By Cynthia Larson, Berkeley resident
I am writing to express serious concerns related to installations of "smart" utility meters in Berkeley. I am personally experiencing severe physical distress since a Smart Meter device was installed without my knowledge nor consent. I have frequent headaches, nausea, and blurred vision and a constant ringing in my ears... all symptoms I've never had before, which began at the time of installation of the so-called "smart meter" in my home. I have contacted PG&E regarding removal of this device, and have yet to receive a response.
The following letter was sent to Berkeley Mayor Tom Bates and comes from the Center for Electrosmog Prevention (CEP):
I support the Center for Electrosmog Prevention (CEP), a new and growing nonprofit organization made up of over a hundred California residents alarmed about the smart meter deployments and the resulting problems. We request an immediate moratorium on the installation of smart meters in our city, county, and state, as well as the immediate ability to opt-out, the removal of all banks of meters, protection from neighboring meters, and the complete dismantling of the wireless infrastructure of the smart grid.
Throughout California, 45 cities and nine counties have joined the call for an immediate moratorium and/or opt-outs. You can find out more about our group at www.electrosmogprevention.org.
CEP is concerned about the health, environmental, and safety impacts associated with pollution from electromagnetic fields (EMF) and radiofrequency radiation (RF) technologies such as smart meters. We maintain that the smart meter program has been rolled with little to no public consultation, or even advance notification, and that the program has serious flaws that may impact the health, safety, and financial wellbeing of the residents of our city (and indeed the rest of the state).
These problems are not limited to certain regions of the state, but exist in all places where smart meters have been installed. We respectfully ask that you take a prudent, cautious approach and join the current petitions pending before the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) by 45 municipalities, Center for Electrosmog Prevention, the EMF Safety Network, and many more. Cities and counties, throughout California, have filed these petitions to protect their citizens, and as a result,the CPUC is starting to take action to ensure public health and safety, formerly overlooked with the smart meter program. We need our city’s voice to be added to this list.
The full letter, including the group's concerns about "smart meters" can be found online here.
What do you think about the claim that "smart" meters post a threat to public health? Share your thoughts in the comments.
