I have been back in contact with a vestibular audiologist since my last post. I’d had a few email exchanges when I was first given a referral for such a specialist. She did seem a tad sceptical about my symptoms starting after the installation of smart, then dumb, digital meters. A few days back I sent her the research document from Norway and she replied stating it was fascinating and made sense. (For doc see post: RE: Severe Tinnitus Following the Installation of New Electricity Meters) She recommended I contact a professor at Nottingham University via The Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Network to seek his opinion and help. I'm awaiting to hear back.

I've had another GP appointment and was told I have other problems, which are linked by some to electro-hypersensitivity (EHS). The GPs I've been speaking are believing me about the meter being the source of my problems, but they are obviously more concerned about dealing with the symptoms rather than helping me with medical evidence in order to get those telling me there is nothing wrong with the meter, to understand that there is something wrong, very wrong. I've been referred for an ENT consultation for tinnitus and sinus problems and waiting to hear back.

The OPSS responded last week stating smart meters are safe and to read the usual government document on "Radio Waves Resulting from Smart Meters and Health". I've replied back stating this was not about smart meters and high frequency WANs, HANs, wi-fi etc but about switched-mode power supplies generating low frequency radio emissions. I asked them to look at the Norwegian research document, my AM radio tuning video I'd sent them and request they check the output of my type of meter. I'm waiting to hear back.

I was told I couldn't appeal the decision of the Ombudsman by the investigator without any new evidence and it was hard whether to decide or accept, having won the case but not the remedy required for the meter. A letter of apology is of no use. I was told today by another person at the Ombudsman service that I could actually appeal and have just done so, requesting that the meter be tested, as can be requested by a customer if they suspect something is wrong with it. Obviously such testing usually concerns the accuracy of readings, so I will probably have a hard time making sure it is tested for emissions. The goodwill payment was for the poor customer service experienced, so I've indicated in my appeal that this is acceptable. So, I'm waiting to hear back.

While this is dragging on, I've decided to start implementing defences. I made a basic Faraday Cage for the meter. (Not recommended for an actual smart meter nor for people who don't have any electrical training.) My old AM radio will no longer pick up anything like the noise it did before and certainly didn't tune into the acoustic noise as it was doing previously at multiple carrier frequencies. Within an hour my sore eyes and head pains started feeling relieved. I had a relatively good night's sleep albeit helped to get to sleep with the aid of a sleeping tablet. I beefed up the homespun Faraday Cage the following day and had a similar night's sleep without the aid of a sleeping tablet. However, head pressure/pain returned quite a bit over the following days and the tinnitus has not shown any signs of relenting, they are really bad at the moment. The cupboard itself now really feels a horrible place to put my head in. The Faraday Cage obviously cannot stop emissions being transmitted around the house from the cabling and sockets. When testing for RF noise with the AM radio in the cupboard it became apparent that most noise now comes from the mains "service head". I've rung Western Power Distribution and told them I'd like them to come back and check the quality of the incoming supply. So, I am waiting to hear back on that too.

The more I seek out about dirty electricity and EHS, the more my symptoms match those that get listed. The problem is, there's lots of doubters about dirty electricity and plenty of condescending remarks about people who claim to suffer from EHS. I'm probably guilty of being a bit sceptical of such people in the past but I would never make the sort of horrid remarks I've seen others make. I certainly will be more considerate and respectful of them in future. I do wonder though, how may are blaming wi-fi and phone signals yet it is low frequencies rather than high frequencies that are causing their symptoms? If simple and relatively cheap suppression at source mitigates the effects, wouldn't adding it result in a lot of benefits, not just in health care?

Day 124 and a long overdue update:

My appeal to have the meter independently tested was rejected by the Ombudsman as expected on the basis I wasn't complaining about meter reading accuracy. I was told by the second investigator, once again, that smart meters are safe and I needed to read the government's guidance on them. However, following the appointment of a third investigator, my case was put under full review. As a result of that review, I was promised that if I provided a doctor's letter that clearly stated I was having the problems I've been reported as a result of the current meter and that I needed to be returned to a traditional analogue meter as installed before 9 February, then Octopus Energy would be instructed to find and install such a meter. Sadly after obtaining that letter from my GP surgery, that promise has not been fulfilled as yet. Two more investigators have been appointed to replace the previous one and they have so far only asked Octopus for timescales in which they could replace the meter in one of three ways, one of those being exactly the same as installed now, a smart turned dumb meter. The other two ways were the traditional analogue meter and a digitial display only meter. Octopus have until 22 June to respond and then I will be given the choice of which option to take, bearing in mind the timescales offered. Meanwhile my health continues to decline, as does my wife's in other ways.

Western Power Distribution visited two weeks ago to check their "service head". They replaced the original 1957 cut-out with a modern version and checked the neutral and earthing connections were in accordance with the regulations and resistance values within their more stringent company’s tolerances. They couldn't check the quality of the actual supply, as there is apparently no standards for the quality of the 50Hz mains supply, which is rather worrying given the circumstances that the problems I am suffering can be caused by neighbour's electrical equipment without any redress. Commenting on the meter, the lead engineer did say that he has never heard a meter make acoustic noise like my meter makes and he's ‘seen thousands’. Checking the RF noise c/o my old AM radio afterwards, the cut-out box did seem to be less noisy than the original. The meter of course still makes the same noise acoustically and emits the same RF noise on the LW and MW bands as before. Unfortunately, one downside is that I am now unable to make the meter acoustically quiet using the wedge in the same way and I can't stay in the cupboard for any length of time to work out a new way otherwise my head goes fuzzy otherwise I'm at risk of low blood pressure moments for several hours afterwards when standing up from lying down or crouching. This is all getting worse.

My NHS ENT consultation has been acknowledged with a dummy appointment date stated for January next year. I had a referral for something else which had a dummy date of May this year which was sent last November and still hasn't happened. Hence, I won't be holding my breath. The professor at Nottingham University I've tried to contact has been on leave, but I have been promised by The Tinnitus and Hyperacusis Network that he will contact me soon after he returns.

I've not heard anything more from the OPSS. I have been in contact with the ICNIRP following Ofgem informing me: “UKHSA predecessor Public Health England has been carrying out a programme of research to assess exposures from smart meters as the technology is rolled out, and the evidence to date suggests exposures to the radio waves produced by smart meters do not pose a risk to health. Their study found exposure to radio waves from smart meters is likely to be much lower than that from other everyday devices such as mobile phones and Wi-Fi equipment, and is well below the health regulatory guidelines set by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP).” Ofgem missed my point as usual about low frequencies being emitted by the switched-mode power supply and my meter not having the communications hub any more. Looking at the ICNIRP guidance, it shows some concerning information on low frequencies. The current guidance on low frequencies doesn't make comfortable reading. There is an admission that "low frequencies are can interfere with the body’s own electric fields and current flows related to normal biological functioning" and "At higher levels, LF causes irreversible cardio-vascular effects or tissue burns." Other effects are said to be either reversible, very low risk or inconclusive. The latter are not very nice; Alzheimer’s disease and the most common form of Motor Neurone Disease. (I know of two elderly people who have developed Alzheimer’s symptoms within a very short space of time after having meters fitted. Too difficult for me to prove a link, all I can say is both developed their symptoms very soon after having smart meters fitted and the same model of meter as originally fitted in my house is involved in one case.) ICNIRP initially responded with ‘smart meters are safe, read your government's guidance’ and also, if it is a compliance matter then contact your product compliance unit, which is of course the OPSS. At the second attempt of telling ICNIRP about my experience they did come back and say that "they will consider this in the current development of the ICNIRP low frequency guidelines". Hopefully a result. Anyone reading this with a similar health issues as mine or in their low frequency guidance, please let them know.

Here’s a full list of the symptoms I’m suffering that are commonly reported in information on 'electro-hypersensitivity' or 'electro-sensitivity', that are either directly or consequentially being suffered since the meter installation on 9 February:

I sense one or two other things which may be related but I will hold off declaring them as I don't have enough confidence yet to declare them as related. The utter stress of dealing with the situation is anissue which I will keep separate from the list of symptoms above. Obviously stress does not help with some of the symptoms above, but I do not consider any have arisen purely as a result of the stress I an going through trying to get the meter replaced.

A visitor on Friday who had not been since 9 February reported head pressure feeling and tingles in one if not both ears just 30 minutes after entering the house. Those feeling and a loss of concentration persisted long after the hour she was in the house. That's the second time a visitor (we don't have many) has reported some effects to me.

This 'discussion' has now had over 1000 viewings, probably lots from people who are not members. If you are a member and have any similar issues please reply, just one other member has as yet declared a symptom following a smart meter installation. Whether you are members or not and have any such symptoms develop after a new digital electricity meter is fitted, smart or dumb, please contact your doctor and your energy company. If you are in the UK and your energy company refuses to help, contact Citizens Advice who can then transfer you to the Energy Ombudsman. Don’t take "no" or "we've never heard of this before" as an answer. I don't think there's anyone left working for the Energy Ombudsman who hasn't heard of my case by now.

sorry to read that it is dragging on and thank you for the update.

It will be little consolation, but your engineer who was unaware of standards for distortion and harmonics on the mains is sightly mistaken.

There have been UK regulations since the 1970s, and more recently a euronorm.

harmonics of 50Hz to 2000Hz in EN61000 .  more info here, from a test gear maker, so rather biassed  towards selling their own kit.

Much above low audio frequencies  it becomes more of a radio problem and not really so much harmonic related.

(RF filtering mains ) And an informal guide to how conducted RF emissions can be measured.

And from the UK energy networks association,  Engineering Recommendation G5/4-1 - that should apply to the DNO side of things

  Unsurprisingly, both for appliances and the network, you are allowed a lot of 50Hz, and then less and less of the higher harmonics.

That said it these are all pretty liberal limits, and currents and voltages can often be quite a long way from the clean sinewaves assumed by the analysis of the text books. And worse, no one is actually checking beyond sample tests at the factory.

Mike.

Thanks Mike for your reply and the links to further information.

I've managed to get a look at my mains with an oscilloscope. Here's what the 50Hz looks like:

Rather triangular with flat peaks, not quite as dramatic as the mains depicted in your message, but doesn't look quite right. The output of the FFT function of the oscilloscope reveals something rather interesting though. Here's the  frequency range up to 25kHz:

As can be seen there is a peak around 13.5kHz. I judged my tinnitus to be around 14kHz. Is this the link I've been looking for?

perhaps. Do I understand that plot correctly that the 13khz line is about 40 dB below the 50Hz one - i.e. about 2.5V rms, (7vp-p) relative to 230V RMS for the mains. If so that is still quite a lot - is this an LE voltage or an L-N voltage and is there any of it visible N-E ?

also is it possible to look higher in freq - this may be a mixing product from things that are supersonic.

Hi Mike,

It is L-E voltage and yes it does appear to peak around -10dB, 40dB approx below the 50Hz amplitude. There's nothing much standing-out after the peak close to 14kHz until around 84.5kHz which is even stronger at approx -6.4dB. (After that there's minor peaks but a stand-out one is 1.4MHz of -4.8dB which equates to the strongest tuning point on my AM radio's MW band of the meter's acoustic noise, but this is beyond the range of interest, 0 to 100kHz, the range the ICNIRP says can cause biological interference.)

There are movements to these peaks, I saw one happen while I was setting up to take a look at the N-E waveform. At first the lower peak was even closer to 14kHz than this morning, then it sudddenly jumped up to 16kHz. The higher frequency this morning was 83kHz, this afternoon it was at 86kHz. I guess that is just the switched-mode power supply varying how it is working, which I suspected given there are some periods where the tinnitus is worse than others.

Here's the N-E FFT analysis:

Peaks are -30dB dropping down to -40dB. The 16.63kHz peak roughly equates to what the L-E was doing but there were no other matching L-E peaks at the time.

The N-E waveform looks like this:

The voltage is around 140mV peak to peak, excluding transients such as the one you can see on the third cycle. It is approx 180 degrees out of phase with the live.

I am sorry to hear of your problem. I am not sure I can be of much help but one of the suggestions made was to change your meter to a dumb electronic one. I have done some measurements on mine: an elster electronic three phase meter A1100. 

This generates noise at RF around 0.567Mhz with audio output peaking around 3900Hz when the receiver is close to the meter  and 500 Hz slightly further away but a high floor level across the AF spectrum Above a foot away there is nothing received. There are a couple more lower peaks in the 0.800 MHz and 0.900 MHz  regions. My cheap old tinny dial tune trany receives the noise over a wide band but my little communications receiver only picks it up at that frequency. The signal must be quite a low level as even the lowest squelch setting, as opposed to no squelch, on the comms receiver cuts it off but weak AM transmitters are received. I get no change in the audio noise on a smart phone spectrum analyser up to 20 K Hz when moved close to the meter other than the noisy blackbirds singing outside.

I should say that the RF noise across the RF spectrum  from my old steam driven PC is much worse.

Good luck with the resolution of your problem. 

Kevin 

The radio signal appearing across the band on a simpler receiver, at even with a signal that has a low average level, usually indicates a funny RF waveform with a high peak to mean ratio - imagine repeating short duration spikes with a low mark to space ratio. This is quite possible with a switching supply.
In a receiver with low pre-mixer selectivity, the front end overloads on the peaks, and when that occurs, almost regardless of which frequency you think you are are tuned to, every other incoming signal is chopped up by this, before it gets mixed down into the high selectivity IF stages. Once intermodulated in this way, no amount of cleverness can undo it. In a receiver with a higher Q tuned circuit in the front end, the short burst is smeared into a longer 'ring' of lower amplitude and more a narrowly defined frequency.
Part of the problem with this sort if interference is that the EMC standards, and therefore test house receivers,  are predicated on most systems generating narrowband more or less continuous waves, so levels are set in terms of the energy in a 9kHz bandwidth in each channel, averaged over a short time, assuming that between the few affected channels there is almost no energy. In days past this was a sensible assumption. But, equipment  like switching supplies are not like that at all and have more in common with periodically recurring lightning, with a very high ratio of peak to average power. The spectral view is fine as far as it goes, but is not the full story and identical levels may not mean identical situations.

given this, if it were mine, I might be adding a few uF L-N at the consumer unit to see if that reduces things - on the scope you can see it, and on the radio you can hear it, so you will know if you have had any effect.
Mike

Thanks for your reply Kevin and your findings with your elster meter.

The second smart meter installed was converted to a dumb meter just two days after installation, one week into this long running saga, so the smart functionality of these meters is not a part of the ill health effects I am suffering. I think I have been very unlucky with the two models of meter that have been installed in my house being particularly bad at noise suppression of their power supplies, but try talking to an energy company, Ofgem, BEIS/OPSS, UKHSA and other authorities about that. I can't take the risk and expense of switching and paying for the meter to be replaced until one is found that suits me. I need to be reverted back to the meter type I had before asap. It really shouldn't be as monstrously difficult as I have found out when there the medical problems are as bad as I am reporting, the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming and with all the technical evidence I have provided. Don't forget in my battle, the symptoms mean I'm fatigued, my head hurts and my concentration level is well below par. The average person in the street suffering similarly has absolutely no chance of being taken seriously.

Continuing on that theme: I've just received a response from UKSHA this morning informing me that 'smart meters are safe, they comply with ICNIRP the guidance' and I should "discuss my health situation with their own GP, who is best placed to decide on what investigations should be carried out and what treatments may be possible". I've lost count of how many times I've been told 'smart meters are safe, read the guidance' and as for seeing GPs, my GPs have been learning from me about the symptoms. The only treatment I need is to remove the source of the problem. The meter in my house is not safe. Our visitor last Friday who left complaining of some recognised electro-sensitivity issues after just one hour, doesn't need convincing of that. That's the Kaifa MA120 to be precise, the Landis+Gyr E470 before that. UKSHA - I am not saying all smart meters are unsafe.

I'm finding more and more people online reporting similar symptoms as me and it is not always meters that are involved. There's many different types of electrical equipment in my house, many of which will have switched-mode power supplies, I don't understand quite why it has it taken the installation of a digital electricity meter to push me over the edge into suffering from well noted electro-sensitivity symptoms so badly. I'm very close to having to abandon my house. I'm camping out in the garden now at night to see if that can improve my sleep. After a very bad first night, I managed 5 hours last night, which is still poor but double that of most nights in the last fortnight. I certainly don't feel the pain my ears as bad outside as inside, it's is a very marked change when I come back in for breakfast. I look forward to not having any pain again, even if the meter was changed today, it will take a very long time for this level of tinnitus to fade. Most other symptoms I would expect to cease very quickly.

I've finally had chance to look at the mains in the only house where I know I have the same problem as in my own. Like Kevin's (RE: Severe Tinnitus Following the Installation of New Electricity Meters), it is an "elster", but single phase model AS300P. Waveform is looks slightly more distorted than my own:

Tell tale noise close to 14kHz, slightly lower level compared to my own:

I also found noticeable peaks of -7.8dB at 38kHz and -5dB at 1.4MHz.

I don't know whether somebody from Octopus read Kevin's message about making my meter dumb, but they sent a fitter to remove the communications hub again last week. Must have missed my messages stating they did that back on 16 February. The appointment was promised to be the long awaited switch of meter, but someone thought they knew better. This whole episode with Octopus and the Ombudsman is one of torment and a complete lack of understanding of the issue with the meter, the intensity of the symptoms and the effect all this is having on my normal way of life not forgetting the impact on my wife also not forgetting our friends also. Our friend, a medical professional, who fled the house after 1 hour with ear and head pains continued to suffer typical electro-sensitivity symptoms for a further 48 hours. What would she be like if she was having to live with this meter? This is plenty bad enough for me with my comparatively slower reaction.

I didn't make it clear in my previous post that my GPs are supporting me in my plight, they see the removal of the meter as the only real solution and my registered GP wrote a letter requesting that the meter be changed back "with some urgency" which was received by the Ombudsman on 31 May. What happened afterwards is beyond the scope of this discussion, but let's just "urgency" has a different meaning to what it says in my dictionary. The disappointment of last week's appointment was obviously huge, but bearing in mind what has happened over the last 140 days, it was not a great surprise. The Ombudsman insisted on Octopus compensating me for the muddled appointment and a £30 credit has been duly added to my energy account for the inconvenience.

In the midst of all the inconvenience of waiting for the actual solution, I was told by one of the officers at the Ombudsman that the meter could be bypassed while I await the change of meter for urgent medical reasons. Here's the responses I have had when trying to make that happen and I wonder if anyone can make sense of them, because I am having some difficulty:

1. Your health is paramount but you would be getting free electricity so we are not going to do it.*
2. We don't touch the meter, it is your energy company's responsibility so you have to get them to do it.
3. Our fitters need to be more qualified than they are to be able to do such a thing.
4. Only if your meter is faulty such as having an arcing terminal would be done.
5. It would unsafe not have a working meter.

       *I have offered to pay the average daily usage which is a little higher than our current summer usage.

It seems the meter making me faulty has more rights than I do to be in my own home.