Business
'Smart Meters' Generating Static as More Counties Seek to Opt Out
Around the State
Critics say the $800 million program is a dumb waste of money, or worse.
Three counties -- Brevard, Charlotte and Indian River -- have formally requested that the state Public Service Commission allow them to opt out of the program. Volusia County has requested that the PSC enable residents only to opt into the changeover.
On Monday, the Flagler County Commission voted to draft a letter asking that the PSC permit its residents to opt out as well.
The mini-rebellion against the new digital, radio-frequency technology is well under way in California, which adopted smart meters three years ago. Eleven counties and 60 cities in the Golden State now want their meters pulled out.
FPL officials say it's a lot of static about nothing.
"There's much more accuracy with the smart meters," says FPL spokeswoman Elaine Hinsdale. She said the meters, which are manufactured by General Electric in Bradenton are run through a rigorous battery of tests before installation.
Of all the meters installed thus far, Hinsdale said, "One-tenth of 1 percent of customers have expressed concern."
In those cases, she said FPL "will temporarily postpone installation" until all units are in place. "Then we will re-evaluate and see if there are any outstanding issues."
Since Florida cities and counties have no authority over the program, all disputes are in the PSC's court. The commission said it is "formalizing a process" to evaluate smart-meter issues.
"The process would then allow for full stakeholder participation," Hinsdale assured.
Meantime, smart-meter skeptics are charging ahead with reams of scientific data that purport to show dangers and deficiencies in the devices.
In addition to 8,000 Californians filing health complaints, the World Health Organization in May 2011 rated the radiation coming from smart meters on the "Class 2-B Carcinogen" list, along with leaded gasoline, DDT, exhaust, chlordane and chloroform.
Other groups have claimed that radio-frequency emanating from smart meters interferes with wireless equipment such as wi-fi and causes malfunctioning of medical equipment, such as pacemakers, wireless insulin pumps, ventilators and even baby monitors.
Hinsdale responds that the FPL meters pose no threat to human health or technology.
"I have an inch-think binder of accredited studies. In comparison with cell phones, [the radio-frequency power of smart meters] is hundreds of times weaker," she says.
Hinsdale said that residential smart meters are "dormant 99 percent of time, sending micosecond pulses throughout the day."
Among the advantages, she says, is customers' ability to log onto the FPL website and track household electric usage hour by hour, day by day.
Still, skeptics worry that the smart meters will enable the utility -- or even terrorists -- to shut down power at the flip of a central switch.
"They will be able to control the demand," says Peg Black, a Volusia County activist.
But Hinsdale assures FPL customers -- who currently enjoy the lowest electric rates of the state's 55 utilities -- that the "most stringent measures" are used to safeguard security and data.
Though the conversation program is costing FPL $800 million, $200 million was underwritten by federal stimulus funds, leaving $600 million to be spread across FPL's 35-county service area.
Opponents are hoping that if more counties demand to opt out from the changeover, the PSC will do what some European countries and scientists have urged -- take another look at the wisdom of smart meters.
Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
Comments (25)
Breville Smart Oven
Leaving the EM-Health issue aside for the moment, the mis-educated among us are now screaming New World Order, ICLEI, Agenda 21, governmental spying, anti-"Smart" anything, and other conspiracy theories over PRIVATE power companies' smart meter installations for better energy management. Yeah, the UN's going overtake our government through our private energy companies. Yeah, I'll believe that every February 30th.
Now, for the EM-Health issue. If I were to be paranoid about the EM-Health issue, I think I'd worry a little more about repeated cell phone usage up next to one's head (ever had your cell phone go off next to your computer screen in Word), or the 24/7 EM fields that surround us from the ever increasing number of wireless devices already in your home, or, if you REALLY want to get paranoid, how about mind control ELF devices by the government . . . . or aliens.
So this is not about being paranoid, this is about a police state and I suggest you read the book, Toward's Soviet America. Ignorance is not bliss.
Thank you for your time.
1. obama stimulus funds used to pay for smart meters.
2. General electric gets these stimulus funds to build the smart meters.
3. The TV news network, MSNBC, who was obama's head cheerleader in the 2008 presidential election, is owned by GE Capital. (General Electric)
4. obama and his own energy secretary Chu, want higher energy prices.
5. The electric portion of my utility bill has been noticeably higher since smart meters were installed.
I stated facts. I did not state any opinion whatsoever.
Fire the meter man, now FPL can turn off your power when you are 21 days past due from the air conditioned comfort of their office. This will affect the poorest customers the mostAdd another million to the CEO's compensation package; it was only $14.8mil in 2011. Profits for FPL were only $945 million. We pay for the CEO's entire familys membership to their Country Club as well his luxurious benefits package that includes use of a corporate jet among many other perks. Really, when it's a PUBLIC UTILITY, when should enough be enough?
I could break your statements out in mathematical logic terms and show you the errors in your logic, but I doubt you'd understand that either, so I'm brought down to your level:
FACTS:
1. Rick Scott elected Governor of Florida
2. FPL begins installing smart meters
3. Rick Scott begins to praise FPL
4. The electric portion of your utility bill has been noticeably higher since Rick Scott was elected and began praising FPL.
I certainly hope you research your 'facts' better before your next post, which I know is coming. Can't wait.
The problem with your argument is lack of causality, JUST LIKE MY EXAMPLE.
But then that was the whole point of my example, which apparently you can't seem to grasp. So, if it makes it any clearer for you (and consistent with your newly stated bill increase "timing"), substitute "Jeb Bush" for "Rick Scott" - maybe then you'll start to see the bigger picture concerning causality and the unconnectedness of your facts and "conclusion".
2. General electric gets these stimulus funds to build the smart meters.
3. The TV news network, MSNBC, who was obama's head cheerleader in the 2008 presidential election, is owned by GE Capital. (General Electric)
4. obama and his own energy secretary Chu, want higher energy prices.
5. The electric portion of my utility bill has been noticeably higher since smart meters were installed.
Items 1-3 are connected in that obama is paying back his cronies with my tax dollars. Item 5 relates to Item 4. My electric bill has been higher since my smart meter was installed. It was installed prior to obama taking office but hey; since smart meters appear to read higher (calibration issue) than conventional dial read meters, lets keep making them to produce higher energy prices and while we're at it, let's put $200,000,000 into the pockets of GE and my favorite TV station MSNBC. After all, there is an election coming up and we must keep our liberal network friends up front, leading the way.
I can try to use words with less than 7 letters - will that help?
Two of your likely points -
1. Obama caused your current energy costs. --> That is a lie - even you now admit the meter predates Obama and Sec. Chu. So no proof. No factual basis given. If you still really believe it, prove it.
2. Your Smart Meter is costing you more money. --> Not proven by your "facts". No showing that higher costs are not for any other reason over the past 3+ years (e.g. higher energy costs). If you believe it, prove it.
Bottom Line: You still don't get the point I made - understanding the lack of causality - opps, there I go again, using those bigger, adult educated words. Sorry, some ideas just require more adult concepts, like logic, and cause and effect.
1. Secretary of energy Chu is on record, saying that gasoline prices must be raised to European levels. That means that oil prices must rise. They have been rising since Jan. of 2009 as a matter of policy and not supply and demand. That also means that everything that is a byproduct of or associated with oil, increases in price, meaning an increase in the demand for natural gas and an increase in its price. Many power plants, if not the majority, across the country are fired by this gas. Home energy costs go up. Coupled with 'smart meters', they go up even more.
2. See #1 above. It is a provable fact that my electric costs have risen since the advent of smart meters and not due to rate increases. Why would your president and his main energy guru not want to [continue] to give taxpayer stimulus money to his friends at GE to continue to build such devices as smart meters. They carry out his policy of keeping energy prices high and he doesn't even have to take the blame for their original creation.
The point is, local governments in Florida have implemented smart meters, to the detriment of their citizens, and we are paying the price; literally.
I presented undeniable facts and not opinions in my original posts and some subsequent posts. They are not arguments. They are things that happened and truth is immutable. (look it up) You presented no other facts to deny those of mine and you can't because you have none.
Come down from your liberal, elite, high horse and get down here with the working stiffs. I certainly hope you are not a teacher.
I'm also so glad natural gas prices are clearly increasing, or are they?
I once worked for the oil industry, and later regulated the energy field, among other areas. I do know a little about the field (and apparently more than you from all the above comments). There are a few legitimate concerns over smart meter costing (including that you may have previously been getting a partial free ride due to an old, slowed down analog meter), but you've provided nothing that demonstrates your particular meter's installation is actually causing any increased costs you may have, or that those apparent increased costs are being caused by Obama, Chu or even the price of natural gas.
2. Stimulus funds given to G.E. to continue to build smart meters did not occur until obama took office.
3. The electric portion of my utility bill was noticeably higher when I got my smart meter.
4. obama and energy secretary Chu want higher energy prices.
1. obama stimulus funds used to pay for smart meters.
2. General electric gets these stimulus funds to build the smart meters.
3. The TV news network, MSNBC, who was obama's head cheerleader in the 2008 presidential election, is owned by GE Capital. (General Electric)
4. obama and his own energy secretary Chu, want higher energy prices.
5. The electric portion of my utility bill has been noticeably higher since smart meters were installed.
It's all 'perfectly clear' now.
Here is an example of just how far in the weeds we have gone with this nonsense.
Today nearly everyone will:
Place a cell phone next to their brain dozens of times.
Place a wireless phone next to their head.
Turn on a microwave a few times a day.
Use a TV remote dozens of times.
Have a wireless router in their home.
Use a blue tooth device on their head or in their car.
I am more concerned about that little black box in my car than I am about the meter on the outside of my house.
Although I must say that since my smart meter has been installed I find myself getting dizzy, having headaches, and an uncontrollable desire to watch the OWN network. FPL come get this thing right now!!
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