The Cost

The Smart Meter roll was made possible by a $69 million grant from the Department of Energy as part of the Recovery Act. Nearly half of that grant money is borrowed. The payment and interest of this will have to fall on the shoulders of future taxpayers. To pay for the additional costs of implementation of the SmartGrid not covered by the Federal grant, CVPS has reserved the right to raise rates.

How “Green” is it?

CVPS has put in a great deal of effort to promote smart meters as money-saving, energy saving, “green” devices. Both the claim that these will save money and the claim that smart meters are somehow “green” are highly problematic.

Firstly, the claim that smart meters will allow CVPS customers to save money has never been proven or demonstrated. The fact of the matter is, under CVPS’ “time-of-use” pricing program, for customers to save money they would have to make drastic changes in their living habits. “Time-of-use” pricing allows CVPS to charge customers more for their energy at times when they need their energy most. Basic chores such as washing ones clothes or cooking dinner would have to be performed “off-peak” for their to be any true change in the cost of one’s energy.

Secondly, smart meter in and of themselves do not ‘save energy.’ Like analog meters before them, they are a measuring device – and a far more dangerous one at that. It is people who save energy through their responsible behavior.