Smart Meter Installation To Begin In Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, IL — ComEd employees will begin installing smart meters at homes and businesses in Plainfield this July. ComEd Vice President Mike McMahan addressed village officials Monday at the Committee of the Whole meeting, saying the utility plans to install about 2,600 smart meters in Plainfield this summer. By the end of 2017, he said he anticipates about 8,000 meters will be installed in the village.

McMahan said installations will be done by uniformed ComEd workers in company vehicles. All installers will have ComEd badges, he said.

"We encourage everyone to always ask to see (the worker's) badge," he said. If the worker doesn't have a badge, "Close the door, call the police — it's not us."

The meters will replace existing analog meters, transmitting energy usage to ComEd via radio six times per day. McMahan said the radio is on for less than five minutes per day, transmitting less 125 times less radiofrequency than a cell phone.

"I don't know anyone that walks around with a smart meter next to their head for 30 minutes a day, unlike this thing," he said, holding up a phone.

McMahan touted benefits of smart meters, which will allow homeowners to check their daily usage to manage energy consumption, sign up for "real time rates" to take advantage of late-night energy discounts and more. He also addressed concerns from trustees and residents, saying the meters will not allow ComEd to regulate or control homeowners' energy use.

Residents will be notified with an insert in their monthly bill 90 days before installation and receive a postcard 60 days in advance, plus a letter 30 days prior to installation. Ten days before installation, homeowners will receive a robocall. If no one is home when a ComEd installer arrives and the installer can access the meter, he or she will complete the installation, McMahan said.

Trustee Cally Larson asked McMahan if any other efforts will be made to notify residents, such as emails. McMahan said no email campaign is planned, but ComEd can deploy street teams to pass out information at local grocery stores and libraries at the village's request.

Homeowners can refuse smart meter installation. Those who opt out will be forwarded to a customer service rep who will try to address their concerns, McMahan said. Those who still say no will eventually see an $20.53 charge on their monthly bill to cover the cost of paying meter readers, he added.

In some communities, smart meter installation has drawn opposition from residents amid health concerns and reports of fires.

In nearby Naperville, the city paid a $117,500 settlement to a resident after she was arrested while recording police and ComEd installers as one of the devices was placed on the home of a Naperville Smart Meter Awareness group member.

Since 2012, McMahan said ComEd has installed 3.5 million smart meters in Chicagoland. He said Plainfield is at the "tail end" of ComEd's smart meter installation.