Worcester City Council Panel Votes For A Smart Grid Delay
UPDATE: The City Council Tuesday night turned back an effort initiated by one of its subcommittees to seek a one-year postponement of National Grid's "smart grid" pilot program. By a 7-4 vote, the council did not support an order that originated from its Public Service and Transportation Committee to ask National Grid, the state Department of Public Utilities and the city Zoning Board of Appeals to consider a one-year delay in the implementation of the pilot program. Read more.
A City Council subcommittee is calling for a one-year postponement in National Grid's "smart grid" pilot program.
The three-member Public Service and Transportation Committee unanimously voted Wednesday night to ask National Grid, the state Department of Public Utilities and the city Zoning Board of Appeals to consider a one-year delay in the installation of any more smart meters and the construction of any communications towers associated with the program.
Committee members argued that a postponement is warranted because there are too many unanswered questions related to public health, security and privacy associated with the smart meter/grid program. Smart meters use wireless technology to track a customer's electricity consumption.
