Watershed Moment

SMART METERS A WATERSHED MOMENT FOR DEMOCRACY - Solid State Technology

The [Madison, Wisconsin "smart" water meter] project illustrates how our local democracy is ailing and explodes the myth that we have "hyper" democratic practices. Madison's smart meter contract was approved in the midst of years of national controversies, litigation and public service commission reviews in at least 14 other states. Elsewhere, malfunctions and billing problems have led to a moratorium on new installation, and citizens winning an opt-out policy after the fact are requesting removal. Locally, these problems, health risks and opt-outs were never discussed (talk about lack of due diligence).

A transparent approach would have involved openness about the controversy and all of the risks, including the financial. A democratic approach would have involved citizens in deciding whether to adopt smart meters and assessing the risks.

Instead, concerned citizens have gotten the cold shoulder from officials since December, when they began raising concerns with the mayor, alders and Water Utility. Meter installation is proceeding on the north side, in spite of dozens of citizens' requests at City Council and Water Utility Board meetings to suspend the project until an opt-out and water meter access ordinance was worked out. In spite of this not being done, more than 100 customers already opted out.