A DuPage County judge has rebuffed efforts by smart meter opponents who sought to add a referendum in an upcoming March election asking residents of Naperville, Illinois, whether or not the technology should be implemented in their city. The judge ruled against the Naperville Smart Meter Awareness Group, upholding an earlier ruling by the Naperville electoral board.

During a morning court appearance on January 24, attorney Mary Dickson urged Circuit Judge Bonnie Wheaton to rule promptly, saying the need for speed was necessary because the DuPage County Election Commission needed the decision made immediately so that the referendum could be added to the ballot before it went out for printing. The board did not want to have to reprint the ballot if the decision was made at a later date.

Wheaton agreed to give a prompt decision, and told the parties she would adjourn and review as much of the documentation submitted to the bench as she could in the morning, then the court would reconvene in the afternoon so the opposing attorneys could make their oral arguments.

According to the Chicago Tribune, lawyers for both smart meter opponents and proponents have petitioned Judge Wheaton “to review the decision of Naperville’s electoral board, which ruled earlier this month that the Naperville Smart Meter Awareness Group does not have enough valid signatures to put a petition on the March ballot asking residents whether the city should stop the project and dismantle the equipment.”

The anti-smart meter group claims that there are significant health, security, and privacy concerns unresolved about the wireless electric meters—despite Naperville city officials maintaining they are safe and will make the electric system more reliable, efficient and cost-effective. To date, there is no validated research proving the meters are a viable health risk.

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