STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As Con Edison continues to install smart meters outside homes and businesses across Staten Island, a few residents are choosing to opt out of having the device -- but for a monthly fee.
The meters, according to Con Edison, are designed to improve the service a customer receives, providing online access to to usage information and more. They record the amount of product, such as electricity, consumed over time, communicating through a central computer system.
But Annadale resident Joe Nigro says he opted out of the installation of a smart meter due to health concerns associated with the devices, which emit a small amount of radiation.
"Con Ed was telling me how beneficial it is because it saves you money," Nigro said. "How is it better? There's a health concern associated with it, it's not better."
According to Con Edison spokesman Bob McGee, fewer than 125 customers on the borough have chosen to opt out of having a smart meter.
Those who opt out incur a $9.50 monthly charge associated with the cost of meter reading. And this has some Staten Islanders baffled.
"You're going to charge me $9.50 to read each meter?" Nigro asked. "The person is going to come out one time a month and write down two numbers and you're going to charge me an additional $9.50?"
According to McGee, the utility has installed over 54,600 meters on Staten Island. By next June, Con Edison will complete the installation of 181,000 in the borough.
"Smart meters are designed to enhance the customer's experience," McGee said. "Online access to detailed usage information now available can help customers manage their energy costs. In the near future, we'll be incorporating the capability of responding quicker when the meters let us know of a power outage."
While some, like Nigro, prefer not to have the smart meters installed due to health concerns, there is no data available regarding the total number of Staten Islanders who have refused the meters because of the radiation they emit.
The company doesn't ask customers to provide a reason for opting out, McGee said.
Smart meters give off the same kinds of radiofrequency waves as cell phones and Wi-Fi devices. Scientists are continuing to study the effects of long-term exposure to low levels of radiofrequency.
The meters are typically placed outside the home, therefore people are farther away from the source of radio frequency waves than other sources of exposure, states the American Cancer Society.
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According to Con Edison, the meters emit less radiation than an individual can get from using a cell phone.
"Smart meters are now in place in over half the country, and no credible studies have found any adverse health effects from them," McGee said.
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