City Council - Utilities Committee

CHICOPEE CITY COUNCIL UTILITIES COMMITTEE DRAFT MEMBERS Fred Krampits, Chairman Chuck Swider, Vice Chairman Jean Croteau Gerry Roy Timothy McLellan MINUTES September 18, 2013 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Wednesday, September 18, 2013 at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present Krampits, Croteau, Roy, Swider Absent McLellan Also Present Councilor Laflamme, Councilor Moreau, Councilor Tillotson, Councilor Brunetti, Councilor Zygarowski, Daniel Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Kate Brown (Planning Director), Jeff Cady (General Manager, CEL), The meeting was called to order at 6:30 PM ITEM #1 Resolution Concerning Implementation of “Smart” Electric Meters Whereas: “Smart Electric Meters are being installed across the country and world, often without the public’s knowledge or consent, and even forcibly installed against the property owner’s wishes. Whereas: The United States has become a surveillance state with monitoring/storage of phone conversations, internet communications and searches, social media interactions, license plate tracking etc. and improper access to tax information and medical records all without search warrants. Whereas: “Smart Electric Meters are able to communicate with new appliances. Whereas: “Smart Electric Meters are capable of transmitting personal data gathered from inside the home such as appliance use times and frequency, and heating/cooling data. Whereas: The collection of such data without warrant is an invasion of privacy as guaranteed by the Fourth Amendment. 1 Whereas: “Smart” Electric Meters are capable of allowing external sources to modify settings of appliances and heating/cooling systems. Whereas: Long term health effects of prolonged contact with hundreds if not thousands of electric meters transmitting hourly are questionable at best. Whereas: The Massachusetts and Federal legislature are debating bills affecting the ability of its citizens to refuse these meters from being installed. Whereas: The future control of energy and invasion of privacy are substantial concerns of the people of Chicopee and many Americans. Now therefore be; Resolved, The Chicopee City Council recognizes the covert aspect of installing “Smart” Electric Meters Resolved, The Chicopee City Council wishes to make known that it is not in favor of any Electric Meter which transmits data acquired inside of people’s homes or businesses. Resolved, The Chicopee City Council Wishes to instruct our State and Federal Representatives and Senators to stop allowing the extraction and storage of data from its citizens and adhere to your oath of office to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Councilor Roy stated that he filed this Resolution to make people aware that there is something different than a standard meter. This is something that needed to be said with regard to the health aspect. There is legislation in the state and federal government that is looking to exclude a person’s ability to opt out of having an electric meter. The new appliances have the ability to interact with new electric meters. The government has infiltrated our lives with the internet, phone conversations and other things and it’s a matter of time before the information gathered what appliances are running, when, just to use as another piece of information for whatever purpose. Councilor Roy read the following letter that was sent to him from Irene Tyminski: “I’m leaving you a copy of “Spirit of Change” because of the article on smart meters. Because of health concerns I would opt-out and like to be shielded from neighboring meters. My doctor has advised me to opt-out. Thank you for your stand on smart meters.” Jeff Cady gave a synopsis of advanced meters which Chicopee Electric Light will begin to look at purchasing these meters next year:  Reading efficiency  Cost savings  Power outage reported immediately  Customers have the ability to look at usage online  Theft will be detected automatically  Customer can select billing dates  CEL will not control appliances in customer’s homes or heating and air conditioning Councilor Swider stated that he has the ability through his phone to turn on the heat and lights at his home at the Cape. 2 Councilor Croteau asked about the health concerns with smart meters. Jeff Cady stated that these meters are not operating every hour of the day and that most studies are not based on fact but by hype. Councilor Tillotson stated that he recently saw a program where a doctor stated that combined with all other devices that we are using which emit radiation is the problem. There is a health issue. He said that if you address smart meters than all should be addressed i.e., gas, water, electric because they all give out radiation. He further stated that there should be regulation that these meters are only to be used for the purpose intended. Councilor Roy stated that the on the EPA’s website it states that the new Energy Star requirement is to have smart chips in the appliance that will communicate with the meter. He stated that smart meters are designed to during peak time give the utility company the ability to turn down AC’s or tell your dishwasher not to run. This is stated on the EPA’s paperwork. Motion made to recess to the call of the chair at 7:00 PM. Meeting called back to order at 7:01 PM. Councilor Moreau stated that he recently discovered that his refrigerator has a smart chip in it and he gets information from the manufacturer to change the filter in the appliance. Councilor Roy stated that if the committee would like to table this matter for tweaking he would be Ok with that. Motion made to table. Motion passed by a roll call vote of 3 yes and 1 no. Voting yes: Krampits, Swider, Roy. Voting no: Croteau. ITEM #2 Minutes – March 26, 2012. Motion made to approve. Motion passed. Meeting adjourned at 7:19 PM. 3