DON’T MISS THIS!!!

Tuesday,
December 2nd, 2014.

Smart Meter Hearing before the House Oversight Committee. Other events planned for earlier in the day.

If you can attend only the hearing come at 3 pm to Room 519 in the Anderson House Office Buildingat 124 North Capitol Avenue (across the street from the Capitol Building). Come to speak or come just to show your support! This will be an opportunity for all of us who have concerns about smart electric meters to come and have our say before a legislative committee.

It is also an opportunity to submit evidence or documents for consideration by the Committee.  Be sure to bring 30 copies of anything you plan to submit. Your presence at the hearing will help to show the legislators that there is strong support for our positions.  If possible wear something red (or wear a red ribbon that will be available at the door).  This hearing will be videotaped and may be up on the Committee website later.

This Committee is chaired by Rep Tom McMillin. It can only begin its hearing after the House session (across the street) ends. So actual starting time could be anywhere from 3 pm to 5 pm.  Upon arrival, check in with guard.  If the hearing room is not yet open when you arrive, congregate with others in the lobby on the main floor until the room opens. It is most important that we have as many as possible – particularly during the first hour of the hearing when news media will be present.

Tom has assured us that this hearing will run as long as necessary to give every person a chance to speak for the record!  Hearing may run late into the evening.

We particularly want your testimony on the record if you have been made ill by a smart meter, can no longer sleep in your own bed, had your power shutoff or been threatened with shutoff of your power for refusing to take a smart meter. Your input also needed if you have sought redress for any of these grievances from the Public Service Commission and been denied their help! The Chairman of the Public Service Commission has been invited as have representatives from DTE and Consumers Energy. We are hopeful that large numbers of you will come and make your voices heard!  If you have doctor’s letters or other written evidence you want submitted to the record, please be sure to bring 15 copies 30 copies for submission to the Committee.

The Purpose of this Hearing: Everyone should understand that the McMillin smart meter bill is still stuck in the House Energy Committee and will almost certainly die at the end of the year. This hearing, on the other hand, will be about establishing a record of evidence concerning the smart meter issues and the failure of the Public Service Commission in addressing those issues.  It has at least the possibility of leading to bills to be introduced in the next session of the legislature beginning in January. It is also a good opportunity for us to get our concerns reported by the press.

Other Activities Planned for That Day: If you are planning on coming for the hearing you may also want to come earlier in the day and join us for other protest activity planned by Pam Wallace and Dee Hilbert.  If you come at noon that day you can join us for a demonstration in front of the Capitol building.  The Capitol building is at 110 South Capitol Avenue (at the corner of Capitol Ave and Michigan Ave) Please bring a sign and wear warm clothing. In the morning some of us will be in the Senate lobby having our Senator called out of session by the Sergeant at Arms to talk with us about smart meter legislation.  In the early afternoon some of us will be in the House lobby having our Representative called out of session by the Sergeant at Arms to talk about smart meters.

RSVP: Please help Pam and Dee by sending an RSVP to them to let them know you will be attending the event/hearing, if you plan to testify and how many people you plan to have with you.- thank you. pamandandy22@yahoo.com or kipdee@wowway.com

If you plan to join us for the full day of activities please be sure to bring water, food and a snack. Tom has arranged for us to have Room 426 in the Capitol building to gather during the day. The room will allow us to rest, warm up and visit during our time at the Capitol. Here is the schedule for those who will be with us all day:

Directions to Capitol from Detroit area:  Take I 96 to I 496 West, then exit 7A service drive to right turn on Grand Ave (headed north 1-way) to left turn on Ottawa (headed west 1-way) to left turn on Walnut Street (headed south) to left turn on Allegan Street (headed east 1-way) to parking structure on Allegan street. You will be right next to Capitol and 1 block from the Anderson House Office Building.