Sedona AZ (April 23, 2013) – Sedona resident, Warren Woodward, submitted the following copy of a letter addressed to the Arizona Corporation Commission commissioners, Arizona Governor Jan Brewer and Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne for public information. His letter is as follows:
“What the record sadly lacks is a discussion of competing considerations regarding the program or the necessity of the program and its costs as related to any net benefit to customers.” ~ Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette
Warren Woodward
55 Ross Circle
Sedona, Arizona 86336
928-204-6434
April 20, 2013
Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC)
Docket Control Center
1200 West Washington Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Re: Docket # E-00000C-11-0328
Commissioners;
In addition to both the Attorneys General of Illinois and Connecticut, the Attorney General of Michigan has also issued a statement calling into question the efficacy of “smart” meters and the “smart” grid.
Salient excerpts:
- “A net economic benefit to electric utility ratepayers from … smart meter programs has yet to be established.”
- “Any assumption that large numbers of residential customers will have the time, ability and motivation to attend to, and act upon daily or even hourly changes in their electrical is questionable.”
- “What the record sadly lacks is a discussion of competing considerations regarding the program or the necessity of the program and its costs as related to any net benefit to customers.” [italics in original]
The Michigan Attorney General’s statement (enclosed and available online here: http://efile.mpsc.state.mi.us/efile/docs/17000/0408.pdf) reinforces what I have said repeatedly: the only benefit of the “smart” grid is to utilities, not ratepayers. Utilities are gaming the system through their 8 to 10% guaranteed rate of return on so-called “capital investments”.
Of course another part of the scam is the proven over-billing of “smart” meters.
California’s KION/FOX35 TV did a three month side-by-side comparison of a “smart” meter and a calibrated mechanical analog meter. After three months the “smart” meter showed an extra 37 kilowatt hours. The test is consistent with anecdotal over-billing reports I receive from Arizonans.
Do the math.
I calculate a similar rip-off in Arizona would net APS over $20 million more per year. (“PG&E Smart Meter Side By Side Test Final Results” – http://www.kionrightnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=14016659)
What a miserable pity for Arizona ratepayers that the ACC never followed through on its 2007 decision that called for the costs and benefits of the “smart” grid to be considered.
Indeed, “What the record sadly lacks is a discussion of competing considerations regarding the program or the necessity of the program and its costs as related to any net benefit to customers.”
When will it be admitted that the ACC made a colossal mistake by allowing the utilities to install “smart” meters without any regulatory oversight or examination?
How much more ratepayer money will be wasted on this utility scam, while the already bloated salaries of APS executives are set to double and triple?
- (“APS offering executives potential bonuses for 2013” – http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2012/12/28/aps-offering-executives-potential.html?ana=yfcpc)
Sincerely,
Warren Woodward Cc: Governor Jan Brewer, Attorney General Tom Horne
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And the Michigan Attorney General says this about so-called “opt-out” fees:
“An “opt-out” program that requires those customers who opt out to pay an unwarranted economic penalty for doing so does not afford customers … a meaningful choice.”
The utilities “… intend to effectively penalize customers who choose to opt-out of smart meters.”
“Presumably, under the utilities proposals, customers who opt-out of smart meters would be required to pay rates covering both the costs of the smart meter program, and expansively defined incremental costs “of retaining traditional meters.”
Our HOA sold us down the river on this one. We weren’t informed we had a choice. Sickens me that now I have this on my house and have no recourse. I’m going to remember this at election time that my elected officials didn’t take up a matter of importance in favor of big business interests. I trust that you will remove my name from below and sign me as Anonymous Les Springs Resident because there’ll be a problem with the HOA. I don’t want to be on its radar for many reasons. (editor removed name)
@Anonymously – In fact you do have choice. Many people with “smart” meters have had them removed by APS. But you need to demand it. Depending on who answers the phone at APS you may get resistance, so your call may be assertiveness training for you. Free advice: Don’t take NO for an answer. Certified letters to APS have also gotten results.
As I have stated before that tracking my bill monthly from year to year after the new meter was installed my monthly bill has been $20 higher per month. Talking to others with the new meter theirs has been about the same amount higher.
@Glenn – so if your bill is higher why don’t you call APS and demand they remove the “smart” meter and install a mechanical analog one? And file a complain at azcc.gov while you are at it.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-quinn-utility-bill-veto-0506-20130506,0,1600384.story
Submitted by Nancy Baer via Facebook
People who scream and shout about that increase in the mil rate ought to be throwing themselves in this fight with APS instead of beating up on the majority that voted. APS will take more money and privacy out of your pockets in a few years than a century of SFD increases. Get smart. Stop making the SFD fight personal.
TORONTO, May 9, 2013 /CNW/ – Frank Clegg, one of the biggest names in Canadian technology, announced today that he stands behind parents who object to wireless internet in schools.
“There are already children who can’t go to school because of headaches, nausea and heart problems from the wireless systems,” said Clegg who ran Microsoft Canada for 14 years and now leads a national organization called Citizens 4 Safe Technology (C4ST).
“Some of these kids have a doctor’s note to prove it,” said Clegg. “This is a real hazard and we shouldn’t wait for the government to catch up to the technology. We should exercise caution, especially with children.”
Submitted via Facebook by Nancy Baer