Smart Meters and EMF Radiation

Smart meters are becoming more and more mainstream, as utility companies demand homeowners use them. But what about smart meters and EMF radiation? Is there a concern? And if so, what should you do?

What is a Smart Meter?

A smart meter tells you how much gas and electricity you’ve used, just like a normal meter.

The difference is that a smart meter sends your energy information to your supplier. This is automatic and uses a secure network.

The plus side is that you will no longer pay for an estimated bill, which may be to your advantage. These meters show the amount of energy you use and are becoming more accurate.

You can see how weather affects your usage, the current cycle, and even a daily usage bill. It also allows you to see what time of day you are using the most energy.

What are the Drawbacks?

There are always drawbacks of any electronic item. A few include,

• Loss of function
• Hard to switch suppliers
• Poor signal
• Not always user-friendly
• No readings being sent
• Risk of cyber attacks
• Existing meters hard to access
• Cannot be used by renters
• Change of language

Smart Meters and EMF Radiation

According to the American Cancer Society,

Smart meters give off RF radiation. RF radiation is low-energy radiation. RF radiation doesn’t have enough energy to remove charged particles such as electrons (ionize), and so is called non-ionizing radiation. Non-ionizing radiation has enough energy to move atoms in a molecule around or cause them to vibrate, which can lead to heat but it can’t damage DNA directly.

RF radiation is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” This is based on the finding of a possible link in at least one study between cell phone use and a specific type of brain tumor. Because RF radiation is a possible carcinogen, and smart meters give off RF radiation, it is possible that smart meters could increase cancer risk. Still, it isn’t clear what risk, if any there might be from living in a home with a smart meter.

Some who have tested these show an increase in bursts of electromagnetic radiation every few minutes, which may be caused by the smart meter communicating with other smart meters in the area.

What Can You Do?

If your utility company insists you use a smart meter, there isn’t a lot you can do about refusing. However, you may consider space clearing or spot clearing with something like a cube stabilizer.