Smart meter: Difference between revisions
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==Consumer-impact summary== | ==Consumer-impact summary== | ||
Smart meters are in and of themselves mostly harmless (**Note: there have suspicions of EMF and radiation being emitted from the meters due to lack of shielding, no major studies found at time of page creation), but when coupled with third parties collecting, processing, and retaining data this could put the end user at risk of data leaks: | Smart meters are in and of themselves mostly harmless (**Note: there have suspicions of EMF and radiation being emitted from the meters due to lack of shielding, no major studies found at time of page creation), but when coupled with third parties collecting, processing, and retaining data this could put the end user at risk of data leaks: | ||
*User Freedom: Many of electric and gas distribution companies are requiring | *User Freedom: Many of electric, water, and gas distribution companies are asking or requiring customers to switch to smart meters. In some cases customers can opt out if they pay a monthly fee and in rare cases companies will allow customers to opt out for free.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-19 |title=Smart electricity meters being imposed against will of consumers |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhopal/smart-electricity-meters-being-imposed-against-will-of-consumers-patwari/articleshow/122771583.cms |url-status=live |access-date=2025-27-09 |website=Times of India}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=09 Sept 2025 |title=Smart Meter Opt Out - Eversource |url=https://www.eversource.com/residential/account-billing/smart-meters/smart-meter-opt-out |url-status=live |access-date=09 Sept 2025 |website=Eversource}}</ref> | ||
*User Privacy: Most smart meters use third parties to collect, process, and store data without the customers knowledge. This data can be used to infer patterns in electricity, identify when users are home, identify what appliances they are using, etc. | *User Privacy: Most smart meters use third parties to collect, process, and store data without the customers knowledge. This data can be used to infer patterns in electricity, identify when users are home, identify what appliances they are using, etc. | ||
*Business Model: Utility companies typically do not disclose to their customers what is happening with the data from the smart meter, tell customers what brand smart meter is being installed, or inform customers of the third party smart meter companies' privacy policy. | *Business Model: Utility companies typically do not disclose to their customers what is happening with the data from the smart meter, tell customers what brand smart meter is being installed, or inform customers of the third party smart meter companies' privacy policy. | ||