Citizens concerned over smart meter safety

Posted: 08/15/2013

By: WMAR Staff

BALTIMORE (WMAR) - As the Public Service Commission weighs a decision on BGE’s new smart meters, some Marylanders are questioning the meter’s safety.

BGE and other power companies want the commission to allow them to charge any customer who opts out of a smart meter.

If the power companies get their way, the customer would have to pay $100 up front and an additional $15 a month to keep the old electric meter.

Opponents are hanging on to the old meters out of fear that smart meters could be unsafe.

Reverend Dr. Alvin Gwynn from Leadenhall Baptist Church wrote a letter to BGE with the safety concerns the public faces with these new meters.

"Our biggest concern is safety, safety, safety and it seems like they're more interested in the bottom line than in the safety of our citizens," Dr. Gwynn said.

Power companies including BGE say the new meters emit less radiation than a cellphone.

So far about half a million BGE customers have the new smart meters.

Power companies went before the Public Service Commission nine days ago.

There could still be quite a few weeks before a final decision is made.

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Read more: http://www.abc2news.com/dpp/news/region/baltimore_city/citizens-concerned-over-smart-meter-safety#ixzz2cEO5JBOq