Smart meter radiation well below FCC limits: Report
Radio-frequency (RF) exposure levels from one type of smart meter, even at close range, fall substantially below the protective limits set by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for the general public, according to a report from the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). The report presents findings that serve as a valuable first step in characterizing RF exposures associated with smart meter technology.
“RF is a ubiquitous and increasing presence in our daily lives as evidenced by the expanding use of cell phones and other wireless technologies,” said Rob Kavet, senior technical executive at EPRI. “Smart meters are integral technology to a modern smart grid, but consumers need to be assured that health issues associated with RF exposures from new technologies have been carefully examined and are well understood.”
The EPRI research addressed RF from a specific type of smart meter with measurements conducted at the manufacturer’s test facility. For a continuously-operating rack of 10 meters, each operating at a nominal power rating of 250 milliwatts (typical of many residential units), the RF power density level one foot in front of the rack was 8 per cent of the FCC limit; at 20 and 50 feet, these values dropped to 0.18 and 0.11 per cent, respectively. From eight inches behind the rack, RF power density was 0.6 per cent of the FCC limit.
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