BEFORE THE
ARIZONA CORPORATION COMMISSION
Arizona
Corporation Commission
Docket Control
1200 W.
Washington St.
Phoenix, AZ
85007
Docket
E-00000C-11-0328 Smart Meters
October 28,
2011
A medical opt-out policy likely to be completely ineffective in
areas using PLC-type smart meters.
Dear
Commissioners,
Some utilities
use smart meters that communicate by sending pulses or signals on the existing
electrical wires. These types of systems are referred to as Power Line
Communication or Power Line Carrier (PLC)
The PLC type
systems have been promoted as a positive alternative to wireless smart meters.
The reality is that they are a worse choice for people with electrical
hypersensitivity.
The electrical
wiring in houses and along the roads were not designed
to carry higher frequencies. Unlike wires used for telephones, internet and other such systems, the electrical wiring is
not shielded. The result is that they are turned into very large antennas,
which radiate the frequencies carried across the wires.
These
frequencies are referred to as Òdirty electricityÓ. There have been credible
case stories of people with EHS who have been unable to live in their homes
after PLC- type smart meters were installed.
Mitigation is
difficult, as the signals from other houses in the area will enter a house that
has retained an analog meter. A basic opt-out program is thus ineffective.
The European
multinational utility company E.ON, has designed a
line filter it offers to its customers. It is costly to install and unfeasible
to move later on.
Some types of
PLC systems use low-frequency signals (referred to as ÒpulsesÓ) which experience shows to have direct health impact on
electrically hyper- sensitive people. These TWACS-type systems are impossible
to mitigate by means other than relocation or full disconnect of a house from
the electrical grid. Filters, line stabilizers, in-line UPSÕs, etc. will not
work. The TWACS technology is only suitable for rural areas. It has or is being
installed in rural parts of Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Colorado.
A medical
opt-out policy will be completely ineffective in areas using PLC-type system,
unless the policy includes effective filtering systems. As no effective filters
are possible for TWACS-type systems, we ask the commissioners to specifically
disallow TWACS-type systems for communities having an EHS sanctuary.
Respectfully,
Safer
Utilities Network
P.O. Box 1523
Snowflake, AZ
85937