Electromagnetic field exposure from Linky meters: ANFR publishes its measurements

ANFR has published an analysis of the results of measurements carried out between June and December 2018 on public exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields from Linky meters.

This study covers measurements carried out in 2018 as part of the national system for monitoring public exposure to electromagnetic fields in the 9 kHz – 100 kHz band. Open to private individuals and local authorities, this scheme enables exposure to electromagnetic fields to be measured free of charge, both in residential premises and in places accessible to the public.

178 locations were measured in the 9 kHz – 100 kHz band between June 2018, when the system was opened up to this type of measurement, and December 2018. All the measurements involved a Linky meter and took place indoors, mainly in an urban environment.

The level of exposure to electromagnetic fields in the 9 kHz – 100 kHz band was found to comply with decree no. 2002-775 of 3 May 2002 at all the sites measured.

In more than half the cases (99 out of 178), no Linky PLC emissions were detected, despite an average measurement time of one hour in these cases. This is explained in particular by the meter interrogation interval, which appears to vary greatly depending on the number of meters connected to the same distribution loop.

In the CPL frequency band of Linky meters, i.e. 35 kHz – 91 kHz, maximum peak field levels of 3.5 V/m and 0.17 µT were measured, i.e. values 25 times and 37 times respectively below the regulatory limit values of 87 V/m and 6.25 µT.

Average values over 6 minutes were also recorded for information purposes. These 6-minute average values associated with the maximum peak field levels are 0.015 V/m (i.e. 230 times less than the peak value of 3.5 V/m) and 0.0006 µT (i.e. 275 times less than the peak value of 0.17 µT).