Smart meters pose no health risks, according to a new report commissioned by Vermont regulators. The state's Department of Public Service, which hired an independent company to conduct the study last year, wanted to address growing health concerns among the public regarding radio frequencies (RFs) emitted by the meters.
According to an article in the Brattleboro Reformer, the report found that smart meters' RF emissions are much lower than the levels deemed dangerous by the Federal Communications Commission, as well as lower than RFs emitted by common products, such as cell phones.
Vermont-based Green Mountain Power is one of the utilities installing smart meters across the state, and spokesperson Dorothy Schnure told the Brattleboro Reformer, "The results of this study confirmed what we already believed: smart meters are safe for our customers.”
However, not all are satisfied with the report’s findings. Matt Levin, outreach and development director of environmental advocacy group Vermonters for a Clean Environment, insists the study is inaccurate.
"Our concerns have to do with the need to accurately assess the emissions from the wireless smart meters," Levin told the Brattleboro Reformer. "While I have not read the report in detail, based on our conversations with department staff and the consultants who performed the report, we do not believe the testing was accurate or done in an unbiased, independent manner."
