Can smart meters make one sick?

[Topaz]

One US woman is say since the meter was installed she have been feeling sick and her neighbour says the same thing. Apparently, these smart meters give off radiation as much as a cell phone. I would think that some people who have had chemo and radiation treatment would be more endanger than anyone and therefore, maybe the PUC should have sent out a questionaire before installing these. http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=242905

[Boges]

Well then everyone in Ontario would be sick considering they're all over now. I've had one on my house for years.

I'm fairly conservative but the outrage over smart meteres is pathetic.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Boges

[TimG]

Apparently, these smart meters give off radiation as much as a cell phone.

At this time, there is absolutely no plausible physical mechanism that would allow low levels of non-ionizing radiation to affect human biology.

[GostHacked]

I've looked into this a bit, and there are a couple different types of EMR (electro magnetic radiation). Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation as far as I can tell really have no impact on the human physiology. Ionizing radiation does.

There is a problem with smart meters but the radiation is a small issue to the overall complete control over your electricity consumption by the power company.

1 - They offer no savings for the customer, in fact, the bills have increased.

2 - Analog meters last for decades, the wifi meters will be need to be replaced in 5-10 years.

3 - They communicate with smart appliances through wifi and also communicate with other smart meters.

Alone may not be that much of an issue, but in some multiplexes, there are banks of these smart meters, and that can definitely be a concern.

If you are really concerned about it, take an EMF reader and check it out for yourself to measure what your unit is giving off.

[Boges]

I've looked into this a bit, and there are a couple different types of EMR (electro magnetic radiation). Ionizing and non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation as far as I can tell really have no impact on the human physiology. Ionizing radiation does.

There is a problem with smart meters but the radiation is a small issue to the overall complete control over your electricity consumption by the power company.

1 - They offer no savings for the customer, in fact, the bills have increased.

2 - Analog meters last for decades, the wifi meters will be need to be replaced in 5-10 years.

3 - They communicate with smart appliances through wifi and also communicate with other smart meters.

Alone may not be that much of an issue, but in some multiplexes, there are banks of these smart meters, and that can definitely be a concern.

If you are really concerned about it, take an EMF reader and check it out for yourself to measure what your unit is giving off.

There was never meant to be a savings. Smart Meters are meant to modify people's power consumption habits. Don't do the laundry during the middle of a weekday. Is that so hard? People who say they are forced to do laundry at 2:00 am are just spouting hyperbole. The reason people's bills have gone up in Ontario is that our recently departed Premier is an absolute moron and drank the Green Energy Koolaid and is forcing all of Ontario to pay for it. All the while canceling power plants to win seats.

[GostHacked]

There was never meant to be a savings.

That was one of the benefits of the smart meters is that it was to help save the customer money.

Smart Meters are meant to modify people's power consumption habits.

Modify, which can be another term for control. You no longer control when you want to use certain types of appliances, this is called conditioning.

Anecdotal - I visited my parents a couple months ago, and I needed to do one load as I had not had time to do laundry before I left home. My mom said I would have to wait until after 6pm as the rates were cheaper then. I offered to pay her as I needed clean clothes now. In the end I did my laundry, which was only one load.

Don't do the laundry during the middle of a weekday. Is that so hard?

But if I do it in the day, I don't have to do it at night. I might not have time later to do it.

People who say they are forced to do laundry at 2:00 am are just spouting hyperbole.

If the rates are cheapest then, then people will be doing laundry at 2AM.

The reason people's bills have gone up in Ontario is that our recently departed Premier is an absolute moron and drank the Green Energy Koolaid and is forcing all of Ontario to pay for it. All the while canceling power plants to win seats.

Also implementing a smart meter solution when there was no problem with the analog meters that have been working for decades. I agree with your last part.

[Boges]

If people aren't going to modify, or be conditioned as you'd put it, then yeah you're bill is going to go up.

Off-peak is 7pm-7am and Holidays and weekend. It what universe is it hard to fit using large appliances during those hours? I always do my laundry on the weekends or on a holiday if I'm not working. It's not really that hard. Do it in the evenings, or early in the morning if you have odd working hours.

Sure if you HAVE TO do a load of laundry in the middle of a weekday, I guess you're SOL and you'll have to pay, it's not that much but for people to bemoan the whole thing. The meters more accurately measure usage as well which is good.

Edited February 13, 2013 by Boges

[Argus]

One US woman is say since the meter was installed she have been feeling sick and her neighbour says the same thing. Apparently, these smart meters give off radiation as much as a cell phone. I would think that some people who have had chemo and radiation treatment would be more endanger than anyone and therefore, maybe the PUC should have sent out a questionaire before installing these. http://www.wusa9.com...?storyid=242905

I'm outraged over smart meters. Not because they're a health hazard, but because they're an expensive waste of time.

[Argus]

There was never meant to be a savings. Smart Meters are meant to modify people's power consumption habits.

So they would save money on electricity. Yes, that was the theory. It turned out to be an expensive failure, much like every single thing the McGuinty government did during their time in office.

[Argus]

If people aren't going to modify, or be conditioned as you'd put it, then yeah you're bill is going to go up.

Or even if you do.

[GostHacked]

So they would save money on electricity. Yes, that was the theory. It turned out to be an expensive failure, much like every single thing the McGuinty government did during their time in office.

These smart meters are everywhere. UK, Canada, USA, NZ Australia, Europe, Asia ..,,,,,,

[GostHacked]

If people aren't going to modify, or be conditioned as you'd put it, then yeah you're bill is going to go up.

Off-peak is 7pm-7am and Holidays and weekend. It what universe is it hard to fit using large appliances during those hours?

The power grid is strained, so to provide more power for corporations which operate in the day, guess who gets the shaft .. again.

I always do my laundry on the weekends or on a holiday if I'm not working. It's not really that hard. Do it in the evenings, or early in the morning if you have odd working hours.

I am not going to let someone else dictate to me the best times for ME to do laundry.

Sure if you HAVE TO do a load of laundry in the middle of a weekday, I guess you're SOL and you'll have to pay, it's not that much but for people to bemoan the whole thing. The meters more accurately measure usage as well which is good.

A good friend of mine and his wife just had a kid recently. You can sure try to tell them not to do laundry in the day.

The meters yes are accurate to the point they know how much power you are using and when, however this provides no benefit to you. And with smart appliances coming down the road, they know when you use a specific appliance. That is very intrusive of your privacy.

[Argus]

These smart meters are everywhere. UK, Canada, USA, NZ Australia, Europe, Asia ..,,,,,,

So are corrupt governments.

[Boges]

The power grid is strained, so to provide more power for corporations which operate in the day, guess who gets the shaft .. again.

I am not going to let someone else dictate to me the best times for ME to do laundry.

A good friend of mine and his wife just had a kid recently. You can sure try to tell them not to do laundry in the day.

The meters yes are accurate to the point they know how much power you are using and when, however this provides no benefit to you. And with smart appliances coming down the road, they know when you use a specific appliance. That is very intrusive of your privacy.

You can do whatever you want, just be willing to pay more for the power being provided to you.

If you're home all day with a kid, then I'll assume you're home all evening with the same kid too. That argument doesn't past muster. Laundry isn't terribly difficult to do, unless you're using washboards.

[GostHacked]

You can do whatever you want, just be willing to pay more for the power being provided to you.

If you're home all day with a kid, then I'll assume you're home all evening with the same kid too. That argument doesn't past muster. Laundry isn't terribly difficult to do, unless you're using washboards.

No it's not difficult, but it is time consuming. Clothes don't fold themselves.

[Topaz]

I'm not sure when its a good for the laundry any more. I've try doing on weekends, when its cheaper and I've just gone ahead and did when its was at peak and its still about the same. So, to not get stressed out anymore , I do it when I do it and the bill will be what it is..

[segnosaur]

The power grid is strained, so to provide more power for corporations which operate in the day, guess who gets the shaft .. again.

Even if companies were as efficient as possible with electricity, there would still be variations throughout the day... more stores are open between 9am-5pm (which means more lights), most offices hours are open at that time too. In addition, air conditioning use in the summer is higher during the day (for both companies and home users) simply because its, well, warmer.

The meters yes are accurate to the point they know how much power you are using and when, however this provides no benefit to you.

Indirectly it does.

Each type of electrical generation has different characteristics. Nuclear power and coal tend to be fairly cheap to operate, but it is difficult to modify their power output (and a Nuclear power plant cannot be started/stopped instantly). On the other hand, gas-fired generating stations are more expensive to operate, but they can be started and stopped fairly quickly as need arises. So, what happens now is that we use nuclear/coal to provide "base load", and bring up gas fired plans throughout the day as the need arises.

On the other hand, if we could smooth out the variations in power usage (i.e. get people to delay doing laundry, or using their stove, until after 7 when demand for things like air conditioning or office lighting is less) then the utility company wouldn't have to construct as many gas generating stations (which, as I mentioned, are more expensive to operate and often sit idle at periods of low demand), and could rely on the cheaper base power generating stations (nuclear and coal).

Also, by smoothing out variations in power usage, you make the grid more stable (reducing the chance of blackouts, etc.)

That was one of the benefits of the smart meters is that it was to help save the customer money.

A couple of things need to be kept in mind:

- I don't think they were ever supposed to save every customer money. They were instead supposed to make the cost to the customer more closely related to actual generating cost. (As I pointed out before, the cost of generating electricity can vary during the day depending on what type of generating stations are used.) For some people, that will end up in smaller electrical bills. For others that will increase their bills.

- Keep in mind that some of the claims of increased bills may not be due to the smart meters themselves. As other posters have noted, other things were happening at the same time smart meters were installed.... Ontario was investing in 'green energy', fossil fuel prices have increased (which might increase the cost of gas/oil power plants), and utilities might have invested more in infrastructure to handle growing populations and/or prevent blackouts. At least some of the added costs people see on their electric bill may be due to these other factors. Plus, some governments may have eliminated certain subsidies which were making electricity prices artificially low.

[Boges]

I'm not sure when its a good for the laundry any more. I've try doing on weekends, when its cheaper and I've just gone ahead and did when its was at peak and its still about the same. So, to not get stressed out anymore , I do it when I do it and the bill will be what it is..

Well that's the thing about electricity. Consumption is only a port of the bill. You have to be regularly using stuff like AC to really jack up the bill.

Last Winter I was told that keeping the furnace's fan on 24/7 was good for consumption. Well that just jacked up my hydro bill, but because of the mild winter my gas consumption with already moderate.