Robert A. Schiffman: Smart meters benefit Duke Energy

Regarding the Feb. 10 news article “Smart meters worry some customers”: So, after a failed multi-year effort by Duke Energy to bribe customers with a one-time $25 rebate on their electric bill, the company seeks to force customers into accepting smart meters.

Utility companies repeatedly claim these meters provide better information and can lower electric bills. Unfortunately, in California, other states and countries consumers have reported highly inflated bills, along with house fires and claims of a host of health problems associated with smart meters. And, though scientific support for these health claims, such as heart problems, headaches and sleep disturbance, is lacking, exhaustive and conclusive studies into these health risks are also lacking.

Perhaps Duke Energy should hire independent scientists to spend the necessary years to validate or debunk such claims before forcing consumers to subject themselves to any potential risk.

There is one thing about this whole process and plan that should be obvious: The installation of smart meters is not in the homeowner’s best interest. The real benefits belong to Duke Energy.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 5:14 PM with the headline "Robert A. Schiffman: Smart meters benefit Duke Energy."