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Texas woman makes dumb choice to stop smart meter installation
Thelma Taormina isn't exactly keen on smart meters. So when a utility worker arrived at her Houston home to install one of the devices, she did what any totally rational homeowner would do: She grabbed her gun.
Fri, Jul 20 2012 at 1:50 PM
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Photo: Christian Haugen/Flickr
As I’ve reported before, not all homeowners are entirely jazzed about the possibility of having a smart meter installed by a local utility company on their property, and it’s usually for reasons of Big Brotherly paranoia privacy along with health concerns surrounding exposure to the radio waves emitted by the wireless devices (you’d have to be constantly exposed to a household smart meter for more than 1,000 years to reach the same level of radio wave exposure experienced by the typical cellphone user in a single month, apparently). Anti-smart meter sentiment is especially strong in California where statewide opt-out programs — want to keep your analog meter? Fine, but you’ll have to pay for it — have been enacted by utilities and some activist groups have turned to somewhat drastic measures in an effort to keep utilities from installing the devices in their communities.
And then there’s Thelma Taormina, an anti-smart meter activist who was wearing her finest pair of crazypants on the day when a CenterPoint Energy employee showed up at her Houston area home and attempted to install one of the devices. After the worker arrived and defied the "no smart meters" signs plastered around the property, the 55-year-old homeowner made it clear to him that she was packing heat. I guess screaming bloody murder or unleashing the attack dogs wasn't an option that day. Obviously, once Taormina brandished her firearm the utility worker got the hell out of there.
“He just kept pushing me away. He saw (the gun), and went back the other way,” Taormina told KHOUGH 11 News. Taormina, who is licensed to carry a weapon, continues: “Our constitution allows us not to have that kind of intrusion on our personal privacy. They’ll be able to tell if you are running your computer, air conditioner, whatever it is."
Oy vey. CenterPoint Energy is perturbed by the incident to say the least. Says a company spokesperson:
We are deeply troubled by anyone who would pull a gun on another person performing their job. CenterPoint will be taking additional steps — including court actions — because what happened is dangerous, illegal and unwarranted.
As for Taormina's husband, a fellow who shares his wife's feelings towards smart meters (together, they founded a local anti-smart meter group called "We the People"), he tells KHOUGH11: "I am very upset with it."
The comments section over at KHOUGH 11 provides plenty of insight into what local folks think about the incident. Some commenters applaud Taormina's actions, labeling her as some sort of anti-"spying device" heroine. Others think she's simply a paranoid wackjob who stepped way over the line. Others fall somewhere into the middle. And then some commenters, such as one Steve Settles, is using the smart meter showdown as an excuse to flex his comedic chops: "See here Thelma, all ya gots to do is get ya one a 'em alimeenum colanders for strainin' greens and put it right top your head. That way them durn commie power folks can't read your thoughts! Furthamore, Thelma, as long as ur air conditioner and coffee pot are runnin' that there 256-bit AES encryption algorithm betwixt it 'n' yur access point, them pinko b***ds can't crack your temperature preferences or inclination towards Maxwell House!"
What do you think?
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So, Matt closes his eyes to a litany of concerns and just pretends that Thelma Taormina is "dumb."
I think you should look in the mirror, Matt.
Meter man do ur research federal title 18 is our right being protected. No utility company has a right to invade privacy or cause health issues because they are not above the law we do ask for electric services not health issues. Do ur research on smart meters go to freedomtakers.com don't just take the word from ur employers that it is safe because then u working like that would leave you stuck on stupid knowledge is power.
All the more reason people should work hard to get off the electric grid completely, it would be worth it in the long run.And if they ever try to make it a law you have to stay on the grid, then show them your weapons.
It is time that someone puts a stop to this tyrannical behavior. Good for Thelma. She has every right to protect herself.
Thelma is a Patriot. She is lawfully protecting her private property rights and her health and welfare. The utility company worker should be tried for felony aggravated assault, tresspassing and anything else the Police and the District Attorney can think up. It is time for us to get loud and stop this violation of our rights.
Go to unitedamericanos.com and click on page 5 for information about the issues with smart meters and the class action lawsuit that is starting up in Texas.
Seriously? You are what is wrong with this country, you think you know the laws, clearly you do not. As far as "idiots with guns", tell me that when your wife, daughter, sister or mother is ASSAULTED by a utility contractor. Installation is one thing, ASSAULT on someone is quite another. I would suggest that you find out all the facts prior to backing the criminal!
Your story is not being fully reported! This blog is the first site where I heard anything about you being assaulted. That being the case, you MUST press charges against the person who assaulted you. I will look forward to following the case. Will you be able to post updates? What did the prosecutor say? Was the utility person arrested?
The meter guy should loose his job.
It's is insulting to to the home owner to disobey posted signs. Having to show a gun was her only way to get him off her property and make him obey the posted signs...after asking him to leave/get out. Anyone have any other suggestions...and please, no one say, "call the police"...thank you.
We have an off peak rates meter where we spend less from 8-8 at night than from 8-8 in the day. I believe we were passed over for this reason due to not having a smart meter with the dual calculator read outs.
I haven't met anyone with an off peak rates meter. Have you found it helpful?
Her actions are completely justified. If they installed the Smart Meter she would never have been able to have it removed without the power co cutting her off. The meter guy was acting illegally and should be fired. I want the web address of her new organization to lend support.
If you leave, go inside, and get your gun. Can you really say it was to stop the assault? Seems to me, when you went inside, the assault was over.
Oh, but you see it wasn't...and the man was trespassing. No matter who you are, when told to leave someone's property and you don't, then that is trespassing.
I think that incidents like this are why people justifiably think America is a dangerous place full of nuts. The power company should just cut her off. Period. Let her exercise her 'freedom' to generate her own electricity. And to the previous comment, I don't see anything about assaults. I don't think I'm gonna vacation in the USA ever again. It's too dangerous if people think this behaviour is anything other than INSANE.
I am sure Mexico would enjoy you staying with them for your vacation. I am sure you feel safe with their police and a fully automatic rifle on each city block.
I agree with Bris's assessment... The reporting was very biased..
A very poorly written article. But, good for her.
Yes, I think if the author is such a big fan of California, he might want to read some of the reasons they are going bankrupt and people are leaving California for Texas by the droves. I cannot believe he actually used what is going on in California as an example of a good thing to do. But then again, he probably also believes in redistribution of wealth.
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