Safety is our highest priority. The Advanced Meters we will install meet the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) requirements and are certified by Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Certification ensures that should the meters encounter equipment failure, such as a short circuit, they will respond in a safe manner. As part of this certification, our meters are independently tested and inspected during the manufacturing process. 

The meters allow us to identify problems remotely and respond quickly. The data from Advanced Metering will help us better monitor our entire electrical system during power outages. For example, the data will allow us to see when all homes are restored with power – an especially important feature during stormy weather, cold spells, and heat waves.

This is what a new residential meter will look like. As you can see, it looks pretty much the same as your old meter!

After extensive review and a competitive sealed bid process, PUD 3 has selected the Landis + Gyr E330 FOCUS AX family of meters for the grid modernization project.

The main form factors that we will be using are listed below. The appropriate meter for each service type and application will be selected by PUD 3.

• 2S (both Class 200 & Class 320)
• 2S-D (Class 200 w/ disconnect switch)
• 3S
• 4S
• 9S
• 16S
• 25S

Before you keep reading, check this out: 
The 7 Most Radioactive Items in Your Home

Like common devices such as cell phones, baby monitors, and WiFi routers, advanced meters use low-energy radio frequency waves to communicate wirelessly with PUD 3. While this is the same basic technology, the power output of the communication radios in the meters is very low powered compared to other electronics. 

Meter readers no longer need to visit your home to record your energy data. Instead, your energy-use information is sent remotely through the secure wireless network for billing. 

After extensive research and consultation with leading experts, we are confident advanced meters are safe. The science shows that radio frequency emissions typical of many common household devices like advanced meters, do not affect health.

Radio frequency emissions from advanced meters are far below the limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). One study for the State of Vermont found that radio frequency levels at one foot from the meter are about 1,500 times below exposure limits. PUD 3 studies on advanced meters deployed in Mason County show non-discernable RF exposure just a few inches from the meter's radio.

For further reading, please see the links below.

The Washington Utility and Transportation Commission (UTC) has published an information sheet on Advanced Meters. While the UTC does not have jurisdiction over PUD 3, which is a locally governed utility, they are local, trustworthy, and reputable subject matter experts in the industry.

Position Papers:

• Ed Friedman vs. the Maine Public Utilities Commission
• California Institute of Science and Technology: "Advanced Meters and Your Health"
• Electric Power Research Institute: "A Case Study of Radio-Frequency Exposure Levels"
• Electric Power Research Institute's: "Characterization of Radio Emissions from Advanced Metering Infrastructure Revenue Meters"

Web Sites:

• Federal Communications Commission Radio Frequency Safety FAQ's
• American Cancer Society statement on "advanced meters"
• EMFs.info (UK guide to electric and magnetic fields and health's "Advanced Meter" page)
• International Commission on non-ionizing Radiation Protection

This image is courtesy of our friends at Seattle City Light 

Although very high levels of radio frequency exposure can affect human health, it is important to understand that levels from Advanced Metering technology are extremely low and are not considered a health hazard or risk.

In general, the factors that influence the degree of radio frequency exposure from any source are the frequency, duration of signals, signal strength and your distance from the source. For reasons given in the following table, advanced meters do not produce radio frequency exposures strong enough to impact your health.