Published monthly by Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, Inc.
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MARCH 2024
T WATTS
Are electric meters safe? In recent years, health officials have conducted studies concerning the health and safety of electric meters. One of the topics is how much radiation exposure occurs from electric meters. “Safety and health remain a top priority for Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative,” said CHEC General Manager Juli Orme. “Our goal each day is to help ensure the well-being of our members, the public and our employees. The newer meters use the same basic technology that we’ve been using for the last 22 years and have undergone testing to ensure these products are safe for use.” Dallin Shaw, P.E., and Director of Engineering for Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative, has studied the latest research data related to the newer electric meters. “We carefully consider all of the products and technologies we use on our system. We want to ensure the safety of our members and the public.
The FCC dictates the maximum acceptable level of power density exposure from electronic devices, and electronic meters are far below that limit. Electronic meters are very safe. In fact, the level of power density exposure from everyday household items like microwaves and cell phones is hundreds of times higher than the exposure from standing next to an electronic meter. Many concerns with electronic metering arise from the use of radio frequency signals (RF) to transmit meter readings. Cookson Hills Electric Cooperative does not use RF. We use powerline carrier technology to transmit meter readings, which means readings are sent directly using the electric power line,” said Shaw. Cookson Hills remains committed to the safe and reliable distribution of electricity. If you have any questions or concerns, please call us at 800-328-2368.
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Electric meter replacements
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