New Smart Meter

[Luther Blissett]

Our electric company wants to replace our Smart Meter.

I'm not sure what our current model is, but it is several years old.

I am concerned that the newer models have more powerful signals that could potentially make me very sick.

Do you know if there is any difference between the older and newer models?

Does anyone have any advice on how I should best handle this situation?

Thank you,
Womble

If you are forced to have a meter and are unhappy about it, How about looking into getting or making a Faraday Cage to put around it? (Basically a metal cage)

 

[Valentijn]

If you are forced to have a meter and are unhappy about it, How about looking into getting or making a Faraday Cage to put around it? (Basically a metal cage)

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a smart meter, if it can't send a signal?

 

[Luther Blissett]

Wouldn't that defeat the purpose of a smart meter, if it can't send a signal?

Yes, but to whose benefit is the meter being 'smart'?

The meter will still work as a meter, and will still be readable (physically), and will still send a signal, (if only a few mm)

I suppose it depends on the wording of the electric companies contract with @Womble , but this way there is no tampering with the actual meter, just a modification of the surrounding property.

What do you think @Valentijn ?

 

[Old Bones]

The issue of EMF's in general, and smart meters in particular, consumed my attention for a number of weeks a couple of years ago. I recalled reading in a manual produced by my city's ME specialist that our patient group should avoid EMF's as much as possible, with the specific advice to refuse installation of smart meters, if at all possible. So, when we received notification that a "smart" water meter would be installed in our home, I was alarmed.

I did much research, and read enough regarding potential harms associated with these devices that we decided to follow the "precautionary principle". We denied installation (in writing) of "smart" water and electricity meters for health reasons. The utility companies were surprisingly accommodating, and respectful, compared with other jurisdictions we were aware of.

@xrayspex The documentary "Take Back Your Power" was available on DVD from our library -- very compelling. We later purchased a copy, and have watched it several times. @TigerLilea You may be interested to know that the issue was investigated, and the documentary produced, by a B.C. man whose friend became very ill after installation of a smart meter. The documentary begins with a hydro installer breaking down the door of a B.C. resident to install a meter against his wishes.

I, personally, have not made a link between symptoms and EMF's. Nevertheless, we do try to reduce our exposure, while still enjoying the benefits technology provides.

 

[MastBCrazy]

Yes, but to whose benefit is the meter being 'smart'?

The meter will still work as a meter, and will still be readable (physically), and will still send a signal, (if only a few mm)

I suppose it depends on the wording of the electric companies contract with @Womble , but this way there is no tampering with the actual meter, just a modification of the surrounding property.

As to caging the meter, two things:
1) The utility company could argue you are trying to 'steal power' by blocking the data collection. The screen may also impede easy reading of the meter. So, there could be legal repercussions.
2) Shielding 'sounds' easier than it is in practice. These are some side effects:
- As you put a cage around the meter, the transmitter will try harder and harder to connect to the network, progressively increasing the signal.
-Also, as this is a network thing, neighbouring meters may up their signals in an attempt to connect with the caged meter, increasing exposure from neighbours.
-The cage is in three-dimensions and reflects, rather than absorbs the electromagnetic radiation. So, a leak in the cage could inadvertently direct more concentrated EMF at you, making things worse.
-The meter was likely not designed to power the transmitter at 100% for prolonged periods. It is microwave radiation, so heating, particularly with reflections from the cage could occur - this could result in melting circuits or wires. A fire at the meter is definitely an unwanted consequence. And yes, houses have been incinerated by fires at smart meters.

So, if shielding, I would do so to reflect the emf away from my habitable space. This would ideally be done with a flat sheet good, as corners cause reflections resulting in localized concentrations of all radio frequencies (cell phone, bluetooth, wifi, microwave leakage, cordless phones, baby monitors, etc etc).

As I am electrohypersensitive, I would never shield anything without having a meter to check/confirm that I have not made things worse. Yes, experience. Expending precious energy to shield only to find you're worse off - no fun.

 

[Old Bones]

So, if shielding, I would do so to reflect the emf away from my habitable space. This would ideally be done with a flat sheet good, as corners cause reflections resulting in localized concentrations of all radio frequencies (cell phone, bluetooth, wifi, microwave leakage, cordless phones, baby monitors, etc etc).

As I am electrohypersensitive, I would never shield anything without having a meter to check/confirm that I have not made things worse. Yes, experience. Expending precious energy to shield only to find you're worse off - no fun.

Very good advice, @MastBCrazy . Although we were able to avoid installation of water and electricity "smart" meters due to prior notice, a new natural gas meter was installed without our knowledge. It is located on the side (bedroom) wall of our house, only a few feet from the head of the bed. I noticed no symptoms to alert me that it was there.

Many years ago when re-siding our house, hard insulation boards covered with aluminum were installed underneath. We do have an EMF meter, and were able to detect the surges outside as the gas meter "communicated", many times per minute -- much more frequently than necessary for billing purposes (not to mention more frequently than the once-per-month stated on the gas company's website).

Nevertheless, when we attempted to measure the EMF surges inside the house, we couldn't detect them -- absolutely nothing. So, we feel confident we are protected by the aluminum-faced insulation board. Perhaps this is an option for others.

 

[stetson28]

I went the rout of testing Voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibodies as well as Acetyl Choline Blocking, binding, and modulating antibodies found in Myasthenic Syndrome and Congenital Myasthenic syndrome when I first had a drooping eye and fluctuating strength in chewing, swallowing, and speaking. All test came back normal. It can become quite a rabbit hole, there is a list of muscular dystrophies a half mile long and a list of antibody tests a mile long to correlate, many requiring muscle punch samples. This was all just before I discovered the tick still embedded in my hair line. I did discover I was a carrier for Niemann Picks so that was pretty "unnerving".

 

[tudiemoore]

There are a few websites with a lot of good information and products for addressing these concerns.
But I can't remember them! After all, this was 3 weeks ago!

Some of the solutions were fairly simple--a mesh canopy for beds, pads and cushions to use when on the computer, and paint, which was quite expensive.

I have considered using some of the products, don't remember which ones, to make a folding screen to place in the corner of my bedroom as a shield from the strong light on the outside of my apartment building.
So I am thinking somewhere I saw fabric on one site--
Sorry all the details have gotten out through that hole in my head!

 

[xrayspex]

I went the rout of testing Voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) antibodies as well as Acetyl Choline Blocking, binding, and modulating antibodies found in Myasthenic Syndrome and Congenital Myasthenic syndrome when I first had a drooping eye and fluctuating strength in chewing, swallowing, and speaking. All test came back normal. It can become quite a rabbit hole, there is a list of muscular dystrophies a half mile long and a list of antibody tests a mile long to correlate, many requiring muscle punch samples. This was all just before I discovered the tick still embedded in my hair line. I did discover I was a carrier for Niemann Picks so that was pretty "unnerving".

that is interesting--I also tested some antibodies for MG a couple years ago, I do have antibodies for sjogrens but not mg. But i have developed a sometimes drooping eye not super noticeable most of time and have had wax wane dysphagia which doc test said was congenital sensory weakness or something of muscles there. what have you found helpful to deal with those things?

 

[stetson28]

Plenty of adrenal support like salt magnesium potassium. Also mitochondria support like l carnitine pqq coq10. And natural sunlight. Has helped me

 

[Daisymay]

@xrayspex The documentary "Take Back Your Power" was available on DVD from our library -- very compelling. We later purchased a copy, and have watched it several times. @TigerLilea You may be interested to know that the issue was investigated, and the documentary produced, by a B.C. man whose friend became very ill after installation of a smart meter. The documentary begins with a hydro installer breaking down the door of a B.C. resident to install a meter against his wishes.

I, personally, have not made a link between symptoms and EMF's. Nevertheless, we do try to reduce our exposure, while still enjoying the benefits technology provides.

The film you mentioned, "Take back your power" is now available free on Youtube if anyone is interested:

 

[stetson28]

Thanks for the link. I had not realized that this was still a debate I didn't think this was a debate in 1994 when they were researching Bluetooth. Need you only hit the wrong frequencies on a Rife machine and you'll know what radio frequency and electromagnetic frequencies can do to you.

 

[PhoenixDown]

I think I was born at the wrong time my body is not suited to 21st-century technology

I wish I could freeze myself until a time when a test & cure are figured out for all our illnesses.