Daily Archives: June 3, 2013

Williams City Council votes to install “smart meters.”

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Square-No-SM-240WILLIAMS—At the May 23rd meeting of the city council, the Williams City Council voted to allow APS to install “automatic meters,” also called “smart meters,” in place of traditional electric meters.

According to the minutes of the meeting [PDF] on the city web site, none of the council members addressed the Fourth Amendment concerns that have been raised throughout the country concerning these smart meters. Recently there have been concerns raised about illnesses from these meters because of the electromagnetic radiation they emit.

Joe Carter of APS noted in the meeting that the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has become industry standard and that APS began installing these meters throughout their service area in 2006. Installing the meters would “bring Williams up to date.”

Installation of these meters will take three- to four-weeks after the approval by the council. Customers would be notified by mail and door hangers and the meters would be installed up to three-days later.

Carter responded to a question on reading the meters from Councilman Heimenz by explaining that it is done by radio and cell phone technology. Heimenz did not ask, nor did Carter explain, concerns about hacking into these meters by others with cell phone technology. In England, where people pay for the meters and television, this is a growing concern.

These meters can be used to determine what appliances you have and how they are used. Even what types of DVDs and CDs you watch or listen to according to some sources. This information has been sold by some utility companies. Hacking the meters can tell a potential criminal the times that you are away from your home.

A 2012 article by the Electronic Frontier Foundation, smart meters can be used as part of a data retention program.

Smart Meter Hacking for Privacy

On day four of the 28th Annual Chaos Communication Congress, Smart Hacking for Privacy explored the privacy-intrusive potential of smart meter technology. EFF has articulated the privacy concerns around smart meters – including how this technology can be used to monitor what appliances a consumer uses in the home and exactly when she uses them. According to Network World, Smart Hacking for Privacy went a step further and showed that under certain circumstances, researchers could use smart meters to “determine devices like how many PCs or LCD TVs [were] in a home, what TV program was being watched, and if a DVD movie being played had copyright-protected material.” This builds off of research (PDF) by a team at the University of Washington on the electromagnetic interference (EMI) signatures produced by televisions. Smart Hacking for Privacy also demonstrated how smart meters could be hacked so that the readings were incorrect. The entire presentation is available on YouTube.

In 2012, the California Public Utilities Commission approved an opt-out program according to the Agriculture Defense Coalition.

We sent an email to the Arizona Corporation Commission on smart meter technology and are waiting a response. They may not have had time to formulate a response to the questions we asked because we only sent the email last night.

Texas has a bill in the Senate to ban the use of these meters.

600-smart-meter-signSmart meters are not a concern only in the United States. On the other side of the world groups in Australia are fighting against this technology. A group called the East Gippsland Action Group [Facebook page] offers a sign to be posted by the owners of property warning electric companies not to install the meters.

Their web site complains that these meters allow electric companies to control your airconditioner, heaters and other appliances in your home.

SEE ALSO:
Smart Meter Dangers

Two Neighborhood Watch meetings slated for Flagstaff

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FLAGSTAFF—Coconino County Sheriff Bill Pribil and two of the county supervisors are encouraging members of two communities in Flagstaff to attend a Neighborhood Watch meetings in their areas.

Neighborhood Watch is similar to the Block Watch program many people might remember from thirty-years ago. Residents will learn how to observe and report suspicious activity as an effective means of preventing criminal activity.

The first meeting will be June 4 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Summit Fire Station 33 for members of the Timberline and Fernwood communities. The station is located at 6050 Firehouse Lane off of north Highway 89. Sheriff Pribil and members of his staff will join County Supervisor Liz Archuleta at the meeting.

The second meeting for the Doney Park neighborhood will be held on Thursday, June 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Cromer School, 7150 E. Silver Saddle Road. County Supervisor Mandy Metzger will join Sheriff Pribil and his deputies for this meeting.

At the meetings, the Supervisors will also discuss county issues. County Parks and Recreation director Judy Weiss asks input on how to use the $500,917 directed to revitalize the Peaks View County Park at 8805 N. Koch Field in Flagstaff. “We are asking residents what new features or recreational amenities they would like to see in the park,” she is quoted as saying.

Residents can also send input concerning the park by email to parksrec@coconino.az.gov or the County’s Community Voice Website.

Two Stranded Hikers Rescued from West Fork in Oak Creek Canyon

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SEDONA—Two male hikers, one seventeen and one twenty years of age both of Scottsdale, Arizona, were rescued by Coconino County Sheriff’s Office personnel late Saturday evening after they found themselves in darkness with no flashlights or other light sources.

On Saturday, June 1, 2013 at about 8:43 pm the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office received a call from the Sedona Fire Department (SFD). According to a SFD dispatcher, she received a 911 emergency call from one of two hikers who were stranded in West Fork Canyon in extremely dark conditions in the absence of a visible moon. The Sedona Fire Emergency Dispatch was able to determine latitude and longitude for the cell phone call, within approximately 100 feet, because they are equipped with a 911 Enhanced emergency call system that provides cell phone location information.

Furnished with a precise location of the stranded youth, a team comprised of a Coconino County Sheriff’s Deputy, a Search and Rescue Coordinator and a Search and Rescue Volunteer responded to the West Fork Trailhead and hiked approximately two miles to the victims’ location. Rescuers reached the victims at about 11:10 pm and provided each with a flashlight. The rescuers then accompanied the two hikers back to the trailhead.

The men and women of the Coconino County Sheriff’s Search and Rescue Unit would like to remind hikers and hunters to leave a detailed trip plan with a trusted person and be prepared for the unexpected night out in the event of an accident or other emergency. Carry the 10 Essentials: extra water, food, warm clothing, navigation equipment, a headlamp or flashlight, a first aid kit, shelter material, a fire starting kit, a pocket knife, and signaling equipment like a signal mirror and whistle. These can be important tools to help you stay safe in the outdoors and to aid searchers in locating you. During the summer months extreme caution with fire is urged in order to prevent a wildfire.