Smart Meters

Glendale officials tried to debunk what they called smart meter myths for an audience of about 70 people Thursday night, though many in the audience were antagonistic and rowdy during the presentation. The tough crowd was to be expected, officials said, given the steadfast pushback from a group of residents in Burbank and Glendale who maintain the meters are bad for health and privacy - opinions utilities insist are based on myth and misinformation. In an attempt to address those concerns, Glendale Water & Power presented a panel of experts, including Jim Schoedler, a radiofrequency technology consultant.

In a world gone crazy, teetering on the brink of economic chaos, with thousands dying every day at the hands of rogue governments, wars being fought over precious natural resources and the young losing hope in the future, you have to wonder how smart meters became the No. 1 issue for so many. Smart meters? You know, the glass encased digital meters that have recently been installed outside your home or apartment in Burbank and Glendale and in much of California. These automated devices are supposed to help you manage your use of water and power to reduce your costs and conserve these precious resources to help make the planet greener.

For weeks, Anoush Barzegar pestered city officials, agitating to have the city remove the smart meter that had been installed at her home. Two weeks ago her wish was granted. Barzegar is one of five Glendale residents who have had their smart meters - which they believe makes them ill because of the radio frequency waves they emit, a claim officials deny - removed. When her story was shared at a forum organized by opponents of the technology Thursday night, many of the almost 170 people in attendance said they wanted theirs out, too. The digital meters transmit energy and water use data to the utilities that own and operate them.

Glendale Water & Power plans to wait on creating an opt-out policy for those who oppose smart meters until a California regulatory body decides on the matter. Some customers have been stumping at City Council meetings claiming the new meters emit signals that make them sick, even though officials say the radiofrequency waves emitted from smart meters meet Federal Communications Commission guidelines. Members of the group have demanded that they be allowed to opt out of the smart-meter grid, but Craig Kuennen, a Glendale Water & Power official assigned to the Smart Grid Initiative, told city commissioners Monday that they're waiting on a ruling from the California Public Utilities Commission.

With some Glendale customers grumbling over what they say is the Big Brother debut of a new smart meter grid, the city's utility today announced plans to host a panel of experts to address public concerns. Some Glendale Water & Power customers have held out against embracing the new technology -- which allows two-way communication with the utility and lets customers track real-time water and electricity consumption -- calling the smart meters an invasion of privacy and voicing concerns about the health impacts of the radiowaves.

Do we really need to spend $60 million on smart meters to tell us what most of us already know (Smart meters don't count as 'renewable', Oct. 2)? Or do we need to spend that much money to inform people that it is better to use electric appliances in off peak hours, such as in the evening or at night? The utility has been telling us that for years. Seems like a waste of money to me. Proponents contend that a smarter grid allows customers to take better advantage of renewable energy, and thus take part in “a cleaner, more efficient and more reliable future.” What does that mean?

It is no surprise that the smart meters do not count as renewable, as they do absolutely nothing to reduce emissions and environmental pollution (Smart meters don't count as 'renewable',” Oct. 2). They are simply passive devices that measure consumption. As a matter of fact, the expenditure of the stated $70 million for Glendale to replace the perfectly functional (and cheaper) existing meters is a monumental demonstration of misplaced priorities. To my understanding, the main beneficiaries of this project are the vendors of the new meters and the contractors who install them.

With 120,000 smart meters installed across the city, Glendale is ready to get to the next step: building one Web portal where customers can check their utility consumption in order to modify their use and save money. The City Council approved paying CherryRoad Technologies $187,880 to implement the portal technology, which officials say will help the smart meters live up to their potential. Smart meters allow customers to track their energy use and change their behavior in order to save money.

For all the tens of millions of dollars being spent in Burbank and Glendale for new smart-meter grids, the added efficiencies won't directly affect state mandates for renewable energy, officials say. In Glendale, the tab for new smart meters - which provide customers with real-time tracking for energy use - is $70 million. In Burbank, that cost will be roughly $60 million. The two cities found themselves at the forefront of the national movement when they received a $20-million federal grant to help fund the massive infrastructure projects.

Ever since I began writing about the Glendale Water & Power smart meters, I have received letters from fellow citizens who are likewise frustrated and curious as to the exact reasons why their utility bills have gone up. I count myself among those individuals, although to say I'm surprised that my bill went up after the meter was installed could hardly be described as leaving a curious taste in my mouth. I'd describe it more like expected resignation with subtle notes of chocolate and “what the heck”!