The debate over “smart meters” continues from the utility perspective
By Angie Capps, manager of meter services for NYSEG and RG&E, photo from NYSEG.com
An opinion article printed in the Hornell Sun on July 24 carries the headline, “You may ‘opt out’ of a digital electric meter.”
As the author suggests, as a New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) (or Rochester Gas and Electric) customer, it is your right to opt out of your smart meter upgrade. But first, let facts guide your decision.
Assessing risk is something NYSEG and RG&E take very seriously. Health, safety, security, and privacy are the foundations of all our service offerings, including the smart meter upgrade plan we submitted for approval by the New York State Public Service Commission in 2020.
Approval came with an understanding that the radio frequency (RF) energy emitted by smart meters is well below limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and following a review of studies by the World Health Organization that confirm that the small amount of RF produced by smart meters is not harmful to human health.
The FCC also sets RF exposure limits for other household devices used every day like televisions, Wi-Fi routers, and cell phones. Did you know that every one of those devices have higher RF levels than smart meters and are used more frequently, for longer durations, and in closer proximity to our bodies? The fact is, the smart phone or laptop you may be using right now to read this article produces more RF than a smart meter, and it is sitting right next to you. But rest assured, those devices are well under FCC RF exposure limits as well.
Regarding security, our smart meters are subject to the same Department of Energy standards that protect the entire grid. They only collect the energy use information, no personal data whatsoever. Encryption and strict protocols protect the data from your meter to our system, while strict password policies and a two-step verification process protect information at your home or business. Yes, we have access to your usage, but we have that today with legacy meters.
A smart meter is a meter that reads itself and produces a bill based on actual energy use rather than an estimate. Just like your legacy meter, smart meters measure whole house energy use, not specific appliances within a home or business. Customers also can access the periodic usage data right on our website by logging into their account. There will be options to look at different periods of time of usage, allowing customers to make good decisions to conserve or shift their energy use patterns.
By the end of 2025, NYSEG and RG&E will install more than 1.3 million smart meters and 600,000 natural gas modules across New York State. Smart meters have been in use for more than 20 years and are a proven technology. We’re joining utility companies from all over the country, and fellow utilities in New York State, that have also made the important commitment to modernize their infrastructure and pass along the benefits to customers.
I will close my response just as Mr. Sinclair did, but with a factual “opportunity to get informed:” Smart Meters – NYSEG.
Read the orginal opinion piece by Fred Sinclair referenced above:
