FAQ: “Smart” Meter Basics
stopsmartmeters.org
Q: What is a “smart” meter?
“Smart” Meters are wireless digital utility meters that broadcast customers’ usage information to the utility using a radio-frequency transmitter. The meter also contains other capabilities, such as remote shut-off. They are part of a larger plan to change the electricity grid to a “smart” grid–though there is controversy about whether the customer meter is actually crucial to that change. Electric smart meters are replacing older analog style meters, while gas “smart” meters are generally small devices attached to existing gas meters. Wireless water meters are also being planned in many regions.
“Smart” meter planning in the United States is related to the Energy Act of 2007 and administered by the US Dept of Energy, the FCC, and each state’s public utilities commission (PUC). However, in that Act, there was NO mandate to force all residential customers to accept installation of “smart” meters–only that they would be offered. Local utility companies in many states have been approved to install “smart” meters in every building that receives utility services, such as California.
Q: How do I know if I have a “smart” meter or not?
Analog Meter
Smart Meter
See these photos of “smart” meters and these photos of analog meters, and compare to your own.
Non-transmitting analog (mechanical) electric meters have 5 small clock-like dials and a glass casing which allows you to see the spinning dial inside. “Smart” meters have digital displays and plastic casings which you cannot see into. Recent “smart” meters often have the word “smart” on the front, but absence of this label is no guarantee it isn’t transmitting. There are a very few mechanical meters which have a wireless-transmitting capability, which can only be identified by measuring RF emissions.There are also some digital meters that are not “smart” meters.
Q: Can a “smart” meter be harmful to my health or unsafe?
Wireless “smart” meters emit radio-frequency microwave radiation (called “RF”), similar to that used by cell phones and wifi routers. The transmissions from “smart” meters go on day and night, and are not directly related to the amount or time of household usage. See section on Mesh Network. This frequency is part of the range of frequencies recently placed in the category “possible human carcinogen” by the World Health Organization (May 2011).
Public health professionals and scientists have been concerned about human exposure to this type of low-level radiation for some time now. You may have read about ways to reduce your exposure to the RF from your cell phone. But a “smart” meter is an RF emitter that you have no control over. There is no “off” switch, nor can you move it to a different location in your home. See section on RF Radiation Issues, or section on Health Issues.
Q: How could the government allow “smart” meters if they are harmful or unsafe?
Many scientists and academics have written to government agencies in charge of the decision to deploy “smart” meters, to alert them as to the possible dangers in such a widespread public exposure to RF, and to urge commissions in charge of overseeing utilities to exercise more precaution. Examples: Here is a letter from the California Department of Public Health (pdf). This page contains other objections submitted to the California Public Utilities Commission from medical and public health authorities and qualified individuals.
While the elected bodies of some towns, counties, cities, and states have taken notice of the dangers involved, many have not, choosing instead to swallow the assertions made by utilities of public safety and cost-saving. Often small government agencies are at the mercy (or in the pockets) of the utilities they oversee, which are large, well-financed corporations, and thus don’t heed these calls for caution.
In the U.S., the Federal Communications Commission, a regulatory body with no doctors or medical professionals on staff, has set the guidelines for public RF exposure at a very high level, based on biased and incomplete science dating back to the 1950s. The FCC also appears to have waived some requirements for “smart”-meter manufacturers, allowing them to bend several rules that were intended to protect the public, such as not locating one transmitting meter near another transmitting meter (colocation). See this post about the FCC and “smart” meter violations. Apartment dwellers need only look for the “bank” of meters that service their building to see the precaution about colocation violated. Another provision that is ignored is the 20cm distance that is supposed to be enforced, keeping people from coming closer than that (about 8 inches). No “smart” meter has ever been installed in a way intended to keep people at that minimum distance.
Another FCC violation is the matter of transmitting power. A recent admission from a “smart” meter manufacturer affirmed that because of the type of antenna in their “smart” meter, the power of the transmitter may exceed the FCC limits. [See Sept 14, 2011 CPUC "opt-out" workshop videos, Part 2, at 0:13 and Part 5 at 0:16].
The current attitude of governmental bodies in the United States is that if radiation doesn’t heat tissue, it is considered safe. Ionizing radiation (e.g. x-rays) can alter molecular structures and standards for this type of radiation have been established. Non-ionizing radiation (such as cell-phone and “smart”-meter radiation) has been considered safe by government agencies because it doesn’t heat at lower levels of exposure. But a growing number of scientists, researchers, and experts feel this is a flawed position. Clear biological effects have been observed at “non-thermal” levels–most notably DNA breaks, breaches of the blood-brain barrier, and increases in brain glucose metabolism.
The RF emissions spikes from “smart” meters are supposedly under these very liberal FCC guidelines, but if the guidelines are flawed, as many who study the effects of low-level RF on humans and animals think they are, then “smart” meters are indeed a very dumb idea. See also: The Bioinitiative Report; The Seletun Statement; The Sage Report on Smart Meter RF
Q: Who, then, does the “smart” meter benefit?
Only the utility companies benefit. The utility can save itself money by getting rid of meter readers. Because the “smart” meter measures hour by hour, the utility can charge you more for electricity used during certain periods of the day of their choosing.
Their story is that this device will save you money. But there are no studies, no evidence, to back this up. In fact, in the one study done so far (from Canada), customers’ bills went up, not down. There is only one thing that will save you money on your utility bill, and that is using less electricity or gas. This is easily achievable by reducing your use of high-wattage devices (e.g. electric clothes dryer, air conditioner, and so on), choosing energy-saving appliances when it’s time to buy, and taking care to switch off electrical items not in use. Here are some ideas.
Q: I don’t want a “smart” meter. How can I avoid having one installed?
Three things: Secure your old meter; call to opt out, if that option is available (but this is no guarantee); and/or prevent trespass on your property by your presence. Be aware that measures other than these, such as signs, have failed.
Take action now to safeguard your old meter. Prevent tampering by following some of the suggestions on this pages: Defend Your Analog Meter.
If your state or area has an opt-out, call now to make your wishes known. If it does not have such an option, advocate for it and in the mean time, take direct action and secure your analog meter. Without an opt-out, you can try calling, but your utility is very unlikely to want to allow you a choice, as they save money getting rid of your meter reader, and the mesh network depends on everyone having one of these meters. Still, some people have pleaded and begged, and done so repeatedly, and been able to keep or regain an analog. Prevent regret by securing your meter now.
Some people have suggested posting a sign alone is sufficient, but we have heard of too many signs simply ripped down by installers to recommend that you rely on this. You should also adapt and send this letter, but it alone is no guarantee of avoiding installation.
Your bodily presence on your property is the best protection you can have. You have the right to prevent trespass on your property. Even one renter can ask a trespasser to leave from a building or complex. Installation periods for your area are the time to be on guard. This is difficult for many who work, but you can authorize someone else to act in your place if you need to, including neighbor. Here’s one neighbor’s story of protecting his neighborhood.
Preventing access does not mean you don’t want to pay your bill or cheat your utility; it is protecting your health and safety. If you need to, learn to read your own meter and post the numbers for your current reader, if you have one still, or send them to your utility—so that you can protect your meter by limiting access.
No one we know of has had their power cut by taking these measures. They may have been threatened, but they have not been cut off. The bottom line is that your utility has no legal right to force a “smart” meter on your home against your will. They will threaten you with fines and service disconnection but in the end they do not have a legal right to force a device that emits what even the World Health Organization considers a Class 2B carcinogen.Rest assured that not one single household has had their electricity switched off for refusing a “smart” meter. No fines have been levied for refusing a “smart” meter. Our advice is to lock up your existing analog meter securely, and ignore their letters. Talk to your neighbors and if they come to the neighborhood be prepared to drive them away.
If they disconnect your power, contact your public utilities commission immediately–they cannot disconnect a paying customer. Write us and we will publicize your story–that is just the sort of publicity that utilities try hard to avoid. As of Sept 19, 2011, The Utility Reform Network (TURN) says PG&E has no right to cut you off for refusing a “smart” meter.
Q: I already have a “smart” meter. I don’t want it. What can I do?
You can try to get your utility to change your meter to an analog or a non-transmitting meter. PG&E recently installed an analog for a customer:
http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/11/01/pge-begins-removing-smart-meters-due-to-health-effects/
Two other CA customers have begged the CPUC for analogs and been granted them:
http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/09/22/cpuc-you-can-go-back-to-the-analog-meter/
http://stopsmartmeters.org/2011/10/13/cpuc-grants-sce-customer-an-analog-meter/
Call your utility (number is on your bill) and tell you want an analog meter. Ask to speak to someone in management. 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. IF you accept a digital non-transmitting meter, be aware they also have problems, and are not proven safe like analog meters. Do not take ‘No’ for an answer—ask to speak to someone higher up. Report what you find back to Stop Smart Meters—we are keeping track of how people do when requesting analogs from their utility.
Some people, desperate to regain their health, have changed their own ‘smart’ meters out for analogs. Please read our section on changing a meter.
In addition, File a complaint in these places:
SmartMeterHelp.com http://smartmeterhelp.com
and here:
http://emfsafetynetwork.org/?page_id=2292
And the CPUC:
https://ia.cpuc.ca.gov/cimsapp/?key=39949189