Conversation with Meter Engineer SRP

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> Hi Everyone!  FYI
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> As per your request Libby, I spoke to a Meter Engineer, Rob Romak, at SRP.
> I initially spoke with him back in October when the Smart Meters were
> installed. He said that there is no plan to do away with the M-Power Meter.
> There is some talk about replacing it with a modem type meter that runs
> through your phone lines. They call it PLC Technology (Power Line Carrier
> Technology) He wanted to know if I like the prepay meter or would prefer not
> to have to do that.
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> Rob said that the M-Power is not wireless. It runs through the house wiring
> to the display box.
> I don't think I would have been able to tolerate my house if it were
> wireless.
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> SRP is working on options for people with health issues relating to the RF
> frequencies. Rob was empathetic and asked me what symptoms I had. He will
> make a report and forward it to his boss. He did say also that we can't get
> away from the RF signals. They are everywhere.
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> So it is a good thing that SRP has a level of understanding in regards to
> this & is working on options. Now APS on the other hand is another issue.
> Not sure about Tucson.
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> Rob also said that doing away with ALL landlines does not make any sense
> because if the cell towers were down there would have to be an alternative
> method of communication. He was not familiar with FCC's plans.
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> For those of you that want to look at the M-Power Prepay Meter, here is the
> link!
>  www.srpnet.com/payment/mpower/
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>  There is a video you can view also. Dawn; you asked me for a picture &
> there is some pics on the website.
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> Loni Rosser
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> On Sun, 4/17/11, Elizabeth Kelley <[hidden email]> wrote:
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> From: Elizabeth Kelley <[hidden email]>
> Subject: RE: The emPOWER meter is wireless also (from Steen)
> To: [hidden email], "Loni Rosser" <[hidden email]>,
> "Susan Malloy" <[hidden email]>, "Dawn Leslie" <
> [hidden email]>, "Melinda Honn" <[hidden email]>
> Date: Sunday, April 17, 2011, 11:55 AM
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> Some time ago, we learned that we had referred to the wrong meters. It s
> not an EMPOWER meter but an "M-Power" pay as you go meter. Here are news
> stories about it.  http://www.metering.com/node/15542.  Note that SRP is a
> public utility (not an investor owned and operated) based in Phoenix. More
> articles
> http://news.consumerreports.org/home/2007/11/smart-meters-prepaid-meters-electricity-use-save-energy-salt-river-project-mpower-plan.html.
> http://tdworld.com/mag/power_customers_power_home/.
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> By "paying as you go" the customer gets a fixed amount of electrical energy
> to use. they only go to the home to repair the meter upon request. SRP
> thinks this is smart and sustainable.  SRP thinks that is smart Loni Rosser
> in Mesa, who is EHS, has had one installed in her home for a few moths ago
> and has not complained about any related health problems. If this is true,
> why not look more closely at that option?
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> The Salt River Project offers m-power meters as an alternative, for now.
> However, SRP just got a smart grid grant though. LEt's hope that they do not
> decide to install the communicating ones with antennas.
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> If anyone has had any direct experiences to report with a utility over
> smart meters please send them to Susan Molloy or me. A group of us are
> meetig on Wednesday with a commissioner on the AZ Corporation Commission.
>
>
> Elizabeth Kelley
> Arizonans for Safer Utility Infrastructure
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> From: [hidden email]
> Date: Sun, 17 Apr 2011 09:32:22 -0700
> Subject: The emPOWER meter is wireless also (from Steen)
> To: [hidden email]; [hidden email]; [hidden email];
> [hidden email]; [hidden email]
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> The emPOWER meter constantly transmits wirelessly to a display/control unit
> inside the house.  The display shows how much money is left in the meter.
>  Turning off or moving the in-house display is unlikely to help, except on
> the transmissions FROM the display/control unit.
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> The good news is that the emPOWER meter will only need to transmit at a
> lower power level to reach the in-house unit, as compared to the other types
> of wireless meters.  It may be similar to a baby monitor or remote
> thermometer.
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> Steen
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> (via Joy)
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> Please address any replies directly to:  [hidden email]
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> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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