[ RadSafe ] Smart meters

Thu Jun 2 23:33:34 CDT 2011

Smart meters do not scare me, the smart thermostats do though. The only way to make wind and solar work as sources of electrical generation is for someone else to have control over the user's energy use. 

These wireless thermostats (http://www.energyhub.com/utilities/wireless-thermostat/) can receive load control events from the utility. Sun is not shining or wind is not blowing, you cannot heat or cool your house. 

Similar meters were installed in Naperville IL (http://gcn.com/Articles/2011/04/04/Smart-Grid-Naperville.aspx?Page=3) so that the utility could adjust the comfort level in the end user's home.

"The meters have a wireless network card that links to the thermostat. The utilities department would not turn off heat to a customer but could lower or raise settings for a group of customers by a few degrees for 15 minutes at a time and then move to another group of customers."

Now that scares me. I don't know why anyone would accept that. 

Jeff

On Jun 2, 2011, at 10:10 PM, Maury wrote:

> Hi Ted & All,
> I intended no insult -- I was thinking of cell phones in my "joke". The more complex electric meters seem certain to be an added new expense for electric power. It seems to me that power costs are generally rising and changing to a more costly meter and a more complex billing system appears more costly than simply raising rates across the board without replacing the existing system. People in govt seem determined to increase govt revenue aside from whatever cute means they devise to produce that outcome. My electric rate also is in ascension.
> Best,
> Maury&Dog
> ===========================
> 
> On 6/2/2011 6:28 PM, Ted de Castro wrote:
>> We've had the Smart Meters here in the SF bay area for a year or so - and for me the kWhr per month has gone up - so I don't know whether the new or the old measured kWhr more accurately - but they DO measure differently.
>> 
>> We have also been given the choice ----- for now ---- of the current rate structure or the time sensitive one.  The lower times on the time sensitive rate schedule are a little lower - BUT the higher times are MUCH higher - AND to actually lower your bill you have to radically change your life schedule and "live" at odd times ---- unless of course you are a shift worker and then it may work out.  Really working at it you MAY achieve a 10% decrease - maybe.
>> 
>> Oh yeah - and either way - there is an added charge on the bill to pay for the smart meters.  We DO have the option of NOT having them - but of course at a higher rate.
>> 
>> So - you may have noticed by now a common thread - HIGHER RATE.
>> 
>> Smart Meters are most decidedly not a good thing for most rate payers.
>> 
>> On 6/2/2011 4:17 PM, Maury wrote:
>>> Dog asked me to reassure everyone to not sweat the little gadgets bearing alarms ... <g>
>>> Best,
>>> Maury
>>> ============================
>>> On 6/2/2011 5:52 PM, Emer, Dudley (CONTR) wrote:
>>>> That's what I've been hearing from others. I'm still waiting for ours to be installed.
>>>> I'll start worrying about RF burns now.
>>>> 
>>>> Dudley Emer
>>>> Geophysicist
>>>> 
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: radsafe-bounces at health.phys.iit.edu
>>>> Subject: Re: [ RadSafe ] Smart meters
>>>> 
>>>> My power bill is based on what time-of-day I use it, and the bills are significantly (at least 25%) lower.  There was a startup cost, to install a 2nd meter, but well worth it.
>>>> 
>>>> Brent Rogers
>>>> Sydney Australia
>>>> 
>>>> ------------------------------------
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPad
>>>> 
>>>> On 03/06/2011, at 5:51, "Emer, Dudley (CONTR)"<EMERDF at nv.doe.gov>  wrote:
>>>>> http://www.sdge.com/documents/smartmeter/EPRI_1022270.pdf
>>>>> 
>>>>> The real problem for the user won't be cancer from the RF but a heart attack from the power bill when utilities start charging you on a tiered hourly basis rather than a fixed-price monthly integral.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Dudley Emer
>>>>> Geophysicist
>>>>> 
>>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>>> 
>>>>> Sent: Thursday, June 02, 2011 12:33 PM
>>>>> To: radsafe at health.phys.iit.edu
>>>>> Subject: [ RadSafe ] Smart meters
>>>>> 
>>>>> I hope that someone on the list who is more knowledgeable than I about the new wireless electric metering technology can provide a comment about the claims of harm made on the website:
>>>>> 
>>>>> http://www.smartmeterdangers.org/
>>>>> 
>>>>> This method of providing electric use date is replacing the traditional monthly personal visit by a meter reading person, obviously a significant cost saver for a utility.
>>>>> 
>>>>> Robert Barish, PhD CHP
>>>>> 
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