Final Attachments to PG&E's Smart Meter Technical Info

8/3/2019 Final Attachments to PG&E's Smart Meter Technical Info

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ATTACHMENT A


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Federal Communications CommissionWashington, D.C. 20554

August 6, 2010

Ms. Cindy SageSage Associates Environmental Consultants1396 Danielson RoadMontecito, CA 93108-2857Dear Ms. Sage:Thank you for your letter of March 15,2010, in which you request that we reviewcompliance with FCC radiofrequency (RF) exposure limits for the "Smart Meter"technology being implemented by utilities across the country. In particular, youexpressed concern about multiple adjacent Smart Meter installations used to servicemultiple dwellings such as condominiums, and the effect of increased data traffic onexposure from collector or controller units.The FCC Equipment Authorization (EA) program in the Office of Engineering andTechnology has taken a very conservative approach to RF exposure compliance for low-power network devices such as Wi-Fi base stations and Smart Meter transceivers. Forsuch devices that are not expected to be used close to the body, it is generallyunnecessary to perform routine specific absorption rate (SAR) evaluations as fieldstrength or power density is a sufficient and appropriate measure of exposure. Themaximum field strength at a distance can be derived from the effective radiated power(ERP). Also, FCC field strength limits, like the SAR limits, are time-averaged.Accordingly, for devices that will not be used within 20 centimeters of the body, we relyon the "source-based" time-averaged ERP and require that it be less than our specifiedvalues of 1.5 or 3 watts, depending on frequency, Iin order to ensure compliance with ourexposure limits. This does not imply that FCC exposure limits will be exceeded atdistances less than 20 ern, but only that detailed evaluation of the SAR is not required ifthe 20 em separation distance can be maintained.It is useful in considering this issue to recognize that the power level specified on theGrants of Equipment Authorization issued by the EA program is the peak power as this isthe power relevant to interference concerns. For exposure evaluations, however, theaverage power is relevant, which is determined by taking into account how often thesedevices will transmit. Since the purpose of these devices is to provide very infrequentinformation they transmit in occasional bursts. Thus, for exposure purposes the relevantpower is maximum time-averaged power that takes into account the burst nature oftransmission, and based on the typical maximum time-averaged transmitter power formany of these devices, they would generally be compliant with the local SAR limit evenif held directly against the body.With respect to multiple adjacent Smart Meter installations, since the antennas for eachdevice are mounted individually on each utility meter, the separation distance frompeople for most of the transmitting antennas is relatively large compared to 20 em and theI See Section 2. I091 (c) of the FCC rules.


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meters' contributions to the total potential exposure at any location are small, as only thenearest few transmitters can add meaningfully to the total. Further, as a practical designmatter, when several of these meters are placed in a cluster, they have to communicatewith a single controller. In order to ensure that the controller receives the informationproperly, only one transmitter can communicate with the controller at a time, eliminatingthe potential for exposure to multiple signals at the same time.The general issue of cumulative exposure from an arbitrary group of transmitterinstallations or from all transmitters distributed in the environment can appear to becomplex, but as discussed, the need for orderly communications requires that a fewsources normally dominate. In addition, the exponential decrease in signal strength overdistance and additional signal losses due to non line-of-sight conditions for distantsources ensures that only the contributions of nearby transmitters are significant.In summary, compliance for Smart Meters is determined according to the operating andinstallation requirements of each type of meter during equipment certification, and isbased on the maximum transmission duty cycle for the device, including relay functions.Necessary installation requirements to maintain compliance for each meter are specifiedin the Grant. Irrespective of duty cycle, based on the practical separation distance and theneed for orderly communications among several devices, even multiple units or "banks"of meters in the same location will be compliant with the public exposure limits. Theseconditions for compliance are required to be met before a Grant can be issued from theEA program and auditing and review of Grants is a routine function of the FCClaboratory.With respect to interference to medical devices, which you also raise in your letter, SmartMeters typically operate under Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Those rules specify powerlimitations to avoid interference. The Smart Meter wireless technologies used today arenot significantly different from Wi-Fi devices, cell phones and other typical consumerproducts. Certain medical devices may need specific precautions in many otherenvironments; these are generally considered during FDA approval of the individualmedical device.I hope that this information will be helpful. In addition, some technical information onthe subject has been developed by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and wehave enclosed that information for reference.Please know that the FCC is continually monitoring the issue of RF exposure and relatedhealth and safety concerns, both in the general terms of the continuing propriety of itsregulations, and in individual cases where substantive concerns are raised.

s~ncere~ ./Julius p,J~ap~~ChiefOffice of Engineering and Technology


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ATTACHMENT B


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Documents

Final Attachments to PG&E's Smart Meter Technical Info