Troy City Council Approves Smart Meter Opt-Out Resolution
Council supports residents' ability to opt out of using DTE Energy's "smart" meters, which wirelessly transmit usage information to the utility company.
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Troy City Council unanimously passed a resolution Monday night supporting the ability of Troy residents to opt out of using smart meters – new meters that monitor utility customers' usage with precision online by wirelessly transmitting usage data.
Council had discussed the resolution, which was introduced by Troy Mayor Janice Daniels, at its July 9 and June 18 meetings. The resolution is modeled after a resolution drafted by the Oakland County Board of Commissioners.
A recently completed Michigan Public Service Commission (MPSC) report also recommends that DTE Energy allow customers to opt out of its "smart meter" program.
The resolution and supporting documentation is attached to this story as a PDF file and may also be downloaded here.
Sue Martin
9:26 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
The resolution itself is effectively ceremonial; it SUPPORTS allowing residents to opt-out, but it doesn't actually provide for any ability to do so. City Council does not have that power.
Jen Anesi
9:39 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
That is true, Sue! I added a few words to the first sentence to clarify that. Thank you!
J Critelli
9:37 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
NO!!! I think it's another stupid move on the part of the city council and the i hate to even call her mayor.
J Critelli
Jeff S.
10:50 am on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Janice Daniels campaigned on reducing government regulation. Now she wants to regulate a private business (DTE Energy), dictating the terms of how they meter electricity delivery. Unreal.
Gail P Baumer
1:00 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Unbelieveable. Our council spent time on a matter which is moot and they knew it. ALL of the council knew this.
Sue Martin
1:19 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
It was Ms. Daniels who forwarded the resolution, I believe, and she gained enough support to do so. Once it's on the table...no harm in supporting it with a vote as it doesn't hold the city accountable for anything, really...
Tom Baker
1:24 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
So far to this point Smart Meters are being demonized and DTE is doing nothing to help the public understand them. Why not have a open meeting with DTE to discuss the options and benefits of these Meters?
Gail P Baumer
2:00 pm on Tuesday, July 24, 2012
DTE provided information in our residential billings and on their website before the meters were installed. There are FAQs available at http://www.dteenergy.com/residentialCustomers/productsPrograms/gas/remoteMeteringFAQ.html
Randy Jasky
7:14 am on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
I'm glad to hear our City Council supports opting out of unnecessary technology. As it exists, too much information is gathered and made available to DTE (or any utility that uses these meters) regarding usage, which can easily be monetized, to either the benefit or detriment of Troy residents.
We opted out several weeks ago, when a DTE worker (very quietly) knocked on our door (instead of using our doorbell...during the day when he expected nobody to be home) and when I answered (much to his dismay) he informed me that he was going to install the smart meter. I told him, "No you're not. We don't want one." and that was that.
After he left, I tagged my old meter informing DTE (or anybody else) that we do NOT want one installed, and we haven't been bothered since.
Ann Erickson Gault
8:22 pm on Wednesday, July 25, 2012
The point of the Smart Meter is to allow DTE to offer different rates for electricity depending on what time of day you are using it. The reasoning behind the different rates is to give people an incentive to use less electricity at peak hours. This is good thing for all of us - less coal-fired or nuclear plants, less stress on the grid.
There is no rational reason to fear Smart Meters or refuse their installation.