Maine Resident with Cancer Sues Over Discriminatory Smart Meter Opt-Out Fees

On July 9, 2020 Maine resident Ed Friedman filed a disability/discrimination lawsuit against Central Maine Power (CMP) in Portland’s U.S. District Court (a Federal Court). The suit, brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act (FHA) and Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Rehab Act) alleges smart meters’ opt-out fees are discriminatory to those disabled customers whose condition may be exacerbated by radiation emitted from the smart meters. Friedman has lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, an incurable form of cancer.

In the past 10 years, utility companies have been replacing electric, gas and water analog meters with wireless pulsed and radiation emitting “smart” meters. These meters are the first devices that have been rolled out as part of the “smart” grid and the “Internet of Things” infrastructure. They have been installed on people’s homes generally with few details and usually without express consent.

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