Smart meters have a reputation problem, says the Smart Grid Consumer Collaborative (SGCC), a nonprofit organization that supports smart grid technologies and initiatives.
To address consumer concerns about health and privacy, the SGCC has released a new video and fact sheet with information that the group says refutes the most commonly circulated myths about smart meters.
Some of the SGCC's claims include the following:
Radio frequency exposure: It would take 375 years of direct contact with a smart meter to equal the same amount of radio frequency exposure from a daily, 15-minute cell phone call.
Privacy infringement: Smart meters only know how much power is being used - not specifically how it's being used - and utilities will continue to keep that data private as they have done for decades.
Economic benefits: Smart meters could reduce the cost of power interruptions by more than 75%, saving the U.S. economy more than $150 billion a year.
“We’re setting the record straight about smart meters to help consumers lay their apprehension to rest and enjoy the many benefits of the technology,” says Patty Durand, SGCC’s executive director.
