Dear Editor,

I have been attempting to understand the TWACS Smart Meter system to be installed by SMPA. SMPA 's  literature says, and I quote, "the meters emit radio frequencies(RF) only when responding to a request for data from the co-op office - either once every  15 minutes or once every hour for less than a second." At the September 20th meeting of the San Miguel Power Board, Brad Zaporski stated that SMPA would be only requesting data once a day.  He repeated, ONCE A DAY.  In the SMPA response to the BOCC Citizen Call to the Public on September 27th, SMPA stated,  in reference to the number of times a day data will be requested by the co-op office, " this is subject to change on a daily basis."

As a citizen and mother, I am concerned about the RF radiation levels from these meters.  The SMPA information stated above is inconsistent.

Also, the possibilty of  future upgrades  to more information gathering  and wireless is of further concern.  In the future we could suddenly find that the TWACS system has been upgraded and is more invasive to our privacy and could be wireless, which would increase the radiation exposure to everyone,including our children.  

At the June 20th meeting with SMPA, several citizens requested a year moratorium in order to provide time for the community to become educated about he TWACS Smart Meters .  This time would allow us to proceed according to the precautionary principle. We are waiting for a response from the SMPA on the moratorium.

I do not believe that the TWACS Smart Meters are a healthy choice for our pristine,  healthy mountain environment.  They are invasive to our civil liberties.



Laurie Greischel
Ridgway