At PUC Hearing, a Push for Smart Meter Opt-Out Plan
In front of a crowd of more than 200 people, the Public Utility Commission on Tuesday heard repeated calls to create an opt-out program for people who do not want smart electric meters installed at their homes.
Included in those calling for such a program was a member of the Legislature.
“To some degree, as a member of the Legislature, I feel I owe you members of the PUC an apology for making this your problem, rather than a problem for the Legislature," said state Rep. David Simpson, R-Longview. "In hindsight, the Legislature should have specified a specific opt-out or ...
Comments (7)
Carolyn Moon via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I am still mad that the meters cut jobs and cut their expenses, but I have to pay for it.
George Karadimas
Learn the true facts behind the smart grid/meter roll out across the country.
Hint: It has nothing to do with saving energy.
Educational Video
Suggest you take the time to watch.
Key Word "Accountability"
http://www.stopsmartmetersbc.ca/html/?p=5022
Tom Bazan
I made a few comments. There was no consent, and they did not conduct any assessment prior to installation. If they are as safe as touted, why does CenterPoint and Reliant refuse to Indemnify us?
To the argument that the SmartMeters are deemed safe by a government agency. I stated that the State Trooper in the back of the room had a device that operated at low power, and within federal standards, it did not heat human tissue, and was deemed safe by the government and manufacturer, yet I believed none of the PUC Commissioners or staff would wish to be exposed to that taser's pulse.
ChiefBuffalo
Why does this controversy sound like birthers to me?
Craig Young
From the 2012 Republican Party of Texas Platform:
Smart Meters – The Republican Party of Texas opposes the mandated use of Smart Meters and rejects any attempt on the part of utility companies to monitor movement and ration electricity to our homes.
Thelma Taormina
As an "Invited Speaker" I made comments and submitted information which I insisted be posted for the public to view.
In her opening comments Chairman Nelson clearly misstated what we were there for. The meeting WAS NOT a Hearing! This little word means a lot in the world of lawyers, legislatures, and government agencies. A "Hearing" would have included an administrative judge, formal testimony, along with the ability to cross examination. This was a FORUM, it had no legal weight, it was not sworn testimony, it was nothing more than a forum to make it appear as if the PUCT actually cares or does its job protecting the public.'
The reason for the FORUM was due to the fact that a Public Hearing was denied twice! The public petitioned twice for a public hearing on rulemaking and they were dienied twice! Why? Once due to a technicality, the second time because the Commissioners decided to roll our concerns into this worthless forum.
The majority of the people in attendance were there because they were petitioners, or Texas Residents who had requested a HEARING. All we received was a "sales pitch", propaganda, and more lies.
They can and will spin this anyway they wish, but the truth is the PUCT acted beyond the purview of the law and they do not want Texans to know about it.
Most Texans are not even aware that they have a "smart meter" and they have no idea of the possible health risks, the privacy risks, nor that the people they pay to protect them sold them out.
This is not over, it has just begun. To become a petitioner, please contact either myself at thelma@912membersusa.com or Devvy Kidd at devvyk@earthlink.net. After consulting with our attorney yesterday, we are now able to accept additional petitioners. This issue is much bigger than what this article states. This is about the "Rule of Law" and it is about OUR REPUBLIC!
We have Legislators, both in the House and Senate of Texas who are behind us and need our help. We must support them as we work through this entire issue.
Jim Vance
I'm inclined to think the PUC should require that every utility customer who has a smart meter installed at their house or business should also simultaneously be issued a tinfoil hat by the utility company upon request.
However, at the same time the PUC should also require utility companies to provide customers with online access via secure website to ALL of the information which has been recorded and transmitted by the smart meter(s) associated with their account(s), both in raw form as well as processed by means of user-selectable parameters and report schedules that can be displayed online and/or downloaded.