Smart Meters -- they know when you've been sleeping

08-27-2011 • lovelycitizen.com

Only a small percentage of meters in the United States are smart meters, but some sources expect 15-20 percent of meters each year to transition to smart technology. In fact, grant funds for smart-grid technologies were part of the federal government's economic stimulus package in October 2010. The idea of a smart meter is that it can collect data on not only how much energy is being used but when you use it. Advocates point to the fact that smart meters can help customers make wise choices about when to use appliances and electronics in order to control energy costs. You would know your energy use by either looking at the digital readout on the device or, eventually, looking up your energy use on the utility website. Detractors say collecting this amount of information about our activities and putting it in the hands of the utility company is a breach of privacy. The meters will know when we get up and go to bed or if we are even home and relay this information to a computer possibly far away. Plans also call for antennae to be installed in appliances and electronics so they can communicate wirelessly with the smart meter. Naysayers say this would mean that you will not be the only one who knows how often you make toast or blow dry your hair. This would also mean that homes would have several extra sources of radio frequency radiation, and citizens are not comfortable with assurances from the utility companies. Some people are extra-sensitive to electromagnetic radiation and experience headaches, sleeplessness and fatigue, not to mention the problems with pacemakers and other implanted electronic devices. Many states employ wireless smart meters which use radio frequencies to transmit their information back to the utility company. There have been countless protests over wireless smart meters from Maine to California, where town hall meetings have been rocked by shouts of concern over health issues connected to radio frequency radiation. During a public forum in Maine in which many citizens voiced distrust of the safety of wireless devices, even the representative from the Maine Center for Disease Control acknowledged that there is little long-term evidence to prove the safety of smart meters, but there is also little evidence to prove consistently that the meters have adverse health effects.

2 Comments in Response to Smart Meters -- they know when you've been sleeping

Comment by James17

Entered on: 8/27/2011 6:20:14 PM

Matt SCH - You may be right, but until we see more of these people coming out and talking about the increases in their electric bills, none of us will be sure this is BS propaganda or truth. Of course you and I won't get to make our view points known, because what comes up next will be a new article making this one lost in the heap. - http://landdestroyer.blogspot.com/2011/03/naming-names-your-real-government.html

The above link will show you all those that are out to make a profit off of the public with concern about how their going for their profit margin is killing, stealing and destroying many lives.

Comment by Matt Sch

Entered on: 8/27/2011 4:03:45 PM

Yay, more propaganda BS, and the comments are even worse. All this stupidity about radio waves highly effecting you is non-existent since our bodies will evolve to handle them better if they did cause some type of nervous system issue.

The added information available would greatly improve costs. Also it can't tell if you went to sleep. Hell I use my smartphone for about an hour before I sleep, most electronics are shut off at that point.

Also the commenter who is fearing energy rationing by electric companies is wrong, but because there is a GREAT need for power and since you are paying for a product it is not your choice if they cut your power for a few hours a day.

If these things bug you, install alternative energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines. Also reduce water use and electrical use. It is not hard to cut your power use by at least 30% by going to Lowes or Home Depot and buying faucet aerators and Safe CFLs or LED light bulbs.

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Smart Meters -- they know when you've been sleeping

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