In this Wisconsin town, you get the smart meter or they shut you down

By Ryan Ekvall | Wisconsin Reporter

BARABOO – Residents in this small southern Wisconsin city have two choices when it comes to the brave new world of the Smart Grid:  Go along with new ‘smart’ meters for public utilities or get along without water, gas or electricity.

Most residents don’t make a fuss and let the utilities install the new smart meters – which are supposed to provide utility customers and taxpayers with savings from real-time data usage and less manpower needed to read traditional analog meters.

Some residents, however, including 81-year-old Audrey Parker, say the smart meters are an invasion of privacy and they believe the technology’s use of radio frequency poses health concerns.

Parker and the Sheriffs, a Baraboo family, fought city hall over installation of the new meters and have seemingly lost.

The two households had their water shut off on Tuesday.

“My husband is 74 years old and he’s been hauling 5 gallon buckets of water into the house for us to flush the toilet,” said Darcy Sheriff, 65. “It’s not even sanitary. It’s just a disgusting situation.”