Federal Ministry for
Economics, Family and Youth
Department IV/1
Stubenring 1
1011 Wien

Our Character
Oberfeld/HaD

Honored ladies and gentlemen,

The data transmission from the smart grid can in principle be made 
via radio (eg, GSM, WLAN), power line communications (PLC) and data 
cables (copper, fiber optics). Which technology is implemented is 
until then up to the utility companies.

People in Austria are burdened with ever increasing exposures to 
electromagnetic fields. According to the WHO (IARC), after low-frequency
 magnetic fields (e.g. of the power supply),  in May 2011 high-frequency 
electromagnetic fields such as those occurring in GSM and WLAN were 
also classified as possibly carcinogenic for humans. For intermediate 
frequencies in the kilohertz range (dirty power / dirty electricity), as 
occur in the PLC connection from transformer to Smart Meter that is
 favored by the utility companies in Austria, we have data from the U.S. 
which also shows an increased cancer risk.

The Austrian Chamber of Physicians emphatically calls to attention that 
with the area-wide introduction of 'smart meters' and their connection 
via power line communication (PLC), the Austrian population's exposure 
to electrical or magnetic fields in the intermediate frequency range 
(kilohertz range) would be massively raised. These fields are also emitted 
by cables in the building, including connecting cables to appliances and 
electrical appliances, far removed from the Smart Meter. The expected health 
consequences would be an increase in symptoms and diseases that fall into 
the category of so-called multi-system diseases. This illness is 
characterized by involving several organs or functional systems at the 
same time and in interaction. The consequences are, among others, an 
increased stress load on people. This can, depending on an individual 
starting position and exposure level, lead to an increased risk for 
exhaustion (keyword burn out), learning problems, depression, and cancer.

The Austrian Chamber of Physicians assumes that these health aspects and 
resulting significant socioeconomic consequences and costs were not 
considered up to then, 
because the technical and environmental medicine expertise in this 
regard were to given in the two reports (PWC, Kearney). These health 
and socioeconomic consequences that are to be expected are, from the 
perspective of the Austrian Chamber of Physicians, mandatory to be 
included in the consideration. The Austrian Chamber of Physicians 
strictly rejects another, in this case actually state-mandated, 
expansion of the Electrosmog exposure on the Austrian population.

In the following several additional open questions from the perspective 
of the Austrian Chamber of Physicians are cited in abbreviated form.

• The legal status of the customer in case of error / failure / rejection 
of smart meters is not clear.
• To date, the customer has no choice (opt out).
• Who is liable in the event of health problems and diseases caused by the 
increased field exposure on the part of the Smart Meter?
• To date, the Interference resistance of smart meters is not clarified 
in the case of elevated solar activity. From NASA there are corresponding 
warnings for the years 2012 to 2014. This could lead to an increased risk 
to total failure of the power supply.

From the perspective of the Austrian Chamber of Physicians the planned 
timetable of mandatory introduction of "smart meters" should be reconsidered 
or suspended until pending clarification and solution of open questions.

Best Regards

Dr. Othmar Haas e.h.
Head of Unit
Environmental Medicine

Dr. Gerd Oberfeld e.h.
Speaker of the Department
Environmental Medicine

MP / Dr. Walter Dorner
President