Amarillo citizens voice concerns regarding Smart City scenario

Amarillo Globe-News
By Nell Williams, Special to the Amarillo Globe-News
October 21, 2023

A group of around 50 concerned Amarillo citizens met Thursday evening at Comanche Trail Church of Christ to ask questions of Rich Gagnon, Assistant City Manager of Technology for the City of Amarillo, about fears involving Amarillo joining a Smart Cities group. Recent changes, such as Xcel Energy’s Smart Meter installation and also the City of Amarillo water department smart meters, have brought to light certain issues.

It was a diverse group, and ages ranged from young to old in attendance. The topic was discussed during a monthly meeting of Conservatives of Texas, who meet every third Thursday at the church to discuss election integrity. Leader of the group, Alex Deanda, Precinct 111, Randall County, walked throughout the group with a portable microphone and let those who wanted to ask questions speak to Gagnon. Concerns stem from anxiety involving Amarillo becoming part of a Smart City group, where urban areas use different types of electronic methods and sensors to collect specific data which is supposed to manage assets, resources and services efficiently. In return, the data is used to improve operation across the city.

Amarillo Assistant City Manager of Technology Rich Gagnon talked to conerned citizen about the Smart Cities movement Thursday night at a meeting of Conservatives of Texas.  Gagnon assured the group that local information was not being shared via newly installed smart meter for utilities in the city.
Nell Williams/ For The Amarillo Globe-News

However, the consensus of the group, led by a member of Conservatives of Texas, was a fear that something that starts out good could become used in the wrong way, possibly to control people’s usage and more diabolical things. Also mentioned were legitimate questions involving tying too many technologies together in a way that would be easily sabotaged or the concern that if one system fails, they all do.

Citizens talked anonymously, and most did not want to be named. A woman who recently opted out of the Smart Meter for Xcel complained that she was forced to pay $166 to opt out and not receive it plus another $16 a month for a service she already had. She said that a week later an Xcel worker came out and hooked up a magnetic device to her electricity meter to check it. According to the woman, allegedly the man said, “a lot of people are opting out. He said he didn’t understand why Xcel is doing it within the city.”

Elisa Pardo, secretary for the group, encouraged attendees to do search on electric fires. Pardo said that the smart meters used by Xcel are known for exploding after a few years, when there is an electric surge. She said that Fire Departments are not in favor of them and that electric companies are not liable for loss during the fire.

Gagnon assured the group that Amarillo had not committed to join a group of Smart Cities to share information and was not planning to. He said that if it were considered, it would have to go through the City Council and have to be posted on the City Agenda.

Other concerns of the group were radiation that the smart meter is said to emit. According to some of the audience, the radiation can be harmful to people, pets and plants.

The change to approve Xcel Energy's meters and the City of Amarillo's implementation of smart technology was made during a City Council meeting. The city received funding from the state of Texas for the approval which was done during previous Mayor Ginger Nelson’s term.

A younger man said that the smart system used “dirty electricity” to run devices. He said that the EMF regulated and monitored people through WiFi, smart phones and LED lights. He said that he had just come from Miami, Florida, where they are jumping on board the Smart Cities technology.

The city technology expert assured the crowd that the city was being transparent and that local control was important to maintain. He said that he was not seeing it happening and that no one else has access to our local information.

The next meeting of Conservatives of Texas will be at 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at Comanche Trails Church of Christ and will feature a presentation by Dr. Douglas Frank of The Seven Steps to Restore Election Integrity. Frank holds a PhD in chemistry and is an associate of the “My Pillow Guy,” Mike Lindell. He has been working with various activists to eliminate fraud in the election system. Meetings last an hour. For more information, go to www.conservativesoftexas.org or call Elisa Pardo, secretary of the group at 806-282-6638.