MONTPELIER, Vt.—Worries about health effects, privacy and
cost are fueling growing opposition to wireless, digital "smart
meters" that utilities around the country are installing
at homes and businesses and touting as key energy
conservation and grid reliability tools.
Vermont appears poised to take an unusually aggressive
stance. While several states have allowed utilities to
charge a fee to customers who want to opt out of smart
meters, Vermont's governor is expected soon to sign
legislation that would allow customers to say no without
paying anything extra, at least until more studies are
completed on the real costs of not deploying the meters.
"They're the ones who came up with this," Sen. Robert
Hartwell, D-Bennington and a leading supporter of the free
opt-out, said in an interview. "The utilities didn't really
care what the ratepayers thought. So since they're the ones
who are trying to impose the new system, we think they're
the ones who should absorb the costs."
Dorothy Schnure, spokeswoman for Vermont's Green Mountain
Power Corp., said a smart grid will enable utilities to
operate in a more efficient and environmentally friendly
manner. She predicted most customers would be eager to see
the change.
Under Vermont's law, the costs of customers opting
out—mainly having to send a meter reader to their home or
business, will be spread across all customers, rather than
being paid just by those who opt out.
Other states allow opt-outs, including California, Maine,
Nevada and Oregon. But Schnure and others who watch the
industry closely said they were not aware of any where
consumers can skip smart meters for free. California imposes
a $75 fee up front plus $10 a month for opting out.
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