How Do Recruiters Find the Best Candidates?

Recruiters spend a lot of time looking for qualified applicants, but where do they find them? LinkedIn is a great place to start looking for potential candidates. In addition, tech recruiters will search Twitter and browse GitHub for potential candidates. Moreover, other sources include job boards and referrals. Interviews are also an essential part of the recruitment process. So whether you’re looking for a tech recruiter or a marketing professional, here’s how to find them.

 

Referrals

Using referrals is an effective way to attract top candidates for your company. If you want to find the right people for your open positions, you should first decide at what stage of the recruiting process you will use employee referrals. Also, make sure that you track the number of referrals per role or department. According to headhunters in Austin, TX, using referrals will save you time and money. Referrals can be helpful if employees in a particular department hesitate to refer their friends. They may not be satisfied with the work environment, office culture, or management.

Candidates referred by current employees have already been screened by their former colleagues. Therefore, they are more likely to fit the role than candidates who were only referred by outside sources. Referred candidates should be tagged on your recruiting software to shorten the screening process further. You can then follow up on them in the future to ensure they are still a good fit. In addition, if you use referral software to track referred candidates, you can quickly identify which of them were referred by which employees.

 

Job boards

While job boards have many advantages for companies, they come with a cost: time and effort. While they’ve made it easy for employees to search for jobs, recruiters complain that they’re inundated with applications and don’t have the time to weed through the dozens of unsuitable candidates. Strategic recruiters use niche job boards to focus their search and eliminate the wasted time scanning hundreds or thousands of CVs.

Job boards have a variety of advantages, including the ability to collect resumes in one place, which is crucial if you’re trying to hire highly-specialized people. Many job boards also integrate with applicant tracking systems (ATS) and offer features that help you filter and prioritize candidates. In addition to that, job boards are candidate-focused, allowing you to create a fluid candidate application experience. And since most job boards offer many jobs, you can search by job title or keyword to find the best match.

 

Social media

When used correctly, social media can help recruiters find the best candidates. Recruiters can use the sites to conduct background checks on potential hires. Social media can provide insight into a person’s personality and aesthetics. The sites can also help recruiters understand who would be a good fit for a given position. The posts and comments of employees on social media can help recruiters spot red flags in a candidate. While some employees are not good candidates, their passion for certain subjects can help recruiters make the right hire.

While using social media to source candidates can be time-consuming and challenging to manage, it can provide invaluable insight into a person’s career history and interests. Using LinkedIn, recruiters can easily find the most qualified candidates for open roles. In addition, the site provides an unparalleled look at a candidate’s work history, endorsements, and referrals. LinkedIn has over five hundred million professional users worldwide and 160 million in the U.S.

 

Interviews

In an interview, the candidate should be asked to answer a series of questions related to the role and the company’s culture. This helps the interviewer assess the candidate’s motivation, interest, and fit with the company. Interviews are essential tools for recruiting because mistakes can lead to reduced staff morale, poor customer service, and a low bottom line. Listed below are some tips for conducting interviews. The interviewer should also review the candidate’s resume.

Organize your time. Set aside a time and place for interviews. If possible, invite candidates to come on a day convenient for them, such as during the weekend. If possible, avoid multiple tasks and be consistent with eye contact. During an interview, avoid multitasking and focus on the job. Make sure to thank them for their time and tell them when they will be in touch. If an interview takes place at a different location than the one the candidates are most familiar with, don’t schedule a meeting immediately afterward.

Something Wicked This Way Comes – John Droz, Jr.

My friend, Physicist John Droz, Jr. wanted me to pass this message on to you:

FYI, last night Tucker Carlson did a fine segment on the stupidity of wind.

Make SURE that you watch the short video in the article, which is superb!

My only beef is that Tucker repeatedly called industrial wind projects “wind farms.” There is nothing being farmed, other than subsidies. The lobbyists purposefully coined the phrase “wind farm” to deceive non-aware citizens into thinking an industrial wind project is pastoral and environmentally benign.

Both are false, as industrial wind projects are environmentally destructive. (E.g. see here.)

They are also typically a net economic liability to host communities. (E.g. see here.)

Further, industrial wind facilities are a net burden on the electric grid — the backbone of our modern society (and the Texas situation is one of numerous examples).

Stunningly, this is actually a desirable consequence for those pushing wind, as their real objective is to undermine our way of life. (E.g. carefully read Bill McKibben, the journalist — not scientist — who is the leader of the environmental movement.)

Lastly, there is zero genuine scientific proof that wind turbines are of any consequential benefit regarding climate change. In fact there is substantial evidence that they are a climate detriment! (E.g. see here.)

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Ohio Buffet Lines Can Possibly Reopen

That is if their businesses haven’t already died! Below is the DeWine presser:

(COLUMBUS, Ohio)—Ohio Governor Mike DeWine today announced that Ohio Department of Health Director Stephanie McCloud signed the Addendum to Director’s Third Amended Order that Reopens Restaurants, Bars, Banquet and Catering Facilities and Services to Dine-In Service, with Exceptions. This amended order, reopens self-service food stations in restaurants, bars, banquet and catering facilities, and services, as long as the following conditions are met:

    • Customers must wear facial coverings while using self-service food stations or in line for self-service food stations. Those unable to wear a facial covering must be served by an employee.
    • Buffet tables/salad bars must be spaced a minimum of 6 feet away from customer seating/tables, and lines must not extend into seating areas.
    • Customer flow at buffet tables/salad bars must move in one direction with a beginning point and ending point, and customers must maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing while in line. Directional signage must be posted indicating where the customer line begins.
    • Hand sanitizer must be placed at self-serve food stations, including at the front of the line and end of the line of buffet tables/salad bars, and used by customers prior to, and after, serving themselves.
    • At least 6 feet of social distancing must be maintained between seated customers and customers in line for a buffet/salad bar and monitored by employees.
    • Serving utensils must be replaced or cleaned and sanitized at least hourly. It is recommended that customers use disposable napkins, tissues, wax paper, etc., when handling serving utensils, and operators of self-service food stations are encouraged to make them available. A trash receptacle should be conveniently located.
    • Use of individually packaged condiments is recommended instead of shared or bulk condiment dispensers.
    • Commonly touched surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized frequently.
    • While in operation, self-serve areas must be continually monitored by staff who are trained in food safety, including monitoring customer hand sanitizing practices at the self-service food station.
    • Food must be protected from contamination, including sneeze guards on self-serve equipment.
    • Signage must be placed at self-service food stations requiring customers to use hand sanitizer before and after serving themselves, and to maintain at least 6 feet of social distancing while in line. The signage should recommend that customers use disposable napkins, tissues, wax paper, etc., when handling serving utensils. A sample sign is available on Ohio’s coronavirus website at https://coronavirus.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/covid-19/responsible-restart-ohio/Posters-and-Signs (food service operations and retail food establishments may choose to develop their own signage).

The order goes into effect on February 11, 2021 at 11:59 p.m.

–30–

COVID takes the Spotlight – as Wireless Radiation Risk is Mostly Ignored

by Monique Maisenhalter

While Ohio legislators and agencies are informing and advising us daily on how to protect ourselves from COVID-19, they could inform and advise us on how to protect ourselves from radiation exposure as well.

In 2011, the World Health Organization classified cell phone radiation as a possible carcinogen. American neurosurgeon, Dr. Keith Black, cautioned “Children’s skulls and scalps are thinner so the radiation can penetrate deeper into the brains of children and young adults.”

In 2012, then Ohio congressman Dennis Kucinich, introduced the “Cell Phone Right to Know Act”. It was endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Children, Women More Vulnerable to Cell Phone Radiation

Washington D.C. (December 13, 2012) — The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) which represents “60,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists, and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults” has endorsed H.R. 6358, the Cell Phone Right to Know Act.
See AAP’s letter of support here.

“Health effects from cell phone radiation are a potential concern for everyone that uses a cell phone, but children are among the most vulnerable as the doctors note in the letter. I am honored that such esteemed professionals support the Cell Phone Right to Know Act,” said Kucinich. “Our coalition is growing and broadening.”

The Cell Phone Right to Know Act, H.R. 6358, provides for warning labels on cell phones. It would also create a new national research program to study cell phones and health and require the Environmental Protection Agency to update the outdated Specific Absorption Rate.

More research about cell phone and wireless radiation exposure has been published since 2011. In addition to the Academy of American Pediatrics (AAP), doctors and scientists with the Baby Safe Project also recommend reducing exposure to children and pregnant women.

Since 2017, the California Department of Health has offered cell phone safety guidelines on its website. It includes recommendations on how to reduce exposure. The Ohio Department of Health could do the same. The California Department of Health guidelines could be used as a template.

Ohio utility companies have installed 2-way transmitting smart meters on Ohio homes and buildings. These meters involuntarily expose us to radiation. They also violate our right to privacy and have cybersecurity risks. Ohioans should be able to refuse smart meters and have traditional analog meters (electric, gas, and water) installed on their homes and businesses without paying expensive fees.

Cell towers, antennas, and WiFi hotspots are also sources of involuntary radiation exposure. Currently state and federal legislation doesn’t protect Ohioans from this infrastructure being installed near homes, schools, and hospitals.

Most would agree that the risks shouldn’t outweigh the benefits regarding new technology or anything else.

For more information about unsafe technology being installed in Ohio, join SWORT on Facebook (SW Ohio for Responsible Technology) or email [email protected] Click here to review and sign our petition, “Stop 5G Deployment in Ohio Until Independent Studies Prove It’s Safe.”

Additional links:
American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations
Educate Yourself about Health Risks Posed by Smart Meters
Parent-Teacher Organizations Action on Wi-Fi, Cell Phones and Cell Towers at School
Schools Worldwide Removing the Wi-Fi and Reducing Exposure

 

Most Ohio Utilities have Installed Smart Meters. Do You Know About Their Cybersecurity Risks?

by Vince Welage, SWORT board member

Cyber Security Vital to Smart Metering Deployment

As the adoption of “Smart Meters” and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) has become more widespread, its appeal to cyber attackers has increased significantly.

This means that utility companies must address security vulnerabilities across multiple layers from the start. For the most part, utilities often rely on service providers and vendors to comply with cyber security regulatory requirements.

For this reason, many security compliance efforts have neglected the newly built “smart” infrastructures in power grids which suggest that electric utilities should expect them to have weaknesses.

In regard to cyber security – Duke Energy – has already been the target of cyber attacks and had to pay fines because of cyber security violations. Duke reported 650 million attempted cyber attacks in 2017. Another Ohio utility, First Energy, has confirmed the need for frequent replacement due to the meters being computers.

Because AMI allows for 2-way communication and remote management of in-field devices, security breaches could allow unwanted changes to be made to device configuration and settings. IBM has reported that millions of Smart Meters are already vulnerable and could be wrecked by hackers. If Smart Meters move to 5G networks, there is a more significant cyber security risk because the 5G technology is software based. This means the meter is subject to hackers using backdoor or calling home mechanisms that can go undetected when installed during regular software upgrades.

An electric Smart Meter is much the same as other Internet of Things (IoT) based products like a Smart TV or Smart refrigerator wrapped in privacy and security concerns. Federal IoT Guidelines that establish minimum security standards for IoT devices procured by the federal government is moving closer to becoming law. However, the Smart Meter can’t be disconnected and discarded unless the homeowner wants to lose total electric power to the home. Residential Smart Meter installations result in both unwanted and forced surveillance. Currently, utility Smart Meters aren’t safe. They don’t have surge protectors and are prone to fires and explosions. Advanced meters must be properly grounded and have surge protection that is adequately rated in order to divert a lightning strike or some kind of short-circuit incident.

All of these new power grid infrastructures are essentially large, distributed networks of computers that can be hijacked for financial gains. This means that criminal organizations have an ongoing mission to steal utility assets and sell them back to the utility. These bad actors go after what a utility relies on the most to operate: data and grid infrastructure.

Malware can be developed to target Smart Meters, launch it, and take control of tens of thousands if not millions of Smart Meters. The attackers then change the targeted utility security keys, pushing the utility out of their own infrastructure. Utilities are accepting of these types of security risks via remote software update because they expect the newly built computerized infrastructures will gain new capabilities, thus increasing the return on investment.

Smart Meters are often not just used for billing consumers for energy and water they use. Electric utilities use Smart Meters to remotely switch power off or use Smart Meter data in a series of business processes that base their decisions on information received from the Smart Meters in the field – such as signal and power quality levels used for fault detection and load balancing. By manipulating this data, attackers can directly change the view of a grid to their advantage.

In addition, Smart Meters are increasingly being used as grid sensors in Smart Sewers through real-time monitoring and control of overflow conditions inside the sewer system. This is an extremely insightful data point from a Smart Grid perspective.

Like other Smart infrastructure, there have been problems with Smart Sewers. For example, in South Bend IN, Smart Sewers have been overwhelmed which has led to sewage being directed into the river.

The Need for Early Detection and Response Planning

Despite the risks, Smart Meters are installed into the grid in an effort to keep companies competitive in the race to the Smart Grid. The switch-over to Smart Meters is in part due to federal mandates that promote Smart Grid projects which established a national policy for grid modernization. Efforts to secure these new technologies have largely focused on trying to prevent attacks from being successful. Therefore, utilities must invest in early detection and incident response, especially for their newer technologies that may not be procured, developed, or operated with a bad actor in mind. Attacks can be significantly hampered by early detection and pre-planned disaster response playbooks.

However, as of right now, solutions aren’t being applied quickly enough to the latest grid technologies. In May, President Trump issued an Executive Order to make the Smart Grid more secure. He ordered beefed-up efforts to secure the U.S. grid saying, “The unrestricted foreign supply of bulk-power system electric equipment constitutes an unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security, foreign policy, and economy of the United States.”  However, new stories of cyber attacks hit the headlines almost every day which portends that not every attack can be blocked.

For more details on problems that persist with other Smart Meter components, read my August article in the OSHN archive.

Editor Notes: What to do if you have a smart meter and you don’t want it.

Make a Call (or better yet, write a letter via certified mail) to your utility and tell them you demand an analog meter.

If you have been made ill by your “smart’ meter,” tell them about it in detail. Tell them you know of the people who have gotten analogs. Tell them you are going to the press if they don’t do the same thing for you they have done for others.

Do not accept a digital non-transmitting meter— be aware they also have problems, and are not stable and secure like analog meters.

Do not take “No” for an answer.

Former CPD Speaks Out in Support of Columbus Police Officers

 Letter to the Editor from former CPD James J. Scanlon 

“Vote NO on Columbus Charter Amendment Civilian Police Review Board”

After spending over $500,000 of Columbus City tax dollars on a no bid contract with the BakerHostetler Law Firm, Mayor Ginther and City Council members were “surprised and angered” that the vast majority of Columbus Police Officers were cleared of any wrongdoing during the recent downtown riots. Unfortunately, Ginther and Council members did not voice the same “surprise and anger” about the 200 injuries inflicted on their police officers during those same riots.

Since Mayor Ginther and all Columbus City Council Members didn’t get the desired bang for their buck, (well – your buck), in maliciously persecuting Columbus Police Officers, they have devised another plan to accomplish that goal.

They propose Columbus Charter Amendment (3501.11G) to establish a suspiciously vague Citizen Review Board that lacks any transparency. This proposed kangaroo court has no clear direction, no clearly defined goals, and no clear selection process for board members.

However, Ginther’s charade of a citizen’s review board will clearly be filled with individuals who have a disturbingly anti-police bias and will be focused on falsely accusing and prosecuting the fine men and women of the Columbus Division of Police.

Support your Columbus Division of Police. Support a return to law and order in Columbus.

Vote NO on Columbus Charter Amendment (3501.11G) Citizen Review Board.

James J. Scanlon
614-419-4890 Cell
[email protected]

Link to Ballotpedia: Columbus Issue 2, Civilian Police Review Board and Inspector General Charter Amendment

 

High Speed Internet Access Should be Made Safe for Ohio Students and Communities

by Monique Maisenhalter, SW Ohio for Responsible Technology

According to the September 1, 2020 Ohio governor press conference, $50M in grants has been made available for providing remote learning supplies to K-12 students.

These supplies include internet-abled lap tops, tablets, and Wi-Fi hotspots for homes which will allow 121,000 students to do remote learning.

The grant also supports the creation of new public and mobile Wi-Fi spaces to provide internet access to 645,000 students.

During the press conference, there was also discussion of streamlining broadband laws.

Ohio broadband laws like Ohio House Bill 478 “Small Cells Expansion Act” severely limit municipal control over wireless infrastructure installation. These laws put Ohioans’ health and safety at risk.

4G and 5G small cell towers have been installed next to Ohio homes, schools, medical facilities, and businesses. They are continuing to be installed without taking health, safety, and liability into consideration. Ohioans should be given a say in this.

If there is no “cell service gap” in your neighborhood, then telecom companies shouldn’t be allowed to install towers, antennas, and other wireless infrastructure.

According to lawyer, Andrew Campenelli,
unfortunately, what the vast majority of the country doesn’t know is that with respect to the 5G rollout, virtually all of the wireless facilities are essentially unregulated.

What I mean by that is that when they are built, the FCC has no idea where they are and has no idea of what level of RF radiation they are emitting.
That’s because any facility under 199 feet doesn’t have to be registered with the FCC.

And with regard to RF radiation they are exposing people to, the FCC – unless it receives a complaint – they never test the facilities and never require the owners to test them.”

Also according to Campenelli, Ohio legislators and municipal governments are not powerless to regulate and deny small cell installations.

In 2011, Dr. Keith Black, an American neurosurgeon stated “Children’s skulls and scalps are thinner so the radiation can penetrate deeper into the brains of children and young adults.”

Health issues caused by Blue Light from screens are also well documented.

Ohio students deserve safe remote learning tools. School districts should provide families with the necessary tools to set up wired Ethernet connections in their homes and instructions to turn off the Wi-Fi signal on school-supplied devices. This would eliminate the need for Public Wi-Fi and Mobile Wi-Fi spaces which create health, safety, and liability risks as well as reduce property value.

School districts should also supply Blue Light reducing glasses or protective screens for students to use with their devices.

For more information about unsafe technology being installed in Ohio, join SWORT on Facebook (SW Ohio for Responsible Technology) or email [email protected] Click here to review and sign our petition, “Stop 5G Deployment in Ohio Until Independent Studies Prove It’s Safe.”

Additional links:
The American Academy of Pediatrics Recommendations on Cell Phones, Cell Towers and Wireless Radiation

Parent-Teacher Organizations Action on Wi-Fi, Cell Phones and Cell Towers at School

Schools Worldwide Removing the Wi-Fi and Reducing Exposure`

Back and Forth in the Big Ten

By Del Duduit

Are we playing football, or ping pong?

I keep hearing plans for Ohio State to play football, even though the Big Ten put the kibosh on the season a couple of weeks ago amid panic from the coronavirus.

The Buckeyes’ head football coach, Ryan Day, has suggested starting a season in January.

He told reporters on a Zoom call that, “I think that starting the first week in January would be the best way to go,” Day said. “That way there is some separation between that season and the next season.”

I don’t believe officials within the Big Ten thought they would see such outrage from parents, players, big donors to the program, and boosters when they turned off the lights and put the season in the locker.

Many media outlets, and some college football analysts, downplayed the idea of a spring football season. But not now.

The tide – no pun intended to Alabama – is beginning to turn.

Parents and players have launched their own media blitz to gain support, and it might be working.

Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields has been traveling the media circuit to spread the word that he and the rest of the Buckeyes want to play.

In interviews on ESPN radio and Good Morning America, he emphasized that he wants to play. Fields is already projected by many college football experts to be drafted in the first round in the 2021 NFL Draft.

He could easily sit out and let the money come to him, but he wants to be in the Horseshoe and on the field.

This movement is putting pressure on Big Ten Commissioner Kevin Warren, who has fallen on the sword of the conference. “Was this a clunky process? Yes,” he said in an interview. “Were there areas I’d have liked to gone smoother? Absolutely. I need to learn from it and get better at it.”

Two of the top five power conferences in college sports opted out this fall.

The Big Ten and the Pac-12 canceled, or some say they delayed the season, while the SEC, ACC and the Big 12 have decided to keep playing.

Now there is a flurry of activity for those left out in the cold to play.

Could this really happen? Football in January?

The plan, according to an article in the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, would include only using domed stadiums in the league. Currently, these include Ford Field in Detroit, U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, and Lucas Oil Field in Indianapolis.

Although that might appease the die-hard fans, it would put a strain on supporters who want to see the games in person, if they are allowed.
That would still mean no Horseshoe appearances. No Skull Session and no Script Ohio dotting the I in Columbus.

By starting in January and ending in March, some say athletes would have time to recover and rest up before the start of the regular 2021 season. It would also allow elite players the chance to attend NFL combines.
But would the big-name players risk the injury?

Nick Bosa did not return to Ohio State in 2018 after surgery because some speculated that he did not want to hurt his chances of being drafted. Why would a player who has a good chance of being drafted want to risk injury now?

The decision will put some players in a sticky situation. But they could approach the possibility of games in January as glorified scrimmages if the NCAA does not sanction the games.

The movement and petitions by players, coaches and parents is picking up steam.

Sandy Barbour, the athletic director at Penn State, said it would only take a few days to get a schedule approved, and Barry Alvarez, the AD at Wisconsin, said on the Dan Dakich Show last week that some big news might be coming soon.

“We’ve been working on this, Dan,” Alvarez said. “I can’t leak it to you. I’d love to give it to you, but I can’t leak it.”

We have gone from a reduced season to no football at all in the Big Ten, to the chances of playing in the first quarter of 2021, after the National Championship game has been played.

Football in January?

At this point, nothing will surprise me. Stay tuned.

Del Duduit is an award-winning writer and author who lives in Lucasville, Ohio with his wife, Angie. They attend Rubyville Community Church. Follow his blog at delduduit.com/blog and his Twitter @delduduit. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

Things I will miss about the Indy 500

News came down this week that the race will be run without fans. Ohio native Zach Veach will be in the number 17 starting spot.

Stockdale native and former Minford Elementary student Zach Veach has his best starting position yet in the Greatest Spectacle in Racing.

Zach will start in the sixth row at spot 17 on Sunday at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

I’m happy for him but I just cannot imagine.

The past three years, I have been there to cover the race at the Brickyard.

Although not an avid follower of auto sports, the Indianapolis 500 is the most exciting event I have ever attended, and I have been to a few of them.

I have covered everything from the Super Bowl to the Final Four. But I must admit, the MLB Home Run Derby comes close, but that was more entertainment and fun than anything.

The disappointment hits home because I won’t be there for his fourth attempt to “kiss the bricks” as many of the media will not be allowed to come.

The race, traditionally run on Memorial Day weekend, was pushed back to Aug. 23 over fear of the coronavirus. News came down this week that the race will be run without fans.

Zach, who grew up in Stockdale, put on his Twitter post recently that “My favorite sight of the year is walking through gasoline alley and seeing the stands for the first time on Indy 500 race day. Saddened it’ll look so different this year but it is what needs to be done. We’ll put on a great show for everyone watching at home!”

I will miss that too but cannot narrow down what I will miss the most.

Everything about the Indy 500 is spectacular. The pageantry, the tradition of honoring the military and the patriotism is appreciated. The flyovers send chills down my back and the order for “drivers, start your engines,” are the four most exciting words you will hear.

On race day, it is “highly suggested” to be in the media center about 4 a.m. – maybe I won’t miss that as much come to think of it. But I must admit, the place is hopping with adrenalin even before the sun comes up and rises over the Pagoda. Track employees are everywhere and hyped up on coffee.

But the entire event is a thrill.

I recall walking the straight away with my friend, George, who is the owner of Kingdom Racing, at 6 a.m. He always has a driver in the field and goes to each car and prays for safety over them.

Throughout the morning, there are church services as the Speedway in a garage conducted by IndyCar Ministries. I’ve been to a few of them.
It’s interesting to watch the employees at the track get ready to put on the show. The red carpet is rolled out for “celebrities” at 5:30 a.m. and once the gates open, about 400,000 fans come into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. It’s electric.

A friend and fellow sportswriter who covers the Bengals with me, went two years ago for the first time at my suggestion, and told me it was more amazing than he ever thought it would be.

I will miss not talking with Zach in his garage hours before he straps into his No. 26 Gainbridge Honda for Andretti Auto Sport. I coached him in fourth grade basketball at Minford Elementary School and he is friends with my youngest son because they were on the same team.

I will miss following him on the board in the media center and watching his car zoom by the me at 240 mph.

Last year, Zach was in good position to finish in the top 10, but a five-car cash with 25 laps to go took him out of 12th place and the race.
Hardly any media, and no fans at the IMS. It’s hard to fathom.

When I spoke to Zach before he raced at Texas Motor Speedway in June, he said it was going to be odd to not see fans in the stands.

He loves the 500 and wants nothing more than to cross the finish line and drink from the milk jar.

Instead of being waited on inside the media center and having the traditional brisket and potatoes for lunch, I’ll be in my recliner chomping on nachos and cheering for our own as he takes part in the most exciting day in sports.

Godspeed Zach.

Author Del Duduit with Veach prior to last year’s race.

Del Duduit is an award-winning writer and author who lives in Lucasville, Ohio with his wife, Angie. They attend Rubyville Community Church. Follow his blog at delduduit.com/blog and his Twitter @delduduit. He is represented by Cyle Young of Hartline Literary Agency.

 

If you have a “smart meter” installed, there are some things you should know

Commentary by Vince Welage;  Southwest Ohio for Responsible Technology

How Smart Meters Play a Major Role in Your High Utility Bills

Ohio energy consumers should be able to manage their own utility bills by controlling how much energy they use at home. Unfortunately, in recent years, Ohio utility companies have significantly raised its “customer fees” and that has resulted in customers losing control over a big portion of their monthly utility bills – even if their energy use decreases.

For example, in 2018, Duke Energy won another approval from PUCO to raise monthly fees by a disproportionate amount for Southwest Ohio customers. Consumers who invest in efficiency and renewable energy save money on energy costs, but those savings are reduced with higher fixed fees. Legislation reform is needed in Ohio to change PUCO policy decisions effecting high energy fixed costs. Many utility commissions around the country have recognized the problems with higher fixed fees and have rejected most proposals to increase them.

Smart Meter Components:
Overcharges The utility bills that a growing number of Ohioans can’t afford to pay are higher because of the Smart Meters. In 2009, Duke Energy started to replace traditional 1-way transmitting gas and electric analog meters in Southwest Ohio with 2-way wireless AMI Smart Meters. There have been rate increases and riders approved with the new technology. In 2014, Ohio customers were given a rate increase to pay Duke Energy to finish installing 700,000+ AMI Smart Meters. In 2018, customer rates were increased again to pay for replacing those meters with new AMI Smart meters (PUCO case record 17-0032-EL-AIR).
Ohio energy consumers should have the right to traditional analog meters. Smart Meters are 2-way transmitting whereas traditional analog meters are 1-way transmitting and use less energy. Outside of Ohio it has been determined that the extra energy use to operate Smart Meters is being passed on to customers.

Privacy and Security:  Smart Meters can produce harmful consequences in terms of cyber security issues with residential home installations. Home energy usage tracking data must be kept private and confidential. If Smart Meters move to 5G networks, there is a more significant cyber security risk because the 5G technology is software based. This means it is subject to hackers using backdoor or calling home mechanisms that can go undetected when installed during regular software upgrades. Even without 5G, Duke Energy has experienced a significant number of cyber attacks with their Smart Meter technology.
Legislation is also urgently needed to stop utility companies from renting or sharing that information with third parties including contracted energy suppliers operating under the various statewide aggregation programs.

Health and Safety: Smart Meters are a health hazard because they emit Radio Frequency radiation. RF radiation is biologically-active electromagnetic exposure that is absorbed into the skin. Chronic exposure to wireless radiation has been linked to neurological damage, reproductive effects and cancer. Pregnant women and small children are particularly vulnerable.

Smart Meters are a safety hazard because they don’t have surge protectors and are prone to fires and explosions. Advanced meters must be properly grounded and have surge protection that is adequately rated in order to divert a lightning strike. Also, Smart Meters installed on homes in close proximity are exposing those residents to extremely high RF levels because of connectivity to the neighborhood energy grid which is very unhealthy.

Ohio legislators need to educate themselves on some recent Federal Court rulings against the FCC that pertains to their decision to maintain the 24 year old radio frequency (RF) radiation exposure limits not updated since 1996. The FCC rules are being continuously challenged in Federal and State courts in multiple cases by members of Congress because the FCC chairman has refused to update the safety standards. There are ongoing questions over the relevance of the current FCC human exposure standard given the onslaught of modern wireless technology. The big issue that remains is continuous exposure.

Surveillance: Smart Meter installations result in both unwanted surveillance under the guise of gas/electric aggregation cost savings programs and forced surveillance in the form of ongoing high monthly opt-out fees. Utility aggregation programs that are being implemented in Ohio local communities are tied in with these Smart Meters and Smart Grids. Energy aggregation proponents have promised that these programs would save customers money but this hasn’t been consistent. A few years ago when the Gas/Electric Aggregation programs were first introduced in Ohio, Duke Energy did not participate in the competition and the outside supplier rates for both gas and electric were much lower. This provided a good hedge against Duke utility rates especially against gas rates until they joined the competition and with PUCO compliance reduced the benefit to consumers.

For the most part, many energy aggregation programs have become somewhat of a false flag for consumer savings. This is due to the substantial drop in the GCR since July 2018 (see graph here). Duke Energy defines Gas Cost Recovery (GCR) as the charge for customers purchasing natural gas from the utility versus what a homeowner might purchase from an outside supplier via aggregation. Duke makes no profit on the GCR and the rate includes Ohio excise tax. For electric usage, Duke uses the term Price to Compare (PTC) to quote a price in cents per kWh that an outside electric supplier must offer which is a lower price for the same usage in order to save money. The fixed fees that appear on a typical utility bill are defined as a delivery service charge and a separate delivery rider calculated in advance. These values are not based on actual consumer usage for the month. The monthly fixed costs including the Smart Meter opt-out fees reduce net savings.

Ohio utility opt-out fees are determined by the utility and PUCO. The Smart Meter opt-out fees have always been a punitive measure. The consumer who chooses to opt-out still pays Smart Meter costs included in the distribution charges.

In Southwest Ohio, the net savings from energy aggregation programs hit a threshold near year end in 2017. With PUCO approval, Duke Energy had been adding a $100 setup fee and a $30 opt-out fee since September 2016 to replace the Smart Meter with a non-RF meter. The extra cost became more prevalent after reaching that threshold when choosing to opt-out.

In many cases, the Smart Meters were installed without homeowner permission or consent. At that time, many residents were already aware of the health hazards and other dangers from Smart Meters, but were faced with an added cost burden aside from the fixed monthly fees. That same situation persists today and has created a real hardship for Ohio energy consumers.

A proper alternative to the high fixed costs is a well defined cap limit approach to monthly home energy usage. This means the prior year non-heating and cooling months (May-Sept) would be used to establish a base energy usage for the current year. Duke Energy is already using a very subtle cap limit approach for electricity usage during those months by setting a 1000/kWh ceiling for cooling with a rate discount. Duke has the archival history available for both gas and electric usage in order to project a cap limit at the start of each year. In many Southwest Ohio communities, a cap limit approach for the billing of water and sewer charges has been in existence for many years.

Legislative Actions:
In 2013, Ohio Senate Bill 181 “Smart Meter Consent Bill” was endorsed by the Ohio ACLU

In 2015, The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) created “Resolution For a Moratorium on the Installation of ‘SMART’ Meters and No Cost Opt-Out”

Michigan elected officials introduced Smart Meter legislation so citizens could refuse these meters and Smart Meters would be made safer.

Kentucky governor, Andy Beshear, stopped the “rollout” of Smart Meters while he was Attorney General stating that they cost too much and weren’t needed.