Consumers deserve power when it comes to smart meters

In many cases, new Internet-based technology represents a leap forward in terms of convenience and efficiency. But when it comes to public utilities, there is ample room for concern over privacy and safety, especially in the case of residential electric meters. That’s why Precinct Chairmen from across Travis County approved the following resolution in their November Executive Committee meeting, urging Austin Energy and the Texas Legislature to give electric utility consumers expanded choices.

Whereas, Austin Energy has been installing smart electric meters that are read and stored every 15 minutes, distinguishing between device signatures for cooling, water heater, appliances, electronics, and lighting and compared with your neighbors.  

Whereas, smart water meters are also being installed for readings being stored every hour to be monitored and compared with neighbors.

Whereas, the only current way to opt out of a smart meter in Austin (water or electric) is to pay a $75 one-time fee and $10/month charge for each meter.

Whereas, this creates an invasion of privacy monitoring personal behavior patterns, real-time surveillance, possible targeted home invasions from patterns of inactivity, identity theft, and other adverse disclosures or controls.

Therefore, we call on the Austin City Council to provide a no-cost opt-out for smart meters allowing self reporting such as done in other Texas counties, or an auditable option to limit storing data to only once per monthly billing cycle.

We further call on the Texas Legislature to require jurisdictions implementing smart meters to provide a reasonable no-cost opt-out to all utility customers. Approved 11/14/23