Some Utility Companies Charging Customers For Extra Energy Needed to Operate “Smart” Meters. Is Yours?

By B.N. Frank

Everywhere utility “smart” meters are installed – there are people fighting them to get them replaced with original analog meters, including elected officials.

Utility companies knew these meters were problematic years ago. They took federal stimulus money and raised customer rates to install them anyway. They promoted them as being beneficial to customers and eco-friendly even though that’s never been the case. Despite all the problems and complaints, utility companies still continue promoting them this way because “Smart” Meters are more profitable to them than original analog meters.

Public Utility Commissions (PUC) are supposed to protect the public by regulating utility companies. Many of them still promote “Smart” Meters as well – despite all the known issues. In Michigan, the PUC knows that the “Smart” Meters use MORE energy to operate than original analog meters (see pages 6 and 7). They also know that customers are being charged for the extra energy use. They still insist that customers shouldn’t have the right to have original analog meters instead of “Smart” Meters.

Utility “Smart” Meters are problematic everywhere. A documentary was produced about them in 2013 – Take Back Your Power – it was updated in 2017 and is free to watch online. Filmmaker, Josh del Sol, recently released more updates on a 2015 video about these meters as well.