"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
I pinned this there 2 years ago when I began investigating the concerns surrounding "smart" meters and assessing their validity. Why? Because I refused to be ignorant or stupid. Quite a contrast to those in our local leadership who refuse to heed the warning signs that their investments into a coal plant and utility metering system risking the security of our grid are going to be a huge bust in the future.
Naperville's City Councilmen Bob Fieseler and Grant Wehrli and their talking heads Mark Curran (Director of the electric utility) and City Manager Doug Krieger claim there is no "opt out." The fact is you, the consumer, must be offered the meter, or request a meter and "OPT IN". No one can be forced to comply with an unrevealed contract between a corporation or cooperative to which you were never a party and of which you had no knowledge.
The ruling of our Federal Lawsuit is still pending. Our lawsuit is still ACTIVE. Last week's status hearing was postponed, which is normal for a judge to do. So continue refusing Naperville's "smart" meters. Clearly, the merits of this case are substantial enough that the case has not been dismissed.
If this lawsuit were a custody battle during a divorce, the living arrangements of the children wouldn't be enforced until a binding decision was made in court between parties.
Hot off the press: Nevada residents have fought back and are keeping the right to retain their analog meters.
Last but not least, in accordance with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and PURPA rules, the city has violated the rights of residents from weighing in on the funding of this project, which is another point in our federal lawsuit. As a way to backfill the "letter of the law," the city is offering residents the opportunity to write in and/or give oral testimony as to why they oppose or support the "smart" meter project starting now through mid-March. This further demonstrates that residents really do have a right to say what goes on their homes and how their money is spent. The city is hoping to have 100% "compliance" and "smart" meters fully activated in March so that these hearings will appear "moot."
Last Friday the City sent out another "FINAL NOTICE" letter. It states that I MUST COMPLY WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE SMART METER NOW. (Click here to see the
letter.)
Do NOT comply. See below for a recommendation on how to respond.
I don't know about you, but I've had it with the snail mail threats, UPA visits and code enforcement threats trying to bully and intimidate us into saying "Whatever, just go ahead and install it." That's compliance in their book, that's CONSENT. Over a week ago, I saw 2 guys snooping around my fence and taking pictures. I ran outside to inquire what they were doing. Mr. Ortiz (the UPA installer) and his "shadow" (can you believe that's what they're calling themselves), a City of Naperville employee, asked if they could install a "smart" meter. I said no thanks even though it was completely obvious with my locked fence, no trespassing signs and Do Not Install "Smart" meter signs on my front door. They were pleasant enough and they left.
Throughout the past couple of weeks residents have been calling and e-mailing in their experiences. I wanted to share the unethical and misleading statements that UPA and the City of Naperville (CON) is using to try and scare, bully and intimidate you into CONSENTING. This is what they are saying and each is false....
- "This is your last chance for a "smart" meter."
- "If you don't comply enforcement will be next."
- "The City has a right to install a "smart" meter on your home."
- "The federal judge said it was okay to install a "smart" meter and the court case is over."
- "The federal lawsuit is over."
- "We're keeping your analog meter in a warehouse, so just let us put the "smart" meter on now and we'll put it back on later if the judge says we have to."
- "Smart" meters are going to save you so much money."
- "Just like in a divorce, you can't ignore what's happening. So, just because there's a lawsuit, you still have to deal with getting a smart meter."
- "You need to have your meter changed out because you're one of only 45 holdouts left."
- "The City will shut off my power."
- "I'm going to be fined."
These statements contradict each other and don't make sense. Just another "lure" to cast out there to see who gets hooked. Don't get baited. Take Back Your Power.
This is the
letter that I have submitted to the City. Feel free to edit and use it as your own. (Please be reminded that anything in this newsletter is not legal advice and you accept responsibility for any ramifications of your actions.)
- If you don't reply with written refusal to any Naperville letter advising of installation, your silence will, no doubt, be taken as compliance or consent to installation. Time is of the essence.
- Keep your fence LOCKED.
- We recommend that all correspondence with CON be made in writing. However, if you are caught off guard on the phone with a Naperville utility employee, you can read the letter above aloud over the phone to them, as it expresses your refusal. Keep the letter beside the phone.
- See our "What You Can Do" webpage for additional ways to protect your property.
- Keep your signs beside the meter dated, signed, with your address and account number visible. Consider applying this NEW WARNING LABEL to your meter. (To Save: Right Click, Save Picture As, Save to your computer, print, fill in, laminate or place in heavy ziplock bag.)
Our present contract with the City of Naperville requires that our utility (of which we are stakeholders) provide electricity and a meter to calculate the amount of power we use. Our responsibility is to pay for that power. Nowhere in the contract do we give permission to make our home a relay station to benefit the utility (and without compensation), not to mention all the other issues.
Remember, we are NOT the problem! Rather it is our elected officials, members of the Public Utilities Advisory Board (Note that the chairman and 1 other are Smart Grid Ambassadors), Mayor Pradel, City Manager Doug Krieger, City Attorney Margo Ely and Director of the electric utility Mark Curran that are using their position and power to try and intimidate, bully and threaten residents into accepting a utility product onto our homes that is being banned around the country.
Don't be afraid! You ARE powerful, take back YOUR power.
For those that worry this is over - IT'S NOT OVER. This is only the beginning. We have opportunities to stop this train and call back that ship that has sailed. STAY TUNED.
Be Educated, Be Engaged, Be Moved to Action,
Kim
Kim Bendis MS, FNP-C
President, Naperville Smart Meter Awareness
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