Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Some Rockford residents reject ComEd smart meters over health concerns

  • Some Rockford residents reject ComEd smart meters over health concerns


  • ComEd began installing smart meters in Rockford on Aug. 17, 2015, with a goal to place the device on 9,800 houses and businesses by the end of the year.

  • ComEd began installing smart meters in Rockford on Aug. 17, 2015, with a goal to place the device on 9,800 houses and businesses by the end of the year. More than 80,000 smart meters will be installed by 2017. KEVIN HAAS/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER/RRSTAR.COM

    Page 3 of 3 - "That is actually extortion," Campbell said. "They're actually charging you for keeping something you already have."

    Kranish said the studies cited by the industry don't take into account the effect of cumulative or long-term exposure to RF radiation. He notes that the American Academy of Environmental Medicine has warned about adverse health effects, such as learning disabilities, from wireless radio frequencies.

    He said the industry argument about safety "sounds a lot like the tobacco industry and that's the direction this thing is heading. I think it's going to make the tobacco lawsuits look like child's play."

    More than 51.9 million smart meters were installed around the country by 2013, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. ComEd sees a systemwide refusal rate of 0.11 percent and expects Rockford's rate to decline as more meters are deployed.

    Kevin Haas: 815-987-1410; khaas@rrstar.com; @KevinMHaas

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