{
  "id": "emitters:smart-meter",
  "collection": "emitters",
  "slug": "smart-meter",
  "name": "Smart electricity meter (RF mesh)",
  "summary": "Mesh smart meters transmit in short bursts at up to 1 W EIRP in the 900 MHz band, so peak readings at 1 m are high while time-averaged exposure is low because the duty cycle is well under 1%.",
  "status": "verified",
  "lastVerified": "2026-08-12",
  "data": {
    "aliases": [
      "AMI meter",
      "advanced metering infrastructure",
      "smart meter radiation"
    ],
    "category": "radiofrequency",
    "environment": [
      "home",
      "outdoor"
    ],
    "bands": [
      {
        "label": "902–928 MHz ISM (FHSS)",
        "minHz": 902000000,
        "maxHz": 928000000
      }
    ],
    "transmitPower": {
      "quantity": "power",
      "unit": "W EIRP",
      "value": 1,
      "basis": "regulatory",
      "note": "Part 15 frequency-hopping devices in the 902–928 MHz band may transmit up to 1 W conducted power. Utility deployments vary; some use 0.25 W or less.",
      "sourceIds": [
        "fcc-part15"
      ]
    },
    "dutyCycle": "Short data bursts plus mesh relay traffic. Utility filings typically report a duty cycle well below 1%, meaning peak-hold and time-averaged readings can differ by more than 100×.",
    "distanceProfile": [
      {
        "meters": 0.3,
        "value": {
          "quantity": "power-density",
          "unit": "µW/m²",
          "value": 884000,
          "basis": "computed",
          "method": "S = EIRP / (4πd²) with EIRP = 1 W, d = 0.3 m",
          "note": "Peak during a transmission burst, on the meter side of the wall.",
          "sourceIds": [
            "fcc-part15"
          ]
        }
      },
      {
        "meters": 1,
        "value": {
          "quantity": "power-density",
          "unit": "µW/m²",
          "value": 79600,
          "basis": "computed",
          "method": "S = EIRP / (4πd²) with EIRP = 1 W, d = 1 m",
          "note": "Peak during a transmission burst.",
          "sourceIds": [
            "fcc-part15"
          ]
        }
      },
      {
        "meters": 3,
        "value": {
          "quantity": "power-density",
          "unit": "µW/m²",
          "value": 8840,
          "basis": "computed",
          "method": "S = EIRP / (4πd²) with EIRP = 1 W, d = 3 m",
          "note": "Peak during a transmission burst.",
          "sourceIds": [
            "fcc-part15"
          ]
        }
      },
      {
        "meters": 10,
        "value": {
          "quantity": "power-density",
          "unit": "µW/m²",
          "value": 796,
          "basis": "computed",
          "method": "S = EIRP / (4πd²) with EIRP = 1 W, d = 10 m",
          "note": "Peak during a transmission burst.",
          "sourceIds": [
            "fcc-part15"
          ]
        }
      }
    ],
    "mitigations": [
      {
        "action": "Identify what is on the other side of the meter wall and relocate beds or desks away from it.",
        "effect": "Most residential smart-meter exposure concerns are a room-layout problem, not a meter problem."
      },
      {
        "action": "Measure in peak-hold mode over several minutes, then again in average mode.",
        "effect": "Distinguishes the burst amplitude from the exposure that limits are actually written against.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fcc-1310"
        ]
      },
      {
        "action": "Ask the utility for the meter's FCC ID and duty-cycle filing, or for an opt-out or wired-read option where offered.",
        "effect": "Gives you the actual transmit power and burst rate instead of an assumption.",
        "sourceIds": [
          "fcc-eas"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "measureWith": [
      "broadband-rf-meter"
    ],
    "related": [
      "limits:fcc-mpe-public-300-1500",
      "questions:are-smart-meters-dangerous"
    ],
    "questions": [
      "are-smart-meters-dangerous"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "id": "fcc-part15",
      "title": "47 CFR Part 15 — Radio Frequency Devices (unlicensed transmitter power limits)",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/part-15",
      "kind": "regulation",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "fcc-eas",
      "title": "Equipment Authorization Search (FCC ID lookup, includes SAR test reports)",
      "publisher": "Federal Communications Commission",
      "url": "https://www.fcc.gov/oet/ea/fccid",
      "kind": "government",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    },
    {
      "id": "fcc-1310",
      "title": "47 CFR § 1.1310 — Radiofrequency radiation exposure limits",
      "publisher": "U.S. Government Publishing Office (eCFR)",
      "url": "https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-47/section-1.1310",
      "kind": "regulation",
      "retrieved": "2026-08-12"
    }
  ],
  "links": {
    "self": "https://emfbase.com/api/emitters/smart-meter",
    "html": "https://emfbase.com/emitters/smart-meter",
    "markdown": "https://emfbase.com/emitters/smart-meter.md",
    "collection": "https://emfbase.com/api/emitters"
  }
}