BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JUST one day after this media house published an article headlined “The truth about Smart Meters!!”, the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) has responded with a release to clear the air on the belief by some individuals that these meters have adverse health effects.
“Regardless of the technologies used in our smart meter rollout, there is no hard evidence to suggest that proximity to PLC/BPL equipment has adverse health effects,” the company said in its release.
In its opening statement, the electricity company stated that certain members of the public have expressed concerns about the negative health effects of the smart meters that SKELEC is installing, brought about through exposure to electromagnetic (radio frequency) energy.
It however added that “Smart Meters from SKELEC use broadband power line communication (PLC) technology that uses wires to transmit data” and that “to be clear, SKELEC does not use wireless technology directly from the meter; the general public can be assured that SKELEC has gone above and beyond to address any health concerns related to the smart meter program”.
SKELEC also stated that the meters that would be installed at consumers’ premises communicates over the regular power lines that the company uses to supply electric power to consumers, transmitting signals in much the same manner as a telephone landline would.
“The primary communication devices are located at transformer stations, and it is only at these physically isolated structures where communications with SKELEC head office servers occurs, using efficient consumer-grade 3G cellular technologies,” the release said.
Additionally, the company explained that Smart Meter deployments use devices that fall into the same category as many home electronics and household appliances, such as TVs, DVD players, computers, ADSL/cable modems, which are essential to everyday living.
“SKELEC assures the general public that the smart meters being installed use wired technology exclusively, and as such, any concern raised regarding human health and safety from exposure or proximity to these meters is unfounded,” the company declared.
SKELEC is also advising that anyone who wants to learn more about “our Smart Metering program please visit our website (www.skelec.kn), email:smartmeters@skelec.kn or telephone: 869-465-2000/466-7102/7180”.
Smart Meters are the next generation of meters which relay hourly readings to the energy supplier. They also assist the consumer to ascertain the amount of energy they are consuming at any specific time of day.
Unlike the current black meters, these are self-reading and provide adequate up-to-date information.
SKNVibes Business understands that these meters are being used as a means of minimising energy wastage within St. Kitts, as many individuals currently indulge in energy wastage, specifically by leaving appliances plugged in or turned on when they are not in use.
According to npower.com, these meters would allow customers to see which appliance consumes large amounts of energy and where it could be reduced.
It also stated that customers would be able to “view your historic energy use and set targets for the future”.
However, these meters, according to former government minister Richard Caines, cause adverse health problems for persons who would already have them installed within their homes, specifically the USA.
“I have been the first person to raise alarm bells about Smart Meters on a programme I host on WINN FM. And since then I have had several telephone calls and I have gotten a document that someone sent to me with some of the complaints in the United States.
“And this is why we went on the programme, because nobody has ever heard about these problems until we from Operation Rescue aid them, and then everybody was ringing off my telephone the day after.”
Research done by SKNVibes has confirmed what Caines said about these meters and the health complications attributed to them.
According to Globalresearch.ca, it was only in the last two years it was revealed that there is constant wireless electromagnetic radiation exposure to these new meters.
Some of the effects include: sleep problems, cancer, disorientation, eye problems, heart-related illnesses.
“There has been no Precautionary Principle used, while corporate greed has abounded. Various utility companies have not told their customers of the dangers. What they told their customers about these new meters was that it would update the grid and help them control individual usage. Customers have not been told about the serious health problems,” it stated.
Caines however stressed that Smart Meters are the ultimate solution to the energy problems facing St. Kitts but more consideration and research are needed before full implementation.
“I think that the smart meter ultimately is the answer to reducing cost and making the company more efficient, but I don’t think that the time is right.”
These meters use a special communication network, where they are equipped with a special internal antenna that relays the readings to the utility provider.
According to SKELEC, implementation of the Smart Meters is scheduled to begin sometime in October, as the pilot phase is expected to be completed by the end of this month (June).
