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Woman Arrested While Refusing Smart Meter Installation on Her Property Tells Us Her Story

THEBLAZE -- Jennifer Stahl has been a strong advocate against the smart meter program in Naperville, Ill., for the last two years. The issue came to a head Wednesday afternoon when she was arrested while refusing to let the utility workers install the controversial device.

“I was protecting my property,” Stahl said in an interview with TheBlaze Thursday afternoon. “I felt my emotion was like a momma bear protecting her babies.”

Stahl was at a friend’s house when she received the call from her husband that the utility workers had arrived. She was home within 15 minutes and saw they were at a neighbor’s house. Her neighbors were not home, but they had signs stating they did not permit the new meter to be installed. (VIDEO)

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Submitted Jan 25, 2013 By: NOTSOGRN

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honda0105 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:18,580 Points:1,605,520 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 29, 2013 4:59:16 AM Ignore honda0105 Report Abuse funny how everyone cries for the government to "do something" in the wake of such tragedy as Sandy Hook, but no one wants their own rights to be abridged. I guess the person who figures out the solution to that dilemma will be the next super-billionaire.
LetemEatCake Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:5,595 Points:1,201,110 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 9:27:52 PM Ignore LetemEatCake Report Abuse And pray tell Guy what is big brothers agenda with Smart Meters? Do you know? Or are you just into Gun Control? Which is way off topic for this thread. [Edited by: LetemEatCake at 1/26/2013 10:29:28 PM EST]
HawaiianGuy Champion Author Idaho Posts:9,505 Points:3,074,865 Joined:May 2003	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 6:11:06 PM Ignore HawaiianGuy Report Abuse Another case of Big Brother shoving his agenda down your throat. Gun control is only the beginning. Don't you EVER surrender your Right to Bear Arms to an increasingly intrusive government, no matter what the self-ordained King decrees.
jethro5000 Champion Author Kentucky Posts:1,857 Points:387,235 Joined:Jun 2005	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 11:39:59 AM Ignore jethro5000 Report Abuse Old news
NedW Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:5,594 Points:1,138,245 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 9:23:47 AM Ignore NedW Report Abuse I hope she sues everyone that anything to do with this.
DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,335 Points:1,239,425 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 7:36:48 AM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse Cue the Looney Tunes theme.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,523 Points:743,820 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 7:02:20 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse OK, nothing to do with guel prices.
greatartiste All-Star Author New Jersey Posts:540 Points:105,810 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 6:59:35 AM Ignore greatartiste Report Abuse WTF does this have to do with fuel prices?????
goldrose1 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:10,925 Points:1,920,910 Joined:Feb 2005	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 2:10:11 AM Ignore goldrose1 Report Abuse And how does this relate to gas?
BennoBlue Champion Author Virginia Posts:36,926 Points:1,460,745 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 1:27:46 AM Ignore BennoBlue Report Abuse This doesn't belong here, because it's not a story about energy, it's a story about a woman who got herself in trouble. If it was actually about the smart meters, it would be a great addition, but there's no real information about the smart meters themselves here. A story about what might be considered civil disobedience has a place, but that place would be a politics board, a community forum, etc.With that said, here are two other articles that give additional information about the situation: http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2013/01/23/two-naperville-women-arrested-for-trying-to-block-smart-meters http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/naperville/chi-naperville-smart-meter-arrest-20130123,0,6519967.story After reading more about it, this looks like a clear-cut case of capitalism: The utility company is upgrading their equipment, and the owner has been given advance notice, as well as an option to decline for a fee to cover the additional costs to the utility -- if they have to send a meter reader, they're charging for the cost of an employee's time, fuel for the vehicle, etc. Stahl admitted to being aware of this option, but didn't want to pay the charge, and she also didn't choose to end her account with the utility. Thus, the utility sent someone to upgrade their equipment to cut costs. And, it is the utility's equipment: the meter itself is owned by the utility, and when the customer signs up for the utility account, they grant the utility access to read and maintain (which includes upgrading or replacing) said equipment (it's usually done as an easement). I understand Stahl's concerns about health and privacy issues, and I can see how she might have concerns, but in that case she had a number of legal options: -- She could have opted to pay a monthly fee to keep the older equipment that costs the utility more -- She could have gotten an injunction against the change while investigation is being done on the health and privacy issues -- She could have ended her account with the utility company and chosen to handle her power needs by a generator, solar panels, windmills, or whatever other means -- As a member of a group that is against the smart meters, the group could start their own utility company that only uses analog meters I'm sure there are more options that didn't occur to me. But, she didn't choose any of them. She decided to block the access that she'd already agreed upon to the utility's property, the meter. That's like if you have an account with the cable company, you decide you're going to downsize your account, and aren't going to pay for the equipment you've been renting from them (DVR, converter, set-top box, whatever). If they tell you you need to either pay for the equipment or return it, and you do neither, sooner or later, someone's going to come for it. If you block them, the police will come too, and arrest you for getting in the way while the equipment is being repossessed. You're asking the company to keep providing the service without paying for the equipment of theirs that you're using. It's just another type of theft. Any concern about health, privacy, or whatever doesn't give the right to do that. What's at issue here isn't the Constitution or the federal government, it's the contract that Stahl entered into when she opened her account with the utility, and the ownership by the utility of the meter as their equipment. I'm not debating over whether smart meters might have issues, or if there are any reasons for concerns about health, privacy, or safety. Different people have differing opinions, and that's their right. It's enough that Stahl had concerns, whether or not they were warranted. The story isn't about the smart meter itself, it's about her actions and their consequences, so that's all I'm looking at.
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,114 Points:1,352,710 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:35:26 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Either way get use to it because every day gets worse with Gov. intrusion into our private lives. "Gov. big enough to give you everything you want is big enough to take it all away." It may not be long before the USA is just like other countries where the people are having to fight a dictator. The Balance of power of our Government has been eroded to near nothing already. [Edited by: TIGERPAW46 at 1/26/2013 12:37:36 AM EST]
TIGERPAW46 Champion Author Florida Posts:7,114 Points:1,352,710 Joined:Mar 2004	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:32:24 PM Ignore TIGERPAW46 Report Abuse Install your own Solar or wind power system & disconnect from public utilities. Just hope you have enough backup storage capacity for lack of sun or wind times.
crreed1 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:1,965 Points:2,522,335 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:25:25 PM Ignore crreed1 Report Abuse ok
1_percenter All-Star Author Illinois Posts:851 Points:159,210 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:22:02 PM Ignore 1_percenter Report Abuse “I felt my emotion was like a momma bear protecting her babies.” nothing much happens in naperville
10k Champion Author North Carolina Posts:21,220 Points:2,250,020 Joined:May 2006	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:18:52 PM Ignore 10k Report Abuse wish i had known this on monday, cause i have a feeling one of those suckers was installed on my house.. a man claiming to work for progress energy, soon to be duke power, exchanged my old meter with a new one, that he said could be read from the home office, w/o requiring a meter-reader to personally read the numbers-another job just sent to h*ll, i guess.. and this dude was driving a truck with colorado license tags..in north carolina ??-hmmmmm..
esquared Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:8,047 Points:1,966,110 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:18:35 PM Ignore esquared Report Abuse The charges against her will be dismissed, but she hasn't a legal leg to stand on with easements guaranteeing access across/onto private property for public utilities.
bikechuck Champion Author Indianapolis Posts:6,990 Points:2,059,120 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:16:33 PM Ignore bikechuck Report Abuse Time to figure out your own individual energy producing system if you do not want to use the public utility. Otherwise you do not have a choice.
regout Champion Author Quebec Posts:2,935 Points:828,705 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:16:24 PM Ignore regout Report Abuse She had to protect his home but...
arb0526 Champion Author Greensboro Posts:1,956 Points:406,620 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:14:47 PM Ignore arb0526 Report Abuse Don't see how this is about fuel but in the article: To receive a “non-standard” smart meter costs an initial, one-time fee of $68.35 (this is the cost difference between the two meters) and a monthly fee of $24.75 for manual reading of the meter. I have a wireless transmitting meter on my house and it cost nothing to install /maintenance fees. Seems like a power company gouging customers at every turn. [Edited by: arb0526 at 1/26/2013 12:15:58 AM EST]
DustyHorse Champion Author Virginia Posts:6,067 Points:1,387,845 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:14:42 PM Ignore DustyHorse Report Abuse That BS charge will be thrown out in a second. The officer should be sued for false arrest. I would like to be on that jury.
dongo50 Champion Author West Virginia Posts:14,666 Points:2,376,045 Joined:Jul 2006	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:13:48 PM Ignore dongo50 Report Abuse not sure what a smart meter is, but it sounds dumb to me.
jrsva Champion Author Virginia Posts:9,830 Points:1,608,250 Joined:Jan 2006	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:13:43 PM Ignore jrsva Report Abuse On one hand this is a tempest in a teapot but on the other it is one more intrusion of Big Brother into our lives. Police and government officials should not be involved. If she does not want to allow utility workers onto her property to change the meter, the utility can shut off her power. Her choice.
joel27nc Champion Author Raleigh Posts:10,517 Points:1,854,370 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:12:50 PM Ignore joel27nc Report Abuse How does the "smart meter" work or do?
1fulltank Champion Author Buffalo Posts:7,883 Points:1,540,310 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:12:34 PM Ignore 1fulltank Report Abuse New technology may take a while to work out the bugs, but at WHOSE expense???
cheapertvs Champion Author Richmond Posts:10,263 Points:2,737,720 Joined:Jan 2004	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:12:23 PM Ignore cheapertvs Report Abuse These are crazy people. The smart meter is the property of the utility company as is the regular meter currently in place. These people can get an off grid solar power system of their own (and pay for it) if they do not want the smart meter.
CartelBuster Veteran Author Detroit Posts:418 Points:1,577,085 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:12:08 PM Ignore CartelBuster Report Abuse Welkom to O's Amerika! (Where government knows what's best for it's peons) Orwell was only off by 29 years!
alaric76 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:16,511 Points:3,029,585 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:11:07 PM Ignore alaric76 Report Abuse these things are a curse!
wayoung56 Champion Author Alabama Posts:2,780 Points:814,335 Joined:Oct 2006	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:11:06 PM Ignore wayoung56 Report Abuse Hmmm...
TheSicilian Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:5,359 Points:1,465,750 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:09:38 PM Ignore TheSicilian Report Abuse how about a dumb meter
MINIWINI598 Champion Author Washington Posts:2,995 Points:514,700 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:09:10 PM Ignore MINIWINI598 Report Abuse Wow..
Blue_Cruzer Champion Author Lexington Posts:7,500 Points:1,665,585 Joined:Mar 2007	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:08:32 PM Ignore Blue_Cruzer Report Abuse A controversial program.
rats3 Champion Author Toronto Posts:66,720 Points:2,147,155 Joined:Jun 2007	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:08:07 PM Ignore rats3 Report Abuse Smart meters are a cash grab and nothing more. Many, many Ontarian's will tell you their electric bills went through the roof after smart meters were installed. The best solution, if you can, is to get off the grid all together. If you can it will be a great selling feature in the future. Saying goodbye to utility companies can be very invigorating. The police that arrested her should be ashamed of themselves.
cheaper0ON All-Star Author Ontario Posts:963 Points:394,055 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:07:44 PM Ignore cheaper0ON Report Abuse Ok.
after10 Veteran Author Hamilton Posts:350 Points:46,475 Joined:Jul 2012	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:07:34 PM Ignore after10 Report Abuse Its about who has control of rights .Unfortunatly we have paid dearly give them the right to infringe on our rights
heartbroken2010 Champion Author Ottawa Posts:4,324 Points:893,535 Joined:Aug 2010	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:07:01 PM Ignore heartbroken2010 Report Abuse simply just another monitoring system the smart meters are.
PrinceLH Champion Author Ontario Posts:2,672 Points:534,045 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:05:07 PM Ignore PrinceLH Report Abuse It's a sneaky way to get more money, without an increase. No wonder she was upset.
UpSol7 Champion Author Augusta Posts:1,633 Points:754,875 Joined:Sep 2008	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:04:09 PM Ignore UpSol7 Report Abuse tell her to get a generator and off the grid then.
unemployed58 Sophomore Author Montreal Posts:245 Points:63,170 Joined:Oct 2012	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 11:00:34 PM Ignore unemployed58 Report Abuse he said she said
fenster66 Champion Author Pittsburgh Posts:3,330 Points:670,090 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:56:39 PM Ignore fenster66 Report Abuse It takes all kinds, I guess....
Wanda127 Champion Author Florida Posts:2,474 Points:910,905 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:55:00 PM Ignore Wanda127 Report Abuse The utility companies have the right to update your meters to make it more efficient. They just need to send you a notice that they will be out to do the job & have ID so I don't understand what the problem was with this woman.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,032 Points:788,580 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:53:40 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse As more people learn some truths about these "smart" meters, more communities are rejecting them.
mstearno Champion Author Dayton Posts:8,043 Points:1,727,235 Joined:Jan 2008	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:45:57 PM Ignore mstearno Report Abuse they have the right to change your meter if you don't want their meter move or go without electricity YOUR CHOICE
PontiacFan All-Star Author Gary Posts:776 Points:434,775 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:41:07 PM Ignore PontiacFan Report Abuse Fight the man!
Kamakani Champion Author Denver Posts:2,674 Points:1,271,590 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:40:20 PM Ignore Kamakani Report Abuse Too much government
skyking19 Champion Author Little Rock Posts:1,995 Points:1,695,970 Joined:Jan 2007	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:37:51 PM Ignore skyking19 Report Abuse Wow
bonzoonfmb Champion Author Florida Posts:1,757 Points:640,400 Joined:Feb 2010	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:34:37 PM Ignore bonzoonfmb Report Abuse She has worse problems than a 'smart meter' if she lives in Naperville. Naperville = suburban hell.
Buddy2264 Champion Author Tampa Posts:11,629 Points:2,355,745 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:32:21 PM Ignore Buddy2264 Report Abuse I would hope in time a smart grid and meters will save us money and lower electric costs and fuel costs, which use more oil and natural gas as they switch over from coal.
PrepHermit Champion Author New Jersey Posts:8,081 Points:1,640,180 Joined:Aug 2008	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:31:42 PM Ignore PrepHermit Report Abuse Nice try.
BREW9 All-Star Author Tampa Posts:861 Points:2,907,980 Joined:Jun 2004	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:30:41 PM Ignore BREW9 Report Abuse big bro
ESCORT6768 Champion Author Iowa Posts:1,067 Points:610,065 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 25, 2013 10:26:13 PM Ignore ESCORT6768 Report Abuse Their property, their choice. Just another piece of freedom lost to please some green group.