REGION — Electricity consumers in both Pennsylvania and New York will have their electric meters replaced by smart meters in the next few years, if they haven’t already been replaced.

The current traditional meters must be read by a technician in person. The smart readers can be read remotely, thus saving energy companies the cost of paying someone to visit a meter every month or every other month. 

Electric utilities such as NYSEG and PPL say the smart meters will bring added benefits in that customers will no longer pay any estimated bills, and power outages will be detected immediately by the power company.

Further, information on the NYSEG website says, “You will be able to monitor your energy use, make more informed decisions on how you use energy and what pricing-option plans may work best for you.

“You will have more information to help you determine if participation in our Smart Savings Rewards program or any of our energy efficiency programs can reduce your energy costs… A smart meter records your energy usage in smaller time increments (typically one hour), you will be able to monitor your consumption more precisely so you can make more informed energy choices. Based on your usage, you can then choose an innovative electric pricing plan that works best for your household, which could lower your monthly cost. New pricing plans are currently being developed and will be available soon.”

Critics say that the evidence shows that many consumers who already have phones don’t check their meters very often because of the complexity of the system, still the opportunity will be there for those who are interested.

PPL expects to have smart meters installed in all of the homes and businesses in their coverage area by the end of 2019. NYSEG also plans to reach that goal by the end of next year, and both utilities have already begun installing the meters.

In Pennsylvania, opting out of the smart meter program is not possible, and PA customers pay a temporary surcharge of $1.77 a month for the service. According to the Public Utility Commission, “State law does not allow a customer to ‘opt out’ of their electricity distribution company’s smart meter program or surcharge. Installation of a smart meter is a condition of service to more accurately reflect rates and usage, and will ensure no disruption to your service.”

In New York, customers may opt out of getting a smart meter, but it will ultimately cost them. Per NYSEG, “Opt-out charges for statewide deployment of smart meters will be determined at a later date.”

There is concern among some consumers that smart meters may have a negative impact on human health. Here’s what the American Cancer Society has to say about that: (tinyurl.com/m6vvb8z) “Smart meters are typically installed outside the home, either in place of or as part of existing meters. How much radio frequency (RF) energy that people are exposed to from the smart meter depends on how far they are from the smart meter antenna and how the smart meter sends its signal. The frequency and power of the RF waves given off by a smart meter are similar to that of a typical cell phone, cordless phone, or residential Wi-Fi router. Smart meters typically send and receive short messages about 1% of the time.

Because the smart meter antenna usually is located outside the home, people are much farther away from the source of RF waves than some other possible sources of exposure to RF radiation, such as personal cell phones and cordless phones. In addition, walls between the person and the smart meter’s antenna further reduce the amount of RF energy exposure. This means that the amount of RF radiation that someone would be exposed to from a smart meter is probably much lower than the amount that they would be exposed to from other sources.

Can smart meters cause cancer?

“RF radiation is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans.’ This is based on the finding of a possible link in at least one study between cell phone use and a specific type of brain tumor. Because RF radiation is a possible carcinogen, and smart meters give off RF radiation, it is possible that smart meters could increase cancer risk. Still, it isn’t clear what risk, if any there might be from living in a home with a smart meter.”