The Infamous Smart Meter

In my previous post I wrote about energy efficiency and how the Smart Grid can help us develop better ways of generating and transmitting energy. One component of the Smart Grid that is currently attracting a lot of media attention is the Smart Meter. Considering all of the controversy surrounding the installation of Smart Meters around the country, especially here in California, I thought it would be a good idea to learn more about the benefits they can provide as well as examine some of the concerns being raised by various groups.

So what exactly is a Smart Meter? A Smart Meter is a device that keeps a record of a household’s energy consumption. It gathers data on how much electricity is being used, at what times, and by what appliance (e.g., fridge, air conditioner, etc). This information is transmitted wirelessly to utility companies throughout the day, usually in intervals of one hour or less, and is made available to consumers in an online account. Meter proponents argue that they allow consumers to reduce their electricity bills because they are made aware of their energy consumption patterns and can see in detail how energy is being used in their homes. In addition to these savings, some utility companies are rewarding consumers with lower prices if they reduce their consumption during times of high demand; information that utility companies can relay to consumers through in-home displays or even text messages. The additional benefit from Smart Meters is that overall demand for electricity should drop because consumers would be using their power more efficiently. This would be good for the environment because less demand = less coal burning = less greenhouse gases.

                What’s the problem then? Well, things don’t always work exactly as planned. Some homes that have had Smart Meters installed have actually had their electricity bills increase! For example, an article from USA Today reports that one California woman’s bill went from $450 a month to $1800 after a Smart Meter was installed in her home. Similar cases have been reported to utility companies nationwide and there are growing concerns that these new meters are inaccurate. However, utility companies deny this and have said that the new meters are more accurate than the old ones, which is why their bills have gone up. Right.

                Another major concern raised by opponents is that Smart Meters pose a health risk to society. Since Smart Meters transmit information wirelessly, opponents argue that they expose people to radiation from radio frequencies, which can be harmful. Several people have reported symptoms such as nausea, migraines, muscle spasms, and insomnia after Smart Meters were placed in their homes or neighborhoods. However, there is no scientific link between Smart Meters and any adverse health effects. A study by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) found that the radio frequency emissions from Smart Meters were way below the FCC safety guidelines. Comparing Smart Meter radio emissions to other common household items also shows that they actually emit less radiation than other products.

                Finally, a third concern that caught my attention has to do with privacy. There is a concern that utility companies will sell our energy consumption data to third-parties. Worse, hackers who are able to break into the system and access our data would know “…personal details about the lives of consumers, such as their daily schedules (including times when they are at or away from home or asleep), whether their homes are equipped with alarm systems, whether they own expensive electronic equipment such as plasma TVs, and whether they use certain types of medical equipment” (Department of Energy). Scary stuff.

                After learning more about Smart Meters and some of the issues being raised, I’m a little divided on where I stand. I do want our country to become more energy efficient, but it seems like there are still a lot of holes that need to be filled. I think privacy is very important to a lot of people, so if utilities and policy makers want consumers to get on board they’re going to have to make data security a top priority. But since this information will be up on the web, can it really ever truly be safe?