Amid sometimes-competing claims about the safety and
purpose of advanced electric meters, the Plymouth Township
Board of Trustees on Tuesday voted down a symbolic
resolution that would have interjected the board into the
debate.
The resolution, which would have asked the Michigan
Public Service Commission to conduct a thorough study of the
advanced meters, also called “smart meters,” and also have
the MPSC require utilities to have an opt-out program for
homeowners who don't want the meters installed, failed in a
1-6 vote. Clerk Joe Bridgman casting the only vote in favor.
“We don't tell the schools what to do, or other
governing bodies,” said Trustee Steve Mann. “I don't think
it's our place.”
Advanced meters, which are currently being installed
by DTE Energy in markets around the state, send out radio
signals that allow them to be read remotely, eliminating the
need for meter-readers, and can also provide real-time
tracking of power usage. Utility officials tout a number of
advantages, including a greater usage awareness that can
lead customers to increase their energy efficiency, but
detractors say they fear the
radiation emitted from the meters can negative health
consequences for some people, and that the meters constitute
an invasion of privacy.
Public comment
The MPSC has been looking into a variety of issues
surrounding advanced meters, and on Monday ended a
month-long public comment period prior to its planned
issuance of a report in June.
Resident Bruce Hartdegen had brought the issue to the
board. Hartdegen said he understood the resolution would not
be legally binding on the MPSC, but that he wanted to raise
public awareness and have people make informed decisions.
“Not enough information is being disseminated in the
community about this topic,” Hartdegen said.
Hartdegen said he's worried about the possible health
affects, and called advanced meters “surveillance devices”
because of their ability to more precisely track electricity
usage. He said he's concerned about the system being hacked
into and tampered with.
Also speaking Tuesday was Bob Sitkauskas, manager of
DTE's advanced meter program. In addition to remote readings
and usage-tracking, Sitkauskas said, the meters allow
customers to see and understand the readings, are helpful in
cases of power failure, meter tampering and electricity
theft, and can use electricity more efficiently in
conjunction with “smart appliances” that can avoid peak
usage periods.
Not surveillance
The meters are safe and “we do not believe they are
surveillance devices,” Sitkauskas said. The meters don't
track sensitive data or customers' movements in a house, he
said. “We're tracking usage,” he said.
Sitkauskas said DTE already has about 750,000
advanced meters installed around the state, but isn't sure
when homes in the Plymouth area will be scheduled for
installation. The company will inform township officials
about 90 days before installation is to begin, he said.
Along with defending the advanced meters, Sitkauskas
said DTE is developing an opt-out program.
Bridgman said he was responding to citizen concerns
in bringing forward the resolution. “We have no authority as
far as saying yes or no (to advanced meters) and this
point,” he said.
Treasurer Ron Edwards said the township's water
department uses a few such meters around town in places
where water meter access is difficult.
“The
technology's used all around this area with water meters,”
he said.
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