National Grid/Smart Grid (Nashua: how much, house, water heater)

[lisa g]

Here's something about a Smart Grid pilot in Mass....I am wondering about the affiliation between National Grid and Smart Grid, since I have begun to see National Grid trucks around locally. Does anyone have any knowledge of or experience with National Grid power in NH? Hopefully this does not belong in the politics thread, although it could become a political discussion.

[GregW]

I send my money to Public Service of New Hampshire. I have no idea where they get the electricity but they charge me 5 cents a KW-HR to deliver it and the 10 cents they pay for it as well as some extras. I think 16 cents per KW-hr to be quite high.

I have heard of national Grid but do not know who they are or where they operate.

[lisa g]

They are digging in Nashua, so I am assuming they will be operating there if not already.

[BF66389]

Originally Posted by lisa g

Here's something about a Smart Grid pilot in Mass....I am wondering about the affiliation between National Grid and Smart Grid, since I have begun to see National Grid trucks around locally. Does anyone have any knowledge of or experience with National Grid power in NH? Hopefully this does not belong in the politics thread, although it could become a political discussion.

National Grid is a power company, I have no idea if they are decent or not. They are unrelated to smart grid except that they upgrading one of their existing service areas to one in MA as a pilot.

Smart Grid on the other hand is a new design for the power grid and it uses some very neat technology to provide power in a more efficient and resiliant way. It is also better designed to work with renewable energy and allow consumers to see a more dramatic savings from their energy saving efforts.

Wikipedia has a decent write-up on what a Smart-Grid is:
Smart grid - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[lisa g]

I'd wondered whether national grid was going to offer a similar service to the pilot in Nashua. Just keeping my eyes open, since I prefer to adjust my own thermostat, etc. and do not want anyone else deciding what level of power I should use and at what cost. Would sooner go 'off the grid' completely than agree to that.

[BF66389]

Originally Posted by lisa g

Just keeping my eyes open, since I prefer to adjust my own thermostat, etc. and do not want anyone else deciding what level of power I should use and at what cost. Would sooner go 'off the grid' completely than agree to that.

Lisa,

That's actually not how it works at all, after you posted this I contacted a friend who has "smart-grid" service as well as a buddy at DoE.

They do not control your thermostat or "spy" on your power usage anymore than the current power company (you know, the "spy" who comes to your house and reads your meter). What they will do is install an adjustable thermostat for you (I already have one) so that you can program it based on your needs; most people who don't get them don't because of the cost/installation...this removes that difficulty. Likewise the meter-reading is done electronically- saves you having "estimated" bills in the winter, having someone come to your property, and you can see your power usage at any given time/make changes as warrented.

Likewise peak/off-peak prices are fairly standard; thats nothing new...

My buddy who is on a smart-grid said he saves about $40/month now because the smart meter let them better track their energy usage and adjust. They got a programmable thermostat and a programmable water heater control...and saved $$$ with hotter showers...

[lisa g]

Thanks BF. I will have to do more research on this.

[BF66389]

No problem. Be aware that a HUGE portion of the bad press out there is because "Meters will be able to be read remotely" or "the power company will be able to monitor exactly how much power I'm using"

I personally find this hilarious because right now meters are read one of 2 ways:
-Remotely via short-range radio (ie, the reader parks at end of driveway, gets reading- moves on)
-In person (reader walks up to your house, reads meter, walks away)

Likewise the power company OWNS the power meter; they have always been able to tell exactly how much power you are using whenever they want to...thats how they bill you.

The amount of mis-information is scary!

[OCCASparky]

National Grid is more into distribution/transmission, and deals mainly in MA, CT, RI and NY, not as much in NH. I'm still trying to find out what towns they serve. But apparently NG has gas and electric in their NH service areas.

http://www2.nationalgridus.com/custo...r/account/open

The signup lists have dropdowns for which towns are served by NG. Looks like mostly southern/southeastern NH.

[lisa g]

I am aware that the meter is and has always been read by the power co. coming to my house. I'm not *that* paranoid Nothing to hide. Just do not want limitations on my power consumption when it is decided by someone other than myself that I have consumed enough, and after as much reading as I had time for today I am not convinced that smart grid would not be exactly that. But this probably belongs in the 'politics and controversies' thread. It is not my intention to make the NH mods nervous. I knew that national grid is doing the smart grid pilot, and when I saw their trucks around thought I would post here hoping to get more local info...