Health-Conscious Architecture Firm Recommends Opting Out of a Smart Meter

FAIRFIELD, Iowa, May 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- After hearings in 2019, the Iowa Utilities Board has now ruled on the options available if an Alliant Energy customer does not want a smart meter, and Alliant began notifying customers of their choices on April 30.

In Iowa, architectural firm, Jonathan Lipman AIA & Associates, Inc. of Fairfield participated in all the smart meter hearings as an Intervenor. Jonathan Lipman, the firm's owner,  opposes smart meters because the RF radiation they give off has been classified by the World Health Organization as a possible carcinogen and because many experts believe that recent research should classify it as a probable or known carcinogen.  Lipman says, "Smart meters are wireless devices that send information to Alliant on your electricity and gas usage throughout the day. Some experts say that smart meter RF radiation is much stronger than cell phone radiation, and unlike a phone you cannot turn your smart meter off or keep it away from children." 

The Board rulings in Iowa permit any standard residential customer to opt out of having a smart meter for a small monthly charge of $4.08 for an electric meter and $2.80 for a gas meter. These charges are principally to pay for personnel who will read the meters twice per year. In the other months, opt out customers will make estimated payments with a reconciliation at the end of the year. To avoid the $4.08 monthly charge for the smart meter measuring electric usage, customers can elect a reduced transmission smart meter. That meter transmits wirelessly for only a few minutes each month to send billing information to Alliant, so the RF radiation is greatly reduced. Lipman is not aware of any other state with such a customer option.  

Lipman says, "About 5,000 Alliant customers opted out when Alliant estimated the opt out cost would be $15 a meter. With the reduced charges, I believe thousands more Iowans will opt out."

Lipman and his attorney, Jay Marcus of Fairfield, also argued that the Utilities Board should require Alliant to notify customers that that they should stay at least 20 cm (7.8 inches) from the smart meters, which is stipulated by the Federal Communications Commission. Alliant refuses to give customers this warning. Marcus says that "the manufacturers of other wireless devices like cell phones, wireless modems, and baby monitors give their customers a warning to keep a safe distance from the device, since the danger of RF radiation is greatest the closer you are." Marcus says he and Mr. Lipman are trying to notify Iowans of this hazard, but Marcus said that this should be Alliant's responsibility.

Lipman's firm promotes healthful architectural principles, including reducing health risks arising from contemporary construction practices such as electromagnetic radiation. Lipman's firm has designed or consulted on about 600 Iowa residences and commercial buildings. 

SOURCE Jonathan Lipman AIA & Associates, Inc.