Dive Summary:
- Vermont's Department of Public Service is seeking out an expert to conduct a smart meter study in response to worries about the devices.
- James Porter, director of the department’s telecommunications division, indicated that the Vermont Department of Health believe the wireless meters being used by utilities in the state are "well within federal safety standards," though challengers believe federal standards are lacking.
- Sen. Robert Hartwell believes the new study is necessary and should be conducted by "someone who’s independent of state government, and independent of the special interests, who will do an honest assessment of what the impacts are.”
From the article:
"... Lawmakers didn’t attach a dollar figure to the study, and the request for proposals doesn’t stipulate a maximum cost. Porter said he has no idea how much the study will cost or whether price will figure in the department’s decision to pick one bidder over another.
The costs, as per legislation, will be billed to Green Mountain Power, the electric utility spearheading the state’s smart-meter installation. ..."
