I think it”s vital to remember that whatever cause we may be fighting for, whether we”re at war or trying to get a bill through Congress or pulling in the reins on a regulatory agency whose actions need to be reviewed or reversed, one thing is clear ? divided we fall. We simply cannot afford the cost of disaccord or dissension within our ranks over matters of method or approach when it”s incumbent upon us to pull together at this pivotal time and harness the greater power of working as a united coalition rather than running the risk of winning the battle but losing the war.
So let”s take a look at what we are fighting for when it comes to SmartMeters. As near as I can tell, there are four central issues that we as a people would like addressed:
1. We said no and they (PG&E and the CPUC) didn”t listen. We want the powers that be to hear us and to pay attention.
2. We don”t want to pay for something that”s going to cost us more money while there is no clear consensus among economists or industry analysts as to the payback or return on this investment in the foreseeable future. A majority of the citizens of our state and nation don”t agree that this is a “Smart” investment.
3. There are enough health issues emerging following SmartMeter installations to warrant a more unbiased and non-industry paid independent investigation of the science behind wireless SmartMeters and the building of a wireless Smart Grid Infrastructure. Questions have been raised by the medical community as to the public health risks and consequences posed by a widespread wireless Smart Grid mesh deployment. Physician have documented their patient”s illnesses that they believe are attributed to SmartMeters and forwarded their evidence to the CPUC along with their pleas for action and relief. The CPUC ignored their letters and concerns.
4. Legitimate personal and national privacy and security issues have been raised to give cause for a separate and special investigation in to the potential risks inherent in advanced wireless meter technology given the stakes.
One thing you can be certain of, regardless of where you stand on the SmartMeter issue or which point may be of most interest or importance to you, the Smart Grid industry, the utility companies and regulatory agencies and government initiatives that support them, as well as their sponsors are united.
They speak in one voice and they amass their power from holding an unwavering position with a consistent message. Right or wrong, this strengthens them. It”s easy to see how they have us beat hands down when it comes to position and message.
There are many hard working, well-meaning effective neighborhood, statewide and even national groups and organizations, as well as informative and useful on-line resistance movements and resources and they all serve a good purpose. Together, there is much they agree on.
They want to be heard and they want their right to choose restored. Sadly though, sometimes the message is lost, fractured or diluted by a lack of general solidarity.
If we sound like an undisciplined crowd or if mixed messages are sent, we”re not going to get the utility companies or regulatory agencies or government to pay us the respect we deserve and to sit down with us and listen.
That”s why now more than ever, we need to join forces and form a California Coalition of groups and individuals who can agree on a common set of objectives and demands that we can bring forward articulately and with greater credibility and impact. No government body or agency can ignore or deny such a highly organized coalition of people when they present their issues reasonably and assert their right for redress of grievance.
I call on all individuals, groups and organizations to set aside whatever differences they may have and to seek new ways to join hands and form alliances that will build a united front of people with the common goal of eliciting a positive response from an industry and utility commission that wasn”t listening.
By acting in this manner, we”ll have a better chance of creating the opportunity to achieve our collective resolution.
Let us begin today when talking to power, to talk as a team because like in any endeavor, a team effort is greater than the sum total of all its individual contributors.
Howard Glasser
Kelseyville
