LAS VEGAS -- NV Energy makes its case to the Public Utilities Commission Tuesday for installing smart meters in Nevada homes. Some homeowners who already have the meters are raising concerns.
On Friday, NV Energy submitted a 382-page report to the PUC. It outlines their case to be able to replace everybody's old rate meter with one constantly sending signals back to the utility.
Smart meters are designed to send back data broken into 15 minute segments to the power company on home energy usage. That constant stream of data is meant to save the company money. NV Energy declined to talk on camera but their application claims smart meters could save the utility $35 million a year.
Some of that savings would come in the form of meter reader jobs. NV Energy says it would eliminate 95 jobs. However, they claim some employees will find other jobs within the company. The layoffs were brought up by ratepayers at Oct. 5 PUC hearing.
"I'm very concerned with the installation of these smart meters because, as they're installed, more and more meter readers are being laid off which means more people being unemployed in our state," NV Energy customer Rana Goodman said.
NV Energy says their meters are nearly 100 percent accurate but ratepayers testing out the devices already complain of increased power bills.
"My lowest bill this year is triple what it was last year when I had no solar," said one person talking with the PUC.
Several California counties and dozens of cities have banned the installation of smart meters due to privacy and health concerns.
"Real concerns about adverse health effects from radiation including sleep disorders, irritability, short-term memory loss, nausea and many more," Henderson resident Tim Stebbins said.
One group has launched a website to try and stop the meters from being installed claming health reasons.
One medical study cited by NV Energy says the radio frequencies emitted by smart meters are less than naturally occurring background radiation and cause no medical harm. A $300 million federal grant pays for half of the smart meter's cost. NV Energy says their share of the costs will come from future savings. The company has made similar statements about the cost savings on their new natural gas plant near Moapa but then asked the commission to pass on the plant's new costs to ratepayers. NV Energy has its own website with information on the advantages of smart meters.
As far as the privacy of smart meter data, the PUC forbids NV Energy from selling personal information to other companies. The company also claims in their application that the data is encrypted enough to protect against hackers.
Nevada's PUC meets Tuesday morning at 10. Click here for meeting information.
