“Gipson, who was part of a smart grid pilot program, said she never learned how to use the smart meter, and that ComEd’s tips weren’t helpful.”
“In focus groups conducted last month, customers told ComEd that they knew little about the smart grid or smart meters and didn’t envision spending much time to inform themselves, according to ComEd’s filing with the Illinois Commerce Commission. The utility laid out an education plan in its filing that includes everything from conducting mobile classrooms to sponsoring iPad games and dispatching teams of young smart grid ambassadors into communities to engage and educate consumers.
“A separate analysis that used ComEd’s data from its pilot study said education will be especially important to the area’s most vulnerable populations: the sick, the poor and the elderly, who otherwise won’t receive the benefits they’re paying for.
“The analysis, aimed at determining the health impact smart meters would have on vulnerable residents, was written by the National Center for Medical Legal Partnership, the Citizens Utility Board and energy consultants Lynne Snyder and Barbara Alexander. It was paid for by the Health Impact Project, a collaboration between the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Pew Charitable Trusts.”
“ComEd filed its smart grid plan Monday [April 23, 2012], outlining how it plans to install about 130,000 smart meters this year in Berkeley, Brookfield, Cicero, Elmwood Park, Forest View, Franklin Park, Harwood Heights, La Grange Park, Lyons, Norridge, North Riverside, Northlake, River Grove, Riverside, Rosemont, Schiller Park, Stickney, Stone Park and Westchester.”
Full Story: http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0424-smartgrid-confusion–20120423,0,3876983.story