Officials from Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE) made a presentation at the Thursday, Oct. 11 meeting of the North Beach Town Council to explain the utility’s plan to install “smart meters” to customer properties throughout their service area. The northeastern section of Calvert County, which includes North Beach, receives electrical service from BGE.
According to Joseph Saur, BGE’s manager of Support Growth, the meters will transmit energy usage information to the utility through a wireless network.
“The meters will not control how energy is used,” said Saur, who explained the system-wide installations would be ongoing through 2014. He added that the smart meter technology being implanted in BGE territory was really not new or experimental in that there are over 200 million such meters in use in America today.
“It’s a proven technology,” said Saur. “They have been tested by third parties for safety and reliability. It will not increase energy costs.”
Saur also debunked reports that the smart meters could pose a health risk. He pointed out that the meters have less radio frequency than handheld cellphones or microwave ovens.
Some of the meters will be installed outside homes and businesses, a process that will require property owners to do nothing, Saur explained. For those meters installed inside a building, Saur said BGE will arrange an appointment convenient for the individual customer.
“I think this is a valuable thing you are doing here,” said Council member Greg McNeill.
The utility will be holding an open house at the Northeast Community Center later this month and will also notify residents of pending installations through post cards.
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