Clearing the confusion about smart meters

Smart meters are digital electric meters that provide customers with access to more information about energy use through online energy-management tools that can help customers manage their electric bills. Additionally, because smart meters automatically send meter readings to ComEd, they also help eliminate estimated bills and reduce operating costs, creating savings on customers' electric bills.

Smart meters installed by ComEd comply fully with Federal Communications Commission health and safety standards. Just like standard meters, smart meters will measure the amount of electricity a customer uses, not how it is used. To ensure customer privacy, ComEd uses state-of-the-art cryptographic technologies, similar to those used by global financial institutions and the U.S. Department of Defense, to protect against unauthorized access to customer personal information.

Finally, numerous studies have been conducted on the effects of radio frequency on human health. According to the California Council of Science and Technology, "At this time there is no clear evidence that additional standards are needed to protect the public from smart meters or other common household electronic devices." Radio frequency describes the energy associated with electromagnetic waves. Any device that utilizes wireless technology produces RF emissions, from cellphones to tablets. Smart meters generate significantly less RF exposure than many other safe electronic devices that are used daily, including cellphones and microwave ovens.

ComEd looks forward to bringing the benefits of this helpful and safe technology to all of its customers.

Michael McMahan

Vice president, Advanced Metering Infrastructure Implementation

ComEd