TOOOO BIG BROTHER...this would NOT happen in Texas!!! (San Diego: house, school)

[Paka]

California wants to control home thermostats - International Herald Tribune

[sapphire]

Wow, I seriously would hate to see something like that pass. As much as I like the heat here, I definitely wouldn't want anyone jackin' with my AC. I just might go ninja on 'em.

[rd2007]

ahh, gotta love san fran..

and to think of the millions of $ people spend to live there. brilliant

[Paka]

Yea...messin with my THERMOSTAT is ALMOST as dangerous as messin with my GUN!

[spamatdan]

Originally Posted by Paka

California wants to control home thermostats - International Herald Tribune

I almost passed out laughing when I saw this story on the news last night!

The main utility provider for the northern part of the state (PG&E) has been working on installing automated meter readers throughout their service territory.

They started in the hottest areas of their territory (Barstow) and were slowly working their way north.

All three of the electric utility providers have a voluntary program to cycle your air conditioner during peak times, similar to CPS here.

Now, the folks who are not eligible for said program are those running care facilities.

Managing a program like this would be near impossible, especially with all the folks who would be opting out.

And let's not even talk about the cost of putting a cellular control pad in every house in the state that had central air.

Of course, persons exempt from the program would be those with window air conditioners.

The clowns who thought up this lunacy should be more concerned with not slashing the school budget or closing a big chunk of state parks and not spend any more money "studying" one of the lamest ideas that has come out of California in a long time.

This definitely will not fly here, or any other state, as the cost to implement and manage would be off the charts.

[rd2007]

note to self, don't go to one of Paka's home gun parties and complain about the temperature

[Bo]

FWIW, this is not a new phenomenon and it's not a California thing. When I lived in Tennessee ~20 years ago, I remember hearing radio commercials for one of the power utilities in North Carolina, which was offering something like this in exchange for a lower rate/kWh.

If CPS Energy offered this option, I'd sign up. I think something like this would be preferable to the rolling blackouts that we've experienced here a couple of times in recent years. I'd be willing to let my AC be turned off for a few hours each summer in exchange for a lower rate. It beats the heck out of losing lights, computer, oven and AC during a surprise rolling blackout at the dinner hour!

[slaleman]

Actually, CPS already does offer this option:

CPS Energy (broken link)

And so I guess it's already happening in Texas...just on a volunteer basis. Still a little Big Brother-ish, but you sign up for it.

[BigDogsTX]

I was stationed in San Diego during the Enron induced power California power crisis of 2000. I really would have preferred having my AC jacked up a few degrees to being subjected to rolling blackouts. Oh wait... I didn't have AC (most people there don't) because the average temperature is 72 degrees...

[MichelleSG]

The gas and electric prices there are extraordinary high in San Diego anyway and then they're going to just shut it off at will? I was in a house that was built in the 1920's, trust me there was no a/c, there wasn't even a 3 prong plug in the place and my utility bill was in the upper $100's every month except in the winter when it was a bit over $200. It was never comfortable wither, either in the upper 90 degrees in the summer (temperate my butt) and dang cold in winter. I am soooo glad we left there. It's impossible for a family to live out there!!