Title
Update on installation of Smart Meters; Mike Palchesko, DTE Regional Manager of Corporate & Government Affairs
Body
Whereas, DTE Energy has begun the installation of new meters to customers in the Metro Detroit area, specifically the City of Rochester Hills; and
Whereas, DTE Energy is replacing the existing meters with so-called "Smart Meters", that is, electric meters which will broadcast information to the utility company using radio frequencies; and
Whereas, Smart Meters provide a benefit to utilities by allowing remote meter reading by, among other things, eliminating the need for someone to go onto each utility customer's property to read a meter and possibly offering residents lower electric rates at non-peak times; and
Whereas, a number of Rochester Hills residents have expressed their concerns about potential health effects of the Smart Meters, privacy issues, and the lack of consumer/homeowner options to either opt-out of the installation in the first place or have the Smart Meter removed after installation as a direct result of consumer/homeowner concerns that may have arisen after said installation; and
Whereas, although the City Council is informed that it is without jurisdiction to directly regulate Smart Meters, the City Council is requesting careful consideration of their resident's issues through direct communication with DTE Energy and the Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC).
Therefore, Be It Resolved, that:
The "MPSC" is hereby requested to perform a careful review and analysis of the Smart Meter program, specifically the potential health and safety effects and privacy issues, and
That the "MPSC" authorize the delayed deployment of the Smart Meters pending resolution of this careful review and analysis of the potential health and safety effects and privacy issues, and
That the "MPSC" allow individual City of Rochester Hills customers to opt-out of the Smart Meter installation at their homes, and
That the City of Rochester Hills asks DTE Energy to impose a moratorium on the Smart Meter Program and give residents opportunity to opt-in or opt-out, and
That the "MPSC" to the full extent of its authority impose measures to prevent DTE Energy from sharing information obtained exclusively through the Smart Meter Program with any third party, absent the express written consent of its customers.