Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Charyl Zehfus: Utilities institute errs in stifling dissent about ‘smart meters’




























































Charyl Zehfus: Utilities institute errs in stifling dissent about ‘smart meters’


June 12, 2012 4:15 am



Dear Editor: In the UW’s Year of the Wisconsin Idea, the Wisconsin Public Utilities Institute embodies the tradition gone awry. The Wisconsin Idea involves UW teaching, research, outreach and public service meant to “improve the lives of people everywhere,” according to On Wisconsin magazine. Yet, WPUI – which is funded by industry members while defined as an executive education organization of the College of Engineering – denies consumers input on an energy issue strongly affecting their lives.
I refer to the forced utility deployment of radiofrequency transmitting meters. The American Academy of Environmental Medicine calls for immediate caution regarding “smart meter” installation due to potentially harmful RF exposure. And some Wisconsin residents are reporting illness after installation. Yet, WPUI will not allow this point of view to be represented by concerned consumers at its Advanced Metering Roundtable in September 2012.
In fact, the event is for members only and employs the Chatham House Rule to obscure the identity of discussion participants. The roundtable champions “smart meters” with no dissenting views slated to be heard. So much for WPUI’s mission statement about providing “objective and unbiased analysis of public utility issues.”
It is worse than a censorship of voices: By supporting forced deployment of RF utility meters, WPUI promotes risk, suffering and powerlessness in people’s lives – the opposite of the Wisconsin Idea.
Charyl Zehfus
Sheboygan


Read more: http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/mailbag/article_70ec49e7-cf02-52ec-b774-4ac2cb9baadd.html#ixzz1yG06k1rF

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