Dive Summary:
- During a Texas Senate hearing on smart meters, proponents argued that use of the technology results in monetary savings, decreased waste and load reduction while critics say that meters emit harmful radiation similar to cellphones but, unlike cellphones, the meters are mandatory.
- While objectors seek to put an end to compulsory rollouts, advocates contend that letting certain customers to keep their analog meters will interfere with the growing efficiency of the Texan power grid.
- An estimated 5.7 million smart meters have been installed in residences across Texas, where smart meters are required for most residents.
From the article:
"A Texas Senate committee heard sometimes-emotional testimony Tuesday about electric smart-meter installations, as opponents of the installations argued that their rights had been violated.
'Every consumer should be given a choice and not an ultimatum,' Dallas resident Pam Colquitt told the Senate Business and Commerce Committee. She said she denied representatives of Oncor, the local utility company, the right to access her property, but they installed them a few weeks later anyway. Colquitt said she was 'deeply concerned about the health hazards' associated with the meters. ..."