While a little skepticism is expected with any new technology, common misconceptions can make it difficult to separate fact from fiction. In the case of smart meters, this is no different.
When compared to traditional analog electric and gas meters, smart meters allow homeowners greater control over their energy usage and insight into their consumption with highly accurate digitally-guided estimates. Smart meters provide both homeowners and utility companies with nearly instant access to a property’s energy use data.
This helps utility companies bill more accurately, but it also gives homeowners the info they need to manage their energy use, potentially saving money by lowering those bills. Smart meters also use wireless communication, eliminating the need for meter readers. So, utility companies receive better estimates, and homeowners have one less charge on their utility bill.
Smart Meters: Common Misunderstandings and Misconceptions
Despite their advantages over traditional meters, smart meters have drawn skepticism due to their more sophisticated technology. Concerns over their data sharing, electrical fires, and other fears persist, but thankfully they’re far from reality.
In order to better understand smart meters, here are six common misconceptions and the truth behind them:
1. Smart Meters Don’t Securely Store Data
Smart meters transmit data about your energy consumption to and from your utility company. This info is limited to how much energy is used based on the time of day, and does not include information about how homeowners use their energy. Still, concerns have been raised about how securely that data is kept.
The truth is that utility companies are held to the same federally regulated standards as banks and credit card companies when it comes to keeping your information safe. They use advanced encryption technology and other robust security measures to preserve the integrity of user data.
Utility companies are subject to regular audits and other safeguarding measures to ensure they’re upholding high security standards, protecting the data of their customers from those looking to steal it.
2. Smart Meters Use Wireless Signals That are Harmful to Your Health
Similar to smart phones, some are afraid of harmful health effects supposedly caused by the radio frequencies that smart meters emit when they send data to your utility company.
However, in-depth scientific literature and studies by the World Health Organization and other reputable sources have proven the radio frequency energy emitted by smart meters is harmless to humans.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets strict limits on the level of RF that devices can transmit, and smart meters are well below most cell phones and satellite TVs. The truth is that no conclusive link has been found between health risks and RF emissions at or below the FCC’s mandated limit.
3. Smart Meters Aren’t as Accurate as Analog Meters
Analog meters have been relied on for decades, but their mechanical operation and their need to be read by a person makes them objectively less accurate than a smart meter.
In fact, one of the smart meter’s main benefits is that its estimates are made by a computer, and transmitted remotely, resulting in a closer estimate with no human error. Analog meters may be the tried and true method, but modern technology is simply capable of coming up with more accurate results.
4. Smart Meters Pose the Risk of a Fire Hazard
As with any electronic device, the possibility of an electrical fire is a scary possibility, but a remote one. While it’s true that house and electrical fires are extremely dangerous, smart meters don’t pose a higher fire risk than any other electronic device people rely on every day.
Because they are a fixture on millions of American homes, every smart meter must meet rigorous standards of safety and quality, ensuring minimal fire risk. Of course, it’s always important to make sure your smart meter is installed correctly.
5. Smart Meters Invade User Privacy
While smart meters communicate information to your utility company, it’s important to understand that information is limited only to what is absolutely necessary for the smart meter to function properly.
Namely, smart meters record how much energy you use at specific times of day; they do not keep track of how that energy was used, or any other information about the activities of people inside their home. Whether you’re using your TV, oven, or phone, a smart meter only knows you’re using gas and electricity.
Utility companies are held to very high standards, and are federally mandated to protect their customers’ data without compromising their right to privacy.
6. The Benefits of Smart Meters Are Not Worth the Upgrade
While this ultimately comes down to a matter of opinion, what can’t be argued are the advantages that smart meters have over their traditional counterparts. Smart meters are more accurate, allow homeowners to access their energy usage data at a moment’s notice, and allow them to plan their usage in the future, giving them the tools they need to potentially lower their utility bills.
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