Utility Sued Family Protecting Their Health

DTE sues Oakland homeowner over smart meter - Daily Tribune

DTE Energy has sued a couple who own homes in Macomb and Oakland counties for removing a so-called “smart meter” which the homeowners say is a health hazard.

Dominic Cusumano, 58, and his wife, Lillian, were sued by the utility for $25,000, according to a DTE Energy spokesman.

“ ... we filed an action in April 2012 against a customer (Cusumano) for removing a smart meter and replacing it with an unauthorized meter,” said DTE spokesman Alejandro Bopido-Memba.

The case against the Cusumano family, who own homes in Addison Township in Oakland County and St. Clair Shores in Macomb County, recently was ordered on hold pending the outcome of the Michigan Public Service Commission defining details of how the advanced metering infrastructure opt-out program will work, Bodipo-Memba said.

The Cusumano case was put on indefinite hold by Oakland County Circuit Court Judge Shalina Kumar until the opt-out rules are in place.


DTE Energy sues customers who removed smart meter - Detroit Free Press

DTE Energy is suing owners of an Oakland County home who removed a new electricity meter.

Lillian Cusumano says she had flu-like symptoms and a "stabbing headache" after the so-called smart meter was installed at her Addison Township home more than a year ago. Her husband Dominic tells The Macomb Daily he put the old meter back on the house.

Smart meters allow utilities to monitor electricity use without sending a reader to each house. DTE denies that the high-tech meters are a health threat. The company is proposing a one-time charge of $87 and $15 monthly fees for customers who don't want them.