhz and 5.8 Ghz using Gigahertz Solutions meters, there's not a blip of RF in the house, even most of the backyard - and then for them to go ahead and add this **** into the one no wireless spot I can think of in the whole town, kinda gets my goat, yanks my chain, etc.

Sure, it's less than a cellphone or cordless - but I keep away from those whenever possible. Unfortunately, I think the meter is on the wall right behind my Dad's heard where he sleeps!

Also, I'm not sure if this system would involve additional power-pole mounted transmitters/receivers, thus adding to the neighbourhood burden.  

Regarding levels, okay, I found this on the Ottawa Hydro website, they seemto be trying to cover their butts in advance by stating compliance with Safety Code 6. I assume that for the region I'm in, the measurements will besimilar, though I think the company providing the meters for this region is a different one. Typical governmental words of reassurance follow, I forewarn you. Here are some measurements:

Section 9:

https://www.hydroottawa.com/smartmeter/index.cfm?lang=e&template_id=359#9

"9. I understand that Smart Meters use radiofrequency communication – is this safe? What are Canada's safety guidelines for radiofrequency fields?

Biomedical studies in Canada and other countries indicate there is no scientific or medical evidence that a person will experience adverse health effects from exposure to radiofrequency fields, provided that exposure is within the safety guidelines established by Health Canada's Radiation ProtectionBureau. These safety guidelines, outlined in the publication, `Limits of Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields at Frequencies from 10 kHz - 300 GHz,' arealso known as Safety Code 6. The Code also outlines safety requirements for the installation and use of devices that emit radiofrequency fields. Thisalso reduces the probability of interference with other devices.

This document can be viewed online or in pdf format.

The exposure limit set by Safety Code 6 for the frequency range utilized bythe Smart Meters that Hydro Ottawa is installing is 0.61 milliwatts per centimetre squared (mW/cm2) averaged over a six-minute interval. These meterstransmit their data typically six times per day and each transmit intervalis a few minutes long. The meters remain dormant the rest of the time.

When the Smart Meter is transmitting, the exposure to radiofrequency energyat a distance of 10 centimetres (4 inches) from the meter is 0.02 mW/cm2 or more than thirty times lower than the exposure limit set by Safety Code 6. At a distance of 100 centimetres (40 inches) from the meter, the exposuredrops to 3,000 times lower than the exposure limit set by Safety Code 6. This calculation is for radiofrequency energy radiated outward from the front of the meter. The power transmitted toward the rear of the meter is typically a further five to ten times lower."

How you translate mW/cm2 into mW/m2? (That's how I measure RF).

Assuming measurements are similar here, do you think it's a problem, multiplied by thousands of meters all going off at once?

Also - can this RF pollute the house wiring?

For everyone else; regarding bluffing (or not) about them losing a company if they don't let us keep the old meter...it might be tricky, because they might just do it - we do, unfortunately, rely on the AC power at this time.Also, they've bitched for years about having trouble accessing the backyard to read our meter (my dad has a lot of stuff sitting around, hard to navigate through) and they might take that as an excuse to install the automatic one. The threat of a newspaper ad is interesting...

I already modified the letter SArguna wrote (to fit local names, specifics,etc - hope this is okay SArguna!). Am considering making thousands of copies and dropping them in all the surrounding mailboxes.

Six times a day sounds better than every fourteen or however many seconds, but I'm not sure about how often it would be, yet. Why in God's name can'tthey do it just once a day, at 3:00 AM, or something? Surely that's accurate enough...

I mean, I intend to be offgrid as soon as possible, but it's not gonna be tomorrow or anything.  

What do you all think about saying (if they refuse to continue with the oldmeter) "well, the government mandate says Smart Meters by December, 2010, so hold off until then"?

Arrgggh.

Cheers,

R.ticle One





--- In [hidden email], "Marc Martin" <marc@...> wrote:

*Sorry if this is a repost of my reply! Yahoo! did something funny*

Heya Marc,

Part of my beef, my fury, my rancour with this is that it's an infringementI/we don't want. What really irks me is that between 800 Mhz and 5.8 Ghz using Gigahertz Solutions meters, there's not a blip of RF in the house, even most of the backyard - and then for them to go ahead and add this **** into the one no wireless spot I can think of in the whole town, kinda gets my goat, yanks my chain, etc.

Sure, it's less than a cellphone or cordless - but I keep away from those whenever possible. Unfortunately, I think the meter is on the wall right behind my Dad's head where he sleeps!

Also, I'm not sure if this system would involve additional power-pole mounted transmitters/receivers, thus adding to the neighbourhood burden.  

Regarding levels, okay, I found this on the Ottawa Hydro website, they seemto be trying to cover their butts in advance by stating compliance with Safety Code 6. I assume that for the region I'm in, the measurements will besimilar, though I think the company providing the meters for this region is a different one. Typical governmental words of reassurance follow, I forewarn you. Here are some measurements:

Section 9:

https://www.hydroottawa.com/smartmeter/index.cfm?lang=e&template_id=359#9

"9. I understand that Smart Meters use radiofrequency communication – is this safe? What are Canada's safety guidelines for radiofrequency fields?

Biomedical studies in Canada and other countries indicate there is no scientific or medical evidence that a person will experience adverse health effects from exposure to radiofrequency fields, provided that exposure is within the safety guidelines established by Health Canada's Radiation ProtectionBureau. These safety guidelines, outlined in the publication, `Limits of Exposure to Radiofrequency Fields at Frequencies from 10 kHz - 300 GHz,' arealso known as Safety Code 6. The Code also outlines safety requirements for the installation and use of devices that emit radiofrequency fields. Thisalso reduces the probability of interference with other devices.

This document can be viewed online or in pdf format.

The exposure limit set by Safety Code 6 for the frequency range utilized bythe Smart Meters that Hydro Ottawa is installing is 0.61 milliwatts per centimetre squared (mW/cm2) averaged over a six-minute interval. These meterstransmit their data typically six times per day and each transmit intervalis a few minutes long. The meters remain dormant the rest of the time.

When the Smart Meter is transmitting, the exposure to radiofrequency energyat a distance of 10 centimetres (4 inches) from the meter is 0.02 mW/cm2 or more than thirty times lower than the exposure limit set by Safety Code 6. At a distance of 100 centimetres (40 inches) from the meter, the exposuredrops to 3,000 times lower than the exposure limit set by Safety Code 6. This calculation is for radiofrequency energy radiated outward from the front of the meter. The power transmitted toward the rear of the meter is typically a further five to ten times lower."

How you translate mW/cm2 into mW/m2? (That's how I measure RF).

Assuming measurements are similar here, do you think it's a problem, multiplied by thousands of meters all going off at once?

Also - can this RF pollute the house wiring?

For everyone else; regarding bluffing (or not) about them losing a company if they don't let us keep the old meter...it might be tricky, because they might just do it - we do, unfortunately, rely on the AC power at this time.Also, they've bitched for years about having trouble accessing the backyard to read our meter (my dad has a lot of stuff sitting around, hard to navigate through) and they might take that as an excuse to install the automatic one. The threat of a newspaper ad is interesting...

I already modified the letter SArguna wrote (to fit local names, specifics,etc - hope this is okay SArguna!). Am considering making thousands of copies and dropping them in all the surrounding mailboxes.

Six times a day sounds better than every fourteen or however many seconds, but I'm not sure about how often it would be, yet. Why in God's name can'tthey do it just once a day, at 3:00 AM, or something? Surely that's accurate enough...

I mean, I intend to be offgrid as soon as possible, but it's not gonna be tomorrow or anything.  

What do you all think about saying (if they refuse to continue with the oldmeter) "well, the government mandate says Smart Meters by December, 2010, so hold off until then"?

Arrgggh.

Cheers,

R.ticle One


--- In [hidden email], "Marc Martin" <marc@...> wrote:

> What do you all think about saying (if they refuse to continue with the
> old meter) "well, the government mandate says Smart Meters by December,
> 2010, so hold off until then"?

Or I suppose that after they install the smart meter, you could tinker
with it and find a way to disable ("break") the transmitter. They
won't notice it's broken until they actually need to start reading
the meter wirelessly.

Or you could surround the thing with shielding material... aluminum
foil, or whatever suppresses the transmission...

Marc

Oi,

even this crossed my mind (though wouldn't wrapping it in foil amplify and bounce the signal through the wall into the house, instead of out of the front of the meter where it's supposed to go?

I don't know, it sounds like it could be asking for trouble, but...?

R.

--- In [hidden email], "Marc Martin" <marc@...> wrote:

I don't read all posts due to my ES. I missed that post. Thank you. Loni

--- On Wed, 4/8/09, Evie <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: Evie <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon -help!
To: [hidden email]
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 1:30 PM








Hi, Loni,
 
Yes, it is the meter that pulses every 14 seconds like SArguna wrote recently about.
 
Diane

--- On Wed, 4/8/09, Loni <loni326@yahoo. com> wrote:

From: Loni <loni326@yahoo. com>
Subject: Re: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon -help!
To: eSens@yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 4:25 PM

So I gather this is a wireless meter? Scary. Loni

--- On Wed, 4/8/09, Evie <evie15422@yahoo. com> wrote:

From: Evie <evie15422@yahoo. com>
Subject: Re: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon -help!
To: eSens@yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 1:02 PM

Hi, Rticle,
 
Personally, I'd call them and tell them its a different type of meter or no electric to my house--which do they want to do?  They might think I was bluffing, but they'd have a surprise.  Then I'd tell them I'd take out a quarter page ad in the local papers and do what SArguna did!  (You might ask her if you could show them a copy of her letter.)
 
By that time, I'd think they might be begging to negotiate.

My 2 cents,
Diane
--- On Wed, 4/8/09, rticleone <rticleone@yahoo. ca> wrote:

From: rticleone <rticleone@yahoo. ca>
Subject: [eSens] !@#*ing "Smart Meter" is getting installed here soon - help!
To: eSens@yahoogroups. com
Date: Wednesday, April 8, 2009, 11:20 AM

Sweet Christ, there was a notice from Powerstream on the back door today (here in Ontario, north of Toronto) from the Powerstream company that over the next few weeks, they'll be installing "Smart (Frigging Stupid) Meters".

I already looked on their website's FAQ, and they specifically state that you cannot opt out. Gee, thanks for the mandate Government of Ontario, you ignorant assholes.

https://www. powerstream. ca/app/pages/ CONWELCOME. jsp?para= showPage& docId=SmartMeter FAQ&section= SMARTMETER# Q9

Right, if we can't opt out of this piece of crap, which may be wireless (they say somewhere on a PDF that it would transmit information by wireless or"other technology") , what can I do to at least ensure that it doesn't broadcast into the house, either through the air or through the wires?

Or determine the frequencies?

If swearing more would help things, this whole post would be a streak so blue a sailor would blush. But I suppose I should get as much advice as I canfrom you guys to make it as safe as possible until I get the heck out of here and go off grid.

The only consolation (maybe) is that I found this on an official PDF:

"Will someone still come to read my meter? Yes, for now. When the SMART METER systems are fully operational we will be able to discontinue manual meter reading."

Maybe - just maybe - that means they won't go to wireless immediately, giving me a bit more time of backyard sanctitude and chance to get ready to leave. Hmm.

Ha, look at the PDF:

http://www.powerstr eam.ca/ContentMg r/images/ PS_SmartMeter_ v6.pdf

CFL bulbs all over it. There goes the neighbourhood. Welcome to the mainstream.

Peace

R.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

















     

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]