Hawaiian Electric’s smart grid bad idea

Hawaiian Electric’s smart grid bad idea

Updated: 

April 8, 2016 - 5:58pm

Hawaiian Electric wants to install a smart grid in Hawaii. Their reasons might sound appealing at first glance, but when you do the research you will find it’s a really stupid idea.

Smart grids and smart meters only benefit utility companies, at the expense of their customers.

Does a company that sells electricity really want you to use less? No, they want you to pay extra for the privilege of using electricity when you need to use it. This is what is called time of use (TOU) pricing which only works with a smart meter, a 45 percent price increase from 4 p.m. to midnight when you need it most. The term “give customers more control over their electric usage” simply means forcing you to alter your behavior by shifting how and when you use electricity. In other words, to save electricity, do your laundry in the middle of the night when rates are cheaper or maybe sit in the dark. Play by the utilities rules or pay more!

Smart meters are much more accurate than analog meters so you will pay more.

Smart meters are data recorders, too, profiling and recording your household activities 24/7. Data that can be sold to third parties or shared with police or government without your consent.

Smart meters emit dangerous pulsed microwave radiation 24/7. This is an involuntary exposure that cannot be turned off. Utilities claim smart meters are safe because they comply with FCC regulations. Unfortunately, the FCC regulations do not protect you from the biological effects (cellular damage) due to the pulsed microwave radiation from a smart meter.

Smart meters operating in a smart grid mesh network have never been tested for safety. Smart meters have also caused electrical fires in many states across America. Just say no to smart meters!

Ron Becker

Hawi

Pidgin’ column inflammatory

I have been reading Wally Camp’s column, “Pidgin’ on da Loose,” since its start. I have enjoyed its content until today, April 6. Wally’s translation of the word pake might be correct in many instances, however, his definition in relationship to certain ethnicities and religions was flat out racist.

Do you want your children brought up to understand that being frugal is directly related to one’s ethnic background or religion? I certainly hope not. If you grew up on the mainland, as I did, you hear these kinds of comments and they were directly related to the ignorance of the people saying them.

Adults should never pretend that these kinds of definitions are OK to teach our children. West Hawaii Today should have never published this kind of trash.

Rob Nathan

Waikoloa