Beware of Smart Meters (material, analog, saving, buy)

[plwhit]

California Proposes Strong Privacy Protections for "Smart Meters"

California's PG&E is currently in the process of installing "smart meters" that will collect detailed data of energy use —750 to 3000 data points per month per household—for every energy customer in the state. These meters are aimed at helping consumers monitor and control their energy usage, but the information that is collected can reveal much more about a household's daily activities: when people wake up, when they come home, when they go on vacation, and maybe even when they take a hot bath.

Many third parties will want access to this sensitive information, and the California PUC has recommended strong protections for the transfer of the data to others.

https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/0...cy-protections

[juggler]

They installed these out in my neck of Portlandia about a year ago. The careless installation person installed mine upside down. That's right, if I want to read the display and determine my kWh, I have to either stand on my head or severely bend my neck.

It's too bad the meter doesn't measure DC instead of AC --- my account might be credited if so.

[southgeorgia]

we don't have smart meters in my neighborhood, but i just found out (when i noticed my AC wasn't working) that they've installed bypass switches to control our condensing units.

i had the hvac guy out last week to recharge the system, and was about to call him back because i figured i had a leak.

it seems pointless to install it on the condensing unit and not the AHU, which continued to run for no reason without the condensor working.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by Editorialist

The first problems customers noted with the installation that their bills started to skyrocket at frightening rates.

You got this right bud!!!

My parents got one of those new "ENERGY EFFICENT" FURNACE!!

What a piece of trash!!!!! -- IT USES 10X THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY AS THE OLDER (BETTER) ONE DID!!!!!!!

I tried to tell them but they wouldnt listen... (And ppl wonder why i hate new things (Most of it is cheap garbage))

These smart meters are an invasion of privacy also,keeping track of how much you use,etc........

I dont like any of this "ENERGY EFFICENT" stuff,its all crap!!

[Willsson]

Originally Posted by Dude111

You got this right bud!!!

Spoiler

My parents got one of those new "ENERGY EFFICENT" FURNACE!!

What a piece of trash!!!!! -- IT USES 10X THE AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY AS THE OLDER (BETTER) ONE DID!!!!!!!

I tried to tell them but they wouldnt listen... (And ppl wonder why i hate new things (Most of it is cheap garbage))

These smart meters are an invasion of privacy also,keeping track of how much you use,etc........

Spoiler

I dont like any of this "ENERGY EFFICENT" stuff,its all crap!!

Uhhhh, keeping track of how much electricity you use is how the electric company bills a customer. You know, meter reading.

[Macrina]

I'm following this conversation with interest because I've been told the Smart Meter Invasion is approaching this rural mountain area where I live ~ northern California ~ .
If it is optional, I think I will not get one; hmmm, I need to go find that brochure which I'd received so time ago and reread it.

[plwhit]

Originally Posted by tofurkey

Uhhhh, keeping track of how much electricity you use is how the electric company bills a customer. You know, meter reading.

Agree, so once a month these meters should phone home with just a total number, you know, like the way the electric companies used to do it.

Unfortunately that's not the only data they are transmitting nor is that the only capability these devices have.

Hmmmm one wonders if one could find a device that could scramble the electronics in these smart meters....

[Bo]

Originally Posted by plwhit

Agree, so once a month these meters should phone home with just a total number, you know, like the way the electric companies used to do it.

Unfortunately that's not the only data they are transmitting nor is that the only capability these devices have.

Hmmmm one wonders if one could find a device that could scramble the electronics in these smart meters....

Because as I said above, the wholesale price of electricity varies over the course of a day. If you use a lot of it when it's expensive, IMO you should pay more. If you adjust your major usage (AC, clothes dryer, electric range) to when it's less expensive, IMO you should pay less.

Under the current system, I'm paying more for my neighbors' wasteful usage while the price is high and vice versa.

[plwhit]

Originally Posted by Bo

Because as I said above, the wholesale price of electricity varies over the course of a day. If you use a lot of it when it's expensive, IMO you should pay more. If you adjust your major usage (AC, clothes dryer, electric range) to when it's less expensive, IMO you should pay less.

Under the current system, I'm paying more for my neighbors' wasteful usage while the price is high and vice versa.

LMAO, and you really believe this?

In your opinion you should pay less, but you don't know You really think any utility company will change their billing rate to you because you wait until 11PM to turn on your AC or do your laundry or bake your lasagna???????

I guess possibly saving 3 cents a day and having a possible fire hazard and snoop device hanging on the side of their house is OK with some people.

Thank you but no, I'm not going to live like my grandparents..

I not a member of the doom and gloom crowd nor do I live in a state where they were shortsighted and lack the power capacity to sustain their populations electrical use and make up for it by installing devices that they can turn off whenever they feel like it.

[Bo]

Originally Posted by plwhit

LMAO, and you really believe this?

In your opinion you should pay less, but you don't know

I guess possibly saving 3 cents a day and having a possible fire hazard and snoop device hanging on the side of their house is OK with some people.

I'm saying that if given the opportunity to pay less, I will gladly use the tools that are provided that enable me to do so. Some of these meters come with indoor controls that enable the customer to shut off the AC when the price goes higher than the customer considers desirable. I would use that and I would save money.

You're implying that it's a black box. I don't want and won't sign up for a black box, either. I'm saying that with the indoor display and controls tied to costs, it's a tool that gives the customer information and control.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10283295-54.html

GE and start-up display-maker Tendril, for example, will test big appliances--refrigerators, washing machines, and the like--that can get information on fluctuating electricity prices to do its job more efficiently. It could be as simple as making ice or running the dishwasher in the middle of the night.