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Smart meters

WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT SMART METERS Utility companies across the nation are making a change. They're upgrading the analog utility meters with a digital device called a smart meter. While the utilities claim these smart meters can lower costs and improve service, others claim that smart meters pose security and health risks. WHAT IS A SMART METER? OLD METER SMART METER kWh 0000 O TYPE H-70S Kh 72 Q 0 000 000 000 J 000000 0 000 000 A smart meter is the updated version of your typical analog gas, electric, or water meter that is used for monitoring utility usage and billing purposes. Utility companies across the country are replacing the old meters with these as they are computerized, and connect your home to the electric grid. They also enable two-way communication between the meter and the SOME BENEFITS TO SMART METERS: Resolve problems quickly central system. Save money on Reduce operating human meter readers The device sends data on your home's energy consumption to the utility company on a regular basis. It helps the companies manage demand, understand consumer usage, increase service and reliability, and advise residents when it's cheapest to turn on costs More accurate billing Provide real-time appliances. notification of poweroutages Provide more reliable service In addition, consumers can view their energy consumption data in real-time so they 3 can monitor and control their energy usage, and if desired, modify behaviors. SMART METER STATISTICS projected homes with 70 smart meters 60 x 1,000,000 50 40 30 September 2011: 38 states are pursuing smart meter deployment. 20 10 Smart meters allow for "time-of-use" billing, which means there could be multiple price tiers like: 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Winter Summer 70% a.m. to On-peak hours a.m. (weekdays) p.m 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 p.m. Winter Summer 750 to 3,000: The range of data points smart meters may send to the utility company per month per household. In one study, 70% of customers said they have taken steps to lower their energy a.m. to p.m. Mid-peak hours a.m. (weekdays) p.m use based on the real-time information Winter & Summer they got from the in-home monitors. Off-peak ll weekend p.m. to weekdays hours hours a.m. THE PROBLEM Once installed, a smart meter begins to send hundreds, if not thousands of data points to the utility company each month. While the utility companies use this inform to better understand usage and manage demand, consumers worry that the data may be too detailed and put them at risk. Utility companies use data from smart meters to manage energy more efficiently. But some are concerned that this detailed data will be used inappropriately since smart meters: SECURITY/ PRIVACY Record when Can identify electrical devices in your home By monitoring household activity, they create a picture of the occupant's daily habits and activities. If this data is intercepted or sold, it can risk the occupant's security and privacy. they are used Criminals can intercept this data and plan a burglary. HOW THIS DATA Divorce lawyers can subpoena the information and use it as evidence. CAN BE USED: Columbus, OH has used consumer data to bust pot growers. Smart meters can reveal when customers eat, what time they go to sleep and how much TV they watch. Advertisers could buy the data to learn what types of appliances you own. Utility companies claim smart meters will cut costs; however, some residents say their bills have increased. While some companies attributed the increase to smart meters being more accurate, other companies were actually overcharging. Change in utility bill: 90% of those surveyed said they were concerned or very concerned about increased utility rates 91% were concerned or very con- cerned about inaccurate utility bills Decreased by 10% or more: 2,4% Stayed about the same: 24.7% Increased by 10%: 14.4% Increased by 20% or more: 12.6% Bills doubled, tripled or more: 8.0% Unknown: 37.9% COSTS WHY NOT JUST OPT-OUT While some utility companies have given their customers the option to opt-out, others haven't. Consumers who opt-out may be charged with additional fees that utility companies say cover the cost of a human meter reader. Some customers complain about the radio frequency emissions, which smart meters, and other devices like cell phones and microwaves, emit. While the long-term effects of RF emissions are unclear, studies have revealed that cell phones and microwaves emit far more RF emissions on people than smart meters. Comparison of RF Power Density in the Everyday Environment Power Density in Microwatts per square centimeter (uW/cm2). Adjacent to a gas SmartMeterTM (1 foot) Adjacent to an electric SmartMeterTM Adjacent to an electric SmartMeterTM (1 foot) 8.8 Microwave oven nearby (1 meter) Wi-Fi wireless routers, laptop computers, HEALTH 0.00166 more feet) 0.1 10,000 500 42,000 400 10 cyber cafes, etc., maximum (-1 meter for laptops, 2 - 5 meters for access points) Cell phones (at head) Walkie-Talkies (at head) 200 10 - 20 30 - 10,000 100 500 - 42,000 SMART METER BENEFITS Better understand demand Reduce Provide real-time Provide more Resolve problems More accurate reliable service Save money on human meter operating costs notification of quickly billing poweroutages readers Consumers can view daily energy use and change habits and behaviors. SOURCES: Government Program Briefing: Smart Metering | pri.org| blogs.scientificamerican.com/solar-at-home | phys.org| pge.com/smartmeter | eff.org | scientificamerican.com | suntimes.com |sustainablebusiness.com | energy.gov | endoftheamericandream.com | dispatch.com| green.blogs.nytimes.com | gigaom.com/cleantech | emfsafetynetwork.org | pge.com | smartmetersavings.org homeinsurance.org Information provided by: http://www.homeinsurance.org/ %24

Smart meters

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What you don't know about smart meters. And what you should know about them.

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