Canada Removes of 105,000 Smart Meters Because Fire

http://cjme.com/story/two-more-smart-meters-start-fire-saskatchewan/396968

Two more smart meters start on fire in Saskatchewan

                                                                                           

SaskPower continues to investigate cause of failures

 

An eighth smart meter has caught fire in Saskatchewan since SaskPower started installing thousands across the province.

http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/saskpower-to-remove-105000-smart-meters-following-fires-2


The Saskatchewan government has ordered its power utility SaskPower to remove 105,000 so-called smart meters installed at homes and businesses across the province, following concerns about eight unexplained fires associated with the units.
The minister responsible for the provincial Crown corporation, Bill Boyd, announced the move Wednesday.
..."The concerns are significant enough that we believe that any time that families are at risk here in Saskatchewan, actions have to be taken. That's why we've directed SaskPower accordingly."
Questions about the meters surfaced in July when SaskPower announced it was investigating a handful of cases where newly installed meters malfunctioned. In all cases, the failures only affected the outside of a home and no one was hurt.
SaskPower had put its meter replacement program on hold while it investigated the fires. As of Monday, eight had been reported.

Sensus Corporation, the company that supplied the meters, said in a statement to CBC News Wednesday that it has millions of meters operating safely across North America.
"We have no confirmation that the meter is the source [of the fire problems]," the statement said. "We are working with SaskPower to understand what specific events led to those issues and to determine the best course of action. The investigation is still underway."
Sensus is a multinational company servicing the utility industry with headquarters in the U.S. and operations around the world.


Cost of swap could reach $14M
According to officials, it will take about six to nine months to swap out the meters already installed. That is expected to cost about $90 per customer — $45 for a different meter and $45 for the work. That works out to around $9.5 million for the entire province. SaskPower also has a cache of more than 100,000 new devices in storage that will not be used.
Later on Wednesday, SaskPower indicated it expected the total cost could reach $14 million.
It was not immediately clear who would cover the costs associated with the swap. Boyd said he hoped to recoup the money from the company that supplied the meters.


The smart meters, which are manufactured by Sensus Corporation, allow SaskPower to bill customers for the power they use each month rather than relying on estimates between meter readings. The utility introduced the replacement program in October 2013.
No changes for some Saskatoon residents
The government's move applies to customers of SaskPower throughout the province, but does not apply to parts of Saskatoon that receive service from that city's power and light utility. According to Saskatoon officials, their meter replacement program, which uses a different supplier, has not had any problems.
"We have not heard any reports of problems with the Elster brand meters," Kevin Hudson, a Saskatoon city official, said in a statement Wednesday.

How to remove Smart Meter from your property

I am NOT a lawyer, so all the information provided here is for general guidance only. I may be inaccurate in some details.
If you have Smart-meter related health issues, you can use the instructions below
Step by step:
1. Contact your electricity distributor and ask to remove Smart meter according to Equal Opportunity Act 2010.
For more information please refer to:
http://nosmartmeter.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/ehs-electromagnetic-hypersensitivity.html
and
http://nosmartmeter.blogspot.com.au/2014/07/your-right-to-choose-kind-of-meter-and.html
Demand WRITTEN ANSWERS ONLY!
KEEP ALL RECORDS!
Get digital sound recorder and record all relevant phone conversations! The cost of the digital recorder starts from $10, not a big deal.
2. If unsuccessful, go one level higher:
Try to contact the following organisations:
https://www.ewov.com.au/contact-us/complaint_form
http://www.humanrightscommission.vic.gov.au/index.php/about-us/contact-us
Use the links ( from the first step) to ensure that they (EWOV and Human Rights Commission) will get some knowledge about Equal Opportunity Act 2010, because from my experience of dealing with them, they have none (or pretend to do so).
Again, keep all records and demand only written answers. Not to be shy - they have to help you, it is their job.
3. If unsuccessful again, use this option - the only one that currently works http://www.vcat.vic.gov.au/disputes/equal-opportunity
You should fill some forms, Please find attached the instruction where and how to find the forms.
And believe me, very soon your distributor will contact you and will try to negotiate removal of the Smart meter.
4. And there is a trick: if you sign a Non Disclosure agreement with the distributor during mediation you will get "gag" order and you won’t be allowed to provide full assistance to other people who also suffer from radiation.
Also, in the future your own prospect of getting compensation, publish your story or just share it with fiends will be jeopardised.

On mediation professional lawyers can trick you, lie to you, bluff. It does not matter if you find out later – they already got your signature on the deal and they «gagged» you, so they do not care.

5. So if you want to be a free man and do not want to have any obligations to corporations, who care only about profits and who look at people only as a source of dividends for shareholders - better request VCAT to make orders on your case.

Court ruling is open to public and can be used for any purpose you might seek in the future, including compensation related to damages for health, forceful relocation (becoming refugee), etc.

Lawyers cannot lie in court because everything will be on the record. And judge would not allow them to trick you, even if you come without lawyer.

If I were you, I would refuse mediation at all, or from the start agree only to "no gag order" conditions. And demand 3 business days for cooling-off period. During this time you will be able to get independent advise from lawyer («gag order» allows you to use one).

6. If you need assistance - please register in blogger.com and contact me.

Smart meter and Asbestos - letter to CEOs, members of board, shareholders of distributors

I like to pay attention to similarities between current situation with UHF radiation and asbestos.

Asbestos:

1. There was a lot of published evidence that asbestos is dangerous.

2. Industry denied or pretended not to know about this information.

3. Governments around the world did not see anything wrong with asbestos, it usage/processing was not really limited by safety standards.

4. Only since 1978 asbestos became «officially dangerous» in Australia, exact date depends on state.

5. American Conference of Government Industrial Higyenists (ACGIH) recommended that amount of asbestos dust in air should be under 5 mppcf (5 million particles per cubic foot), this recommendation was in force in 1946-1970 years.

6. Industry did the best to fight off any allegations using as argument «asbestos is allowed for usage, it is not banned».

UHF radiation:

1. There is an evidence it is dangerous even at low levels.

2. Industry denies this evidence for many years using several excuses.

3. In many countries UHF devices are introduced by government (Smart meters is an example).

4. In some countries limits for UHF already became very strict, but not in Australia (yet?).

5. ARPANSA setup a limit for UHF radiation which is convinient for industry and easy to «obey».

6. Industry fight off any alligation just claiming «our debices emit under ARPANSA limit».

And now I like to ask CEOs, members of board, shareholders of distributors some questions. I do not need answers, YOU do:

1. Then James Hardie used «asbestos was not banned before 1978» argument in court hearings about amount of compensation for people who worked with asbestos in 1950s-1960s did it gave him any good? As far as I know not.

2. Do you want in future to see your company having problems which James Hardie got?

3. Will you consider changing your attitude from «we obey ARPANSA standards» to something more cautious?

4. Distributors, not Government choose wireless technology instead of "broadband by power cable" for remotery read electrical meters.

5. Distributors, not Government, have orders from S314 Order in Council: «A distributor must have and must keep up to date to the End Date a risk management strategy (‘risk management strategy’) to:

(a) identify, address and mitigate technological or other risks of and in connection with the provision, installation, maintenance and operation of advanced metering infrastructure and associated services and systems; and»

6. And if Distributor will run out of cash because too many huge claims from victims of UHF radiation Government will say «I told you so!»:

(b) manage expenditure increases arising from those risks.

7. Distributors breached «best endeavours» clause in Order in Council S439 and installed Smart meters against customers will.

8. And now I like to ask you to do some guessing: in case if something will go wrong in future who will be blamed – your company or government?

 

9. And then shareholders will look for someone to blame for this blog will be mentioned, believe me. And YOU will be asked question:

- Were you aware of it?

Smart meter become optional in Ulster

http://www.dailyfreeman.com/general-news/20131217/ulster-county-lawmakers-back-opt-out-proposal-for-electronic-utility-meters

KINGSTON>> Ulster County lawmakers have thrown their support behind state legislation that would allow residents to opt out of having electronic utility meters installed on their homes.

Legislators voted 12-0 Tuesday, with 11 members absent, during a meeting of the Ulster County Legislature in favor of the resolution, which urges the state Legislature prohibit electric utilities from forcing consumers to use so-called smart meters or transmitting utility meters on their homes.


My comment: Victorian "democracy" is very different, parliament and Energy and Water Ombudsman pretend to have no knowledge about any Smart-meter related issues.

Canada Removes of 105,000 Smart Meters Because Fire

http://cjme.com/story/two-more-smart-meters-start-fire-saskatchewan/396968

Two more smart meters start on fire in Saskatchewan

SaskPower continues to investigate cause of failures

An eighth smart meter has caught fire in Saskatchewan since SaskPower started installing thousands across the province.

http://news.ca.msn.com/canada/saskpower-to-remove-105000-smart-meters-following-fires-2

The Saskatchewan government has ordered its power utility SaskPower to remove 105,000 so-called smart meters installed at homes and businesses across the province, following concerns about eight unexplained fires associated with the units.
The minister responsible for the provincial Crown corporation, Bill Boyd, announced the move Wednesday.
..."The concerns are significant enough that we believe that any time that families are at risk here in Saskatchewan, actions have to be taken. That's why we've directed SaskPower accordingly."
Questions about the meters surfaced in July when SaskPower announced it was investigating a handful of cases where newly installed meters malfunctioned. In all cases, the failures only affected the outside of a home and no one was hurt.
SaskPower had put its meter replacement program on hold while it investigated the fires. As of Monday, eight had been reported.

Sensus Corporation, the company that supplied the meters, said in a statement to CBC News Wednesday that it has millions of meters operating safely across North America.
"We have no confirmation that the meter is the source [of the fire problems]," the statement said. "We are working with SaskPower to understand what specific events led to those issues and to determine the best course of action. The investigation is still underway."
Sensus is a multinational company servicing the utility industry with headquarters in the U.S. and operations around the world.


Cost of swap could reach $14M
According to officials, it will take about six to nine months to swap out the meters already installed. That is expected to cost about $90 per customer — $45 for a different meter and $45 for the work. That works out to around $9.5 million for the entire province. SaskPower also has a cache of more than 100,000 new devices in storage that will not be used.
Later on Wednesday, SaskPower indicated it expected the total cost could reach $14 million.
It was not immediately clear who would cover the costs associated with the swap. Boyd said he hoped to recoup the money from the company that supplied the meters.


The smart meters, which are manufactured by Sensus Corporation, allow SaskPower to bill customers for the power they use each month rather than relying on estimates between meter readings. The utility introduced the replacement program in October 2013.
No changes for some Saskatoon residents
The government's move applies to customers of SaskPower throughout the province, but does not apply to parts of Saskatoon that receive service from that city's power and light utility. According to Saskatoon officials, their meter replacement program, which uses a different supplier, has not had any problems.
"We have not heard any reports of problems with the Elster brand meters," Kevin Hudson, a Saskatoon city official, said in a statement Wednesday.

Smart meter, Refugees and Human Rights Activists

Avoiding Smart Meter’s in Victoria

(A Manual of facts to help you)

The aim of this web page is to provide you with some little known facts to assist you in your fight to protect your health, privacy and democratic right to say ‘NO’. It has been compiled from personal experience and many hours of research.

 

If you have a smart meter that is making you, unwell and/or have other symptoms related to EHS and you complain to your distributor, they will simply reply: “Smart meters are mandated/standard".

You can then complain to the Energy and Water Ombudsman (Victoria) (EWOV), they will send a request to your distributor, who will send the usual answer, which will be passed on to you that: " Smart meters are mandated/standard".

As far as the distributors are concerned, it is your problem and nobody else’s. I know the names of refugees who have left their jobs, friends, who have sold their property in VIC and moved interstate because they could no longer take the pain from smart meters.

Do you think Human Rights activists, mass-media or any Ombudsman paid any attention to their stories? Nope. The only "refugees" which they care about are illegals, those who coming from overseas direct to our Centrelink offices by boats.

Not one Human Right activist, mass-media editor or Green Party official is foolish enough to risk interfering with billions of dollars "donations" into pockets of corporations under the pretext of "Advanced Metering Infrastructure". So you can be sure the smart meter issue will not get into the front pages of any major media outlet until YOU make it happen.

Currently Energy and Water Ombudsman Victoria is answering to all complains in same way:

"Smart meters are mandated/standard/compulsory".

So if Smart meter is killing you, that’s fine by everyone who is supposed to protect you, as long as it done legally. Nazi murdered millions of people because laws of Raich allowed it.

 

I wonder that kind of answer we would hear from Ombudsmen if distributors got permit to shoot their customer on spot? Probably something like this: "Killing unhappy clients is allowed by Order in Council and section 6A Electricity Industry Act"?

 

Only one way to force Ombudsman to do his job, to protect you - complain. And not just complain - use law. There is Equal Opportunity Act, force Ombudsman to read it! Look at my post under heading "Equal Opportunity Act and Human Rights."

Legal Aid can waste a lot of money to help child molesters or rapists, but if an honest citizen has a problem with a big corporation, ‘sorry mate, it is your problem and no one else’s’.

And only you and no one else can force them to protect rights and liberties of honest citizens!

 

Not be shy. Write to local and main mass-media. Lodge complains. Demand answers and actions. Bring distributor to Human Rights  division of VCAT (it is free).

 

Since forcing Aboriginals from their lands it is first ever time in Australian history then people are forced from their homes. 

Not because they are criminals, enemies or anything like this. People who suffer from EHS cannot live in Victoria and they are forced to move away.

 

Power industry needs profits and politicians cover-up them. It is against all our Human rights, against Constitution, against all democratic liberties.

But it is happening JUST NOW. Because our politicians put profits of foreign corporations before humans.

 

Do NOT vote for Labors who started Advanced Metering Infrastructure rollout.

Do NOT vote for Liberals who did not lift a finger to take into account rights of citizens of Victoria.

Do NOT vote for Greens who supported desal plant, who against cheap clean water from Mitchell river, who did not say a single word to protect rights of Smart Meter' refugees!
Do NOT vote for National (current energy minister National one) who have same policies as Liberals!

Equal Opportunity Act and Human Rights.

Avoiding Smart Meter’s in Victoria

(A Manual of facts to help you)

The aim of this web page is to provide you with some little known facts to assist you in your fight to protect your health, privacy and democratic right to say ‘NO’. It has been compiled from personal experience and many hours of research.

If you complain that your smart meter radiation is making you sick and you get the answer that “everything is within ASPANSA limits". Technically, this answer is correct. It is not the job of distributors to check out faults in standards. ARPANSA RPS3 (the standards) have some issues, I spoke about it in another post.

But the distributors do have other obligations. For example they have to obey Equal Opportunity Act.

Sections 44 and 45:

«Discrimination in the provision of goods and services», 
(b) in the terms on which goods or services are provided to the other person

It sounds as though distributor must supply you with electricity regardless of what kind of electrical meter you have.

 Section 15: Duty to eliminate discrimination...
(1) This section applies to a person who has a duty under Part 4, 6 or 7 not to engage in discrimination...
(2) A person must take reasonable and proportionate measures to eliminate that discrimination... as far as possible.

So if you have medical condition (EHS) your distributor must make some adjustments. For example remove Smart meter from your house.

And also distributors in Victoria should have policies and procedures how to deal with people who suffer from EHS. But I never heard about miracle like this.

As far as I concern mostly they just bully people into moving interstate.

 

 

And there is section 45: Service provider must make reasonable adjustments for person with a disability

 

According to this, a Distributor should use another meter, which does not emit radiation. It is NOT your problem which meter they will use and what written about it in THEIR rules. You have rights! If they do not want to know about your rights because they too much concern about their profits - bring them to court!

Human rights division of VCAT is FREE for Applicant. How much money will be spent by distributor - it is THEIR problem. Applicant is not responsible for expenses of Defendant.

You just want to keep your Manually Read Meter, which was used (and still is) around the world for a century. No way it can be treated as "un-reasonable" adjustment.

 

The distributors try to cover-up their bulling tactics by this:

PART 5—GENERAL EXCEPTIONS TO AND EXEMPTIONS FROM THE PROHIBITION OF DISCRIMINATION
Section 75 Things done with statutory authority

(1) A person may discriminate if the discrimination is necessary to comply with, or is authorised by, a provision of—
(a) an Act, other than this Act; or
(b) an enactment, other than an enactment under this Act.

Yes, they have orders to install Smart meters. But "the best endeavours" never made them compulsory. And "the best endeavours" do not allow them to make people suffer from EHS.

 

So usage section 75 as a defence is very questionable in this case.

More, there was "Waters v Public Transport Corporation" case which may be a good precedent in case of class action.

http://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/sinodisp/au/cases/cth/HCA/1991/49.html?stem=0&synonyms=0&query=WATERS%20v.%20PUBLIC%20TRANSPORT%20CORPORATION

And there is a Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act 2006

1 Purpose and citation

(c) imposing an obligation on all public authorities to act in a way that is compatible with human rights;

So there is a fare chance VCAT will interpret section 75 in your favour.

(d) requiring statements of compatibility with human rights to be prepared in respect of all Bills introduced into Parliament and enabling the Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee to report on such compatibility

And it NEVER happened with any document related to Smart meter rollout!

 

But unless you go to court you will not know for sure. You may suffer for rest of your life from radiation or get rid of Smart meter if you take action.

The choice is your.

Write me if you have any questions.