A smart meter tracks your energy use and sends readings automatically.
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A modern smart electric meter records how much electricity you use and when you use it. Most record usage in short intervals, often every fifteen minutes or every hour, and store that data in the meter.
The meter then sends the readings to the utility, typically over a radio frequency network, a cellular connection, or power line carrier signals, depending on the system. Some meters also record voltage and power quality information and can notice outages or tampering. The meter does not record what appliances you are running, and it does not listen to conversations. It records electrical consumption at the meter point.
An old analog meter with the spinning disc measured only total consumption. A utility employee read the dial once a month or so, and the disc turned faster when more power flowed through. It had no clock, no memory, and no transmitter. The smart meter adds interval timing and two way communication, which allows remote reading, time based pricing programs, and faster outage detection. That communication is also why some people have questions about it.
Public utility commission filings and utility customer documents generally describe the radio systems used and their power levels. Published studies and reviews, including work by state public health and utility regulators, have examined radio frequency exposure from smart meters and generally found it low compared with common household sources, though measurements vary by meter type and distance. These documents are worth reading directly rather than relying on summaries. No credible public health authority has concluded that smart meters cause illness, but that is not the same as saying every question is settled, and individuals differ in their concerns.
If you would rather not have a smart meter, your choices depend on where you live and who your utility is. Many utilities offer an opt out, sometimes with a fee, and sometimes with a non communicating meter that is read manually. Some states require utilities to offer an alternative; others do not. The specific rules are set by your state utility commission and your utility's filed tariffs, which are public documents. Ask the utility in writing what alternatives exist, what they cost, and what rules apply. If you believe a medical condition is affected by radio frequency exposure, that question belongs with your doctor, not with the utility. If you believe your rights have been violated or you are disputing a charge or policy, talk with a lawyer. Questions about whether a device complies with federal radio frequency limits belong with the Federal Communications Commission, which sets those limits, or with the utility that installed the equipment. Be skeptical of any product claimed to block radiation or protect health; no sticker, shield, or device has been shown to do that, and such claims are not a substitute for the actual opt out process your utility and state provide.
The meter then sends the readings to the utility, typically over a radio frequency network, a cellular connection, or power line carrier signals, depending on the system. Some meters also record voltage and power quality information and can notice outages or tampering. The meter does not record what appliances you are running, and it does not listen to conversations. It records electrical consumption at the meter point.An old analog meter with the spinning disc measured only total consumption. A utility employee read the dial once a month or so, and the disc turned faster when more power flowed through. It had no clock, no memory, and no transmitter. The smart meter adds interval timing and two way communication, which allows remote reading, time based pricing programs, and faster outage detection. That communication is also why some people have questions about it.
Public utility commission filings and utility customer documents generally describe the radio systems used and their power levels. Published studies and reviews, including work by state public health and utility regulators, have examined radio frequency exposure from smart meters and generally found it low compared with common household sources, though measurements vary by meter type and distance. These documents are worth reading directly rather than relying on summaries. No credible public health authority has concluded that smart meters cause illness, but that is not the same as saying every question is settled, and individuals differ in their concerns.
If you would rather not have a smart meter, your choices depend on where you live and who your utility is. Many utilities offer an opt out, sometimes with a fee, and sometimes with a non communicating meter that is read manually. Some states require utilities to offer an alternative; others do not. The specific rules are set by your state utility commission and your utility's filed tariffs, which are public documents. Ask the utility in writing what alternatives exist, what they cost, and what rules apply. If you believe a medical condition is affected by radio frequency exposure, that question belongs with your doctor, not with the utility. If you believe your rights have been violated or you are disputing a charge or policy, talk with a lawyer. Questions about whether a device complies with federal radio frequency limits belong with the Federal Communications Commission, which sets those limits, or with the utility that installed the equipment. Be skeptical of any product claimed to block radiation or protect health; no sticker, shield, or device has been shown to do that, and such claims are not a substitute for the actual opt out process your utility and state provide.
This is covered in more detail at smart meters in plain numbers.
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