Quote:
Originally Posted by capecoralbill
Hasn't surge protection, and lightning protection been built into the newer "smart meters" ?
If not, why not!
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Lightning protection is installed on a roof, not within the electric wiring.
Cost, complexity, customer concerns, and claims are reasons for building surge suppression into meters.
Cost: Everything is getting more expensive, including meters. The better the protection, the higher the cost. The electric company wants to be able to change your meter with the least amount of cost. An integrated surge protection system would make changing meters very expensive.
Complexity: The better the suppression the more complex the unit needs to be. "Dumb" electric meters were not very complex, smart meters are more complex, and adding good protection into the meter would make it even more complex. The more complex it is the more likely it is to have a failure which would require it to be replaced. The electric companies don't want to do something that would result in replacing more meters.
Customer concerns: Every time the electric company changes the meter there are customers who say the new meter is charging them more money. The more the meter does, the more doubt the customers have with it. Adding more electronics to the meter would give customers even more to worry about which would result in more calls, more complaints, and more work.
Claims: Nothing is perfect and even with surge suppression there is a chance that a device gets fried. The customer is going to go back to the protection provider to make a claim for the device that failed. The electric company does not want to be in the business of paying out claims.