In the last few years, more and more misinformation has been generated about the use of smart meters for automated meter reading ability. Unfortunately, with this misinformation, many people are hesitant to agree to the new technology, and they may have concerns about the reliability and even the security of the systems.
The reality is that automated meter reading through the use of smart meters is not only good for the consumer; it is also good for the utility. With increased ability to track usage and the coordinate for peak demand times, utilities can plan to ensure there is never an issue with water pressure, even in the highest usage times.
Additionally, the utility can use automated meter reading to track any possible leaks in their systems. This also adds to the efficiency of the system and helps to reduce both cost increases as well as waste. The same can be said for the ability for the customer to quickly detect issues with abnormal usage which can be a result of small leaks or leaks in areas that may go undetected.
Concerns about RF
Initially, when smart meters were used for automated meter reading systems, there was a lot of misinformation about possible exposure to radio frequency waves or RF emissions that could potentially be linked to health risks.
In studies that have tested these smart meters, it has been found that the RF emissions from a smart meter are a fraction of that from a cell phone. The comparison provided is that using a cell phone for a quarter of an hour a day for a year exposes the user to the same RF that a smart meter would produce in 375 years.
Automated Meters are Less Effective and Increase Error
With automated meters there is no risk of human error in transcribing the meter reading, entering the meter reading into the system, or even in scanning the meter and entering it into the system at the home. All of these options can include human mistakes, often which are difficult to track.
On the other hand, with automated meter reading, the exact information from the meter is uploaded directly into the meter and billing company or the utility company system.
Additionally, since information is uploaded daily, changes in usage, outages and other issues can be easily detected and corrected, often saving the consumer and the utility money.
Finally, with smart meters using automated meter reading, there is no secure information transmitted. The transmission from the meter is simply a code and a reading, with the code corresponding to the utility meter labeling system. Personal data, payment information or even the meter location is not transferred, and all companies use secure transmission technology.