Old-Style Gas Meter
A barrage of complaints has been lodged against Pacific Gas & Electric Co. as they begin plans to install 9.3 million digital electric and gas meters—otherwise known as “smart” meters—by 2012.
The meters will contribute to state and national efforts to cut power-plant emissions in the coming years. The new meters wirelessly transmit readings, allowing utilities to charge higher prices when they want to discourage energy use or give price breaks to favored uses, like running appliances or charging electric cars during off-peak hours.
Cordless phones and crib monitors, patio speakers and wireless headsets spitting out static and startling pops and crackles have been reported. Also affected are wireless microphones, security systems, motion detectors and remotely controlled garage doors. This equipment operates largely on the 900- to 928-megahertz radio spectrum.
The $2.2 billion meter upgrade is also receiving numerous complaints about health problems that customers attribute to radio transmissions from wireless meters. They have also expressed fears that the meters threaten privacy by theoretically making it possible for hackers to intercept data transmissions.
PG&E says these fears are unfounded and that the meters have been thoroughly tested and have robust security. The Federal Communications Commission has approved the meters’ safety, and PG&E says they emit only a fraction of the radiation that comes from common gadgets such as laptops, microwave ovens and cell phones. But several residents argued that consumers have a choice whether to use those devices, saying it is unfair for PG&E to force the meters upon unwilling customers.
