Charlie Eich works on his computer at a local coffee shop Tuesday afternoon. Wifi networks are popping up everywhere – at school, the office, the living room and the coffee shop. America’s unplugged aspirations have even gone electric. Dubbed the “Smart Grid,” this system uses smart meters to track usage and transmit data./Photo by Jennaye Derge

Smart thinking

Citizens, utility companies clash over benefits of the Smart Grid

by Tracy Chamberlin

Whether it’s the tablet at work, the cell phone on the road or the laptop at home, the airwaves aren’t as clear as they used to be.

Wifi networks are popping up everywhere – at school, the office, the living room, the coffee shop, the grocery store.

America’s unplugged aspirations have even gone electric. Dubbed the “Smart Grid,” the electrical grid has gone digital with “smart meters” tracking usage. They operate much like the old ones did, but with far more accuracy and the capability to transmit information back to utility companies using radio frequencies.

The Smart Grid cuts out the need for meter reading and could potentially allow customers to analyze, control and adjust their energy usage down to the appliance. All this happens via radio waves streaming through the fridge, the oven, the wiring – and everyone who lives there.

The bones, muscles, skin and every part of the people in the home get hit with all those radio waves bouncing around. For some, that’s a real concern, affecting the health of parents, children and anyone else who stops by for a visit.

Currently, the Federal Communications Commission doesn’t regulate the levels of exposure to radiofrequency energy. They only offer guidelines for hand-held wireless devices and certifications.

The FCC states that, so far, researchers have “not effectively linked exposure to radio frequency energy from mobile devices with any known health problems.”

The same was said for nicotine, tobacco products and lead paint, according to a group of Durangoans concerned with the effects of the Smart Grid. “These existing (FCC) safety standards are grossly inadequate, dating from a time when our group.

In fact, the number of cell phone subscriptions in the world is just shy of surpassing the number of people in it, according to the United Nation’s International Telecommunications Union. With more than 7 billion inhabitants on the planet, cellular contracts total more than 6 billion – a number that continues to grow.

Although the rate of growth has recently started to slow, it’s taken less than 20 years for it to hit the current tally.

But for locals Angie Andersson and Deb Shisler, smart meters have something cell phones and laptops don’t – an off switch.

“We recognize that our society relies heavily on many personal wireless devices; however, our personal devices can be turned on or off at the users discretion, unlike smart meters which pulse microwave radiation repeatedly, 24/7, and cannot be turned off,” they said.

Andersson said the goal is not to ban wireless and cellular devices, but to empower the consumer and put the power in the hands of the people.

Part of that empowerment comes from a documentary titled, “Take Back Your Power: Investigating the ‘Smart’ Grid.”

Andersson and Shisler are just two of several community members hosting a free screening of the film at 6:30 p.m. Mon., Jan. 26, at the Durango Public Library.

The award-winning documentary by Josh Del Sol takes a look at smart meters and some of the potential consequences of their use, like privacy and hacking concerns, higher utility bills, as well as health, environmental and fire hazards.

Both Shisler and Andersson said “Take Back Your Power” addresses the controversy surrounding smart meters, which are widespread in the states, Canada and other countries around the world. “The film serves as an educational tool and has won major awards for its quality, content and presentation.”

Ron Meier, La Plata Electric Association’s Manager of Engineering, has seen the film. He said although it’s well done with a strong narrative, it only tells one side of the story, focusing on the bad behavior of some utility companies. Those companies, he admitted, deserve the black eye, but not all utilities and co-ops operate that way.

Just like all smart meters are not the same. He said the term “smart meter” is much like the term “truck.” One general noun doesn’t accurately describe the variety of different types, makes and models.

LPEA started switching out old analog meters for smart meters in late 2012. So far, the local co-op has installed 29,000 new smart meters in Durango and most of Archuleta County. This spring, work continues in Vallecito and Bayfield.

The meters LPEA uses have a Tantalus communications module, which primarily transmit data via ½-watt radios at 900 MHz frequencies. According to LPEA, the Tantalus meters have been tested in accordance with federal regulations and certified by the FCC.

“We’re not doctors. We’re not scientists,” said Meier. “We look to them for guidance.”

LPEA does offer its members the opportunity to opt out of its smart meter program. They do not have to be connected to the Smart Grid. Of course, that does not mean they won’t feel the waves transmitted by the neighbors, at the office, the store or anywhere else they might visit.

“We thank goodness LPEA gave us an opt-out,” Andersson said.

Some co-op members even expressed a desire to read their own meters, saving the $20 per month it would cost LPEA to come out and do it. Meier said they are giving it a shot.

Those members can send in their readings via email, phone call, even a postcard if they want.  For the first year, they plan to send out meter readers four times to households who read their own meters to ensure accuracy.

After the year, LPEA will take another look at the program, and if it works well, the number of required visits by the co-op could decrease. Meier said they still need to read the meter at some point, so LPEA employees would still need to visit the self-readers residences once or twice a year.

Andersson and Shisler said their only goal is simply to educate the community. “We are not advocating a ban on personal wireless devices; however, there are proactive steps we can take to protect our health, safety and privacy … it starts with knowing all the facts,” they said.

It’s something they have in common with Meier and LPEA. The co-op is also looking to empower its members and give them the tools to educate themselves. One way they are doing that is by offering something for free.

LPEA will come out to the residence of any of its members with an RF meter, which detects radiofrequency energy. It takes a reading that, Meier said, members can use to make their decision.

Meier does not doubt some people are affected. “I don’t doubt that there are people who are sensitive to radio frequencies,” he said. “It’s a challenging topic.”

Want to learn more? Whether you’d rather live off the grid or can’t wait to upgrade to the iPhone 6, here are some ways to learn more about smart meters.

- Concerns about Smart Grid policies www.stopsmartmeters.org or http://www.emfsafetynetwork.org

- LPEA’s program with policy links, questions, answers and more: www.lpea.com/services/metering.html