Opt-Out Legislation

 

1. Smart Meter Hearings in Michigan
   1. Overview
   2. Hearing Testimony
   3. Highlights from the Hearing
   4. News Reports
2. Letters Constituents Have Written—A Sample
3. Responses from Representatives
4. Contact Information for State Representatives

 

Smart Meter Hearings in Michigan

Overview

Over 200 people attended the hearings on smart meters held before the Michigan House Government Oversight Committee, chaired by Representative Tom McMillin. Nearly one hundred people testified on the effects of smart meters on their health. Representative McMillin called the hearings because House Energy Committee Chair Aric Nesbitt has refused to hold hearings on McMillin’s analog opt-out bill despite hundreds of Michigan residents writing and calling his office to urge that hearings be held. The hearings were a chance to get health problems and citizen comments on the public record. Unfortunately, the hearings are not the precursor to a bill in this legislative session. The hearing was held December 2, 2014 in Lansing. McMillin held DTE’s feet to the fire, not letting them get away with their empty statements that didn’t answer his questions.

Here is how one person in attendance summarized the hearing:
I had no idea how many people are seriously affected by these RF signals, even though I thought I was well-versed after viewing the movie Take Back Your Power. There were 200 people in attendance,and many testified about their illnesses resulting from smart meters. Many more were unable to attend because of the intensity of RF signals around and inside the capitol building area.

Some have become so ill they have resorted to living off the grid involuntarily because of DTE's refusal to return their analog meters. Others testified they moved out of their house and into their RV in the yard. There were experts in the medical and electronic fields testifying. We listened to testimony from 4 PM until 9:30 PM last night, and three-quarters of the people were still there.

The utility companies’ testimony was all about more marketing of these meters rather than any acknowledgement of the illnesses or 4th Amendment violations. MPSC representatives testified as if they were on the same side as that of the utility companies.  One of the victims of RF signals testified that huge amounts of campaign contributions were given to Attorney General Bill Schuette, Governor Snyder, Lt Governor Calley, and Johnson in the recent election cycle.

Everyone in Michigan needs to begin talking very seriously with their state legislators about an analog opt-out bill.  We won’t get anywhere unless citizens take action! If you are interested in working with others on getting legislation passed, contact us. We will connect you with others who are working hard on this effort.

The press basically had a black-out on reporting. Only a few papers reported it, and none of the major Detroit-area papers did so. MLive Lansing had a good report. One Representative besides McMillin stayed for the entire 4½-hour hearing, Rose Mary Robinson of Michigan’s 4th District.

 

Hearing Testimony

Videos (Part 1 and Part 2) or MP3 (Part 1 and Part 2) of the entire December 2, 2014 hearing on smart meters before the Michigan House Government Oversight Committee, chaired by Representative Tom McMillin.  Includes many people testifying about the detrimental effects of the meters on their health, and the lame responses of DTE and Consumers Energy.

To see the written testimony submitted at the hearing, go to the House Government Oversight Committee page. Scroll down the page until you see a button that says “open testimony.” Look for testimony dated 12/2/2014. Hit the button “open testimony” to read a specific testimony. Much of this regards the terrible health effects the meters have had on individuals.

The hearing lasted over 4½ hours, over 200 people attended (overflow went into another room, which the press didn’t report, making the numbers seem half of what they were), and nearly 100 people spoke. DTE, Consumers Energy, and the Michigan Public Service Commission were all given an opportunity to speak.

 

Highlights from the Hearing

Numerous people testified about the effects on their health after smart meter installation, including waking at 4 a.m. after having slept well in home for 30 years, insomnia, heart palpitations, ringing in ears (tinnitus), flu-like symptoms, blood-sugar spikes, rashes, anxiety, high blood pressure, headaches, bloody noses, etc. See the videos of the hearings (Part 1 and Part 2) for moving stories , and also the written testimony submitted at the hearing for more examples. Also see  the very good story in Oakland Press on illness caused by smart meters.

Here are a few highlights from the hearing, compiled by Barb Galster of Shelby Township. She was able to stay for only a short while. We hope to have up a transcript of the testimony very soon. Meanwhile, watch the videos. Click here to read all of Barb’s notes.

Dominic and Lillian Cusmano: Synopsis of their experience. November 2012 Lillian noticed flu-like symptoms whenever visiting their second home in Oakland county. She only experienced problems there, the symptoms would stop when residing in primary home. Didn’t know why. Someone mentioned that perhaps a smart meter had been  installed on their Oakland county home. They found out that 800,000 meters had been installed in N. Oakland County (including the home where she experienced symptoms), without any notice by DTE or authorization by the residents.

Representative McMillin asked DTE AMI manager Robert Sitkauskas what the harm is in allowing people to keep analog meters. Sitkauskas raised DTE's tired old cry: This is a business decision about updated technology. In other words, he didn’t answer the question, because the analog meters, by DTE’s own admission, work just fine, have a depreciable life of 43 years (vs smart meters’ 7–10 year expected life), and can last over 80 years. There is a ready supply of analog meters, as DTE and utilities around the country are removing them in droves.

Abigail Noble stated that the role of government should not be primarily to care for corporations such as DTE and Consumers Energy. She stated that there are important principals in governing: securing citizens’ rights to life; securing safety in citizens own homes; promoting health in the community; doing everything possible to secure individual rights to health and happiness.

Consumers Energy representative stated that these meters represent great potential for technological advances. She was unable to answer Representative Rose Mary Robinson’s  question regarding what great advances were in store due to the new technology.

West Bloomfield Township Supervisor Michelle Ureste said that the state should be more concerned about children’s health than improved service times the utility companies claim smart meters provide.

Dick Mannaseri asked why a bill protecting wind turbine companies from health-related lawsuits could be brought to committee in 2 weeks’ time,  while the analog opt-out bill protecting the health of citizens has been languishing without a hearing for two years.

   

 

News Reports on Hearing

Michigan residents link smart meters to medical problems, testify in front of legislative committee. MLive, Lansing. Very good story.

STERLING HEIGHTS: City manager: Concerns about 'smart meters' must be addressed at state level

“Concerns raised by residents about the installation of Advance Metering Infrastructure, or smart meters, in Macomb County recently prompted Sterling Heights City Manager Mark Vanderpool to pen a letter to the city's representatives in Lansing, urging them to support amendments to legislation that would allow residents to opt out of the installation [with an analog meter] without an additional cost.

The Lansing Journal decided to focus on privacy and histrionics rather than the health issue, which was the reason the hearing was called.

Interview on WJR radio with Tom McMillin, who convened the smart meter hearings in the MI House Government Oversight Committee. Scroll down to the podcasts. It is dated Dec 1st with Rep McMillin.

Smart Meter Victims Challenge Lansing Roadblocks. Accurate summary, whether or not you agree with the political views.
WNEM report on hearing.
WWMT report on hearing.
Very lame story.

 

Letters Constituents Have Written—A Sample

#1 – Opt-Out and Health
#2 - Health Focus
#3 - Privacy-Liberty-Health Focus-SHORT
#4 - Locked meter taken - Health-Choice Focus
#5 - Reps and Senator - Privacy-Choice Focus
#6 - Health-Privacy Focus
#7 - Health Focus-Tinnitus
#8 - Dirty Electricity - Health Focus
#9 - Privacy-Long Letter worth reading
#10 Sample Letter on Dirty Electricity--How to Respond to Reps Who Tell You the Opt-out Meter Will Solve the Problem

 

Responses from Representatives

To read the responses of various representatives to constituent letters, click here. Sadly, most legislators are misinformed and/or uncaring.

Contact Information for State Representatives

Find your own representative: http://house.michigan.gov/MHRPublic

Find your own senator: http://www.senate.michigan.gov/fysbyaddress.html

Blind copy us on your letter: SmartMeterEducationNetwork@gmail.com

 

 

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