Smart Meter rant- technology going Backwards!

[techwrtr2]

I can go online and see a pie chart showing what the electric company claims is the amount of electricity used for:
Water Heating
Heating
Appliances
Refrigeration
Electronics
Lighting
Cooling

And of course, I have no idea how they can tell that, but I guess they can.

I tend to suspect a measure of that is purely based on averages and not on you specifically. I have a smart meter and of course curiosity has forced me to log in and examine usage now and again. You can clearly see what time of day I get up for work as well as when I get home. You can see when I'm gone for the weekend or not.

However, they state that a certain portion of my electricity would be used for heat or domestic hot water.

I live in an apartment, my heat is coal fired hot water the electricity for which is paid by my landlord. Domestic hot water comes from the same boiler.

I've thought about buying one of those kill-a-watt things to get a real idea of how much my computer equipment draws... I have more of it than most folk.

 

[3930dave]

I tend to suspect a measure of that is purely based on averages and not on you specifically. I have a smart meter and of course curiosity has forced me to log in and examine usage now and again. You can clearly see what time of day I get up for work as well as when I get home. You can see when I'm gone for the weekend or not.

However, they state that a certain portion of my electricity would be used for heat or domestic hot water.

I live in an apartment, my heat is coal fired hot water the electricity for which is paid by my landlord. Domestic hot water comes from the same boiler.

I've thought about buying one of those kill-a-watt things to get a real idea of how much my computer equipment draws... I have more of it than most folk.

I imagine In Residence jumps out of the data pretty clearly. Remote surveillance is the issue that privacy advocates have against these smart meters.

Of course, the argument will be "If you aren't guilty, you have nothing to hide", when it comes to privacy. That never really washed with me, but practically speaking my issue with this is how this data is safeguarded. On the Nothing to Hide Front I have no concerns about utilities or law personnel looking at my data, I just have limited confidence in this information (even real time data) migrating into the hands of people that shouldn't have access to it.

For much the same reasons, I have no interest in loads in my house being remotely controlled by a utility.

Happy New Year,

Rgds, D.

 

[mistermcgoo]

Smart Meter Causes Dumb Fire | Threat Level | Wired.com

 

[Bird]

I have no interest in loads in my house being remotely controlled by a utility.

Me, neither. We don't even use the "programmable" feature of our thermostat. I'll turn it up or down myself when it needs it, which is very rarely.

 

[crazyal]

I've had a smart meter for years now (2006). At first they had to come up and read it from a short distance away. In the winter I could see tracks in the snow where they would drive along until they got a signal then slid to a stop to read it. After about a year they upgraded their system to read it remotely.

I once looked at the data showing what appliance used what but it was just a guess on their part. The meter can tell what sort of load is being used. For example if you turn your electric range on the meter knows that a 220 appliance has been turned on and it knows how much of a chance in current just happened. A dryer doesn't draw as much electricity as a range but more than a well pump. I would guess at some point in time appliances will each send a signal down the power line to the meter to identify itself to make monitoring more accurate but I have a feeling that most people may not be happy knowing that the power company (and sooner or later the government) will know your electrical habits.

 

[crazyal]

Me, neither. We don't even use the "programmable" feature of our thermostat. I'll turn it up or down myself when it needs it, which is very rarely.

The wood stove overrides mine so I never bothered setting them up.

 

[Pirate]

The wood stove overrides mine so I never bothered setting them up.

While sitting around during a power upgrade at the house, I talked to the power guys in detail about the smart meters. For now, they aren't doing much good, at least not the way they hope they will. It was explained to me that in the future the major appliances such as HVAC and water heat will have modules in them so they can be controlled through the smart meters. I am guess if the power load is real heavy during a certain period, they can then shut down x-amout of water heaters which in the end would make it cheaper as they wouldn't have to fire up the on-demand turbines and such.

 

[3930dave]

While sitting around during a power upgrade at the house, I talked to the power guys in detail about the smart meters. For now, they aren't doing much good, at least not the way they hope they will. It was explained to me that in the future the major appliances such as HVAC and water heat will have modules in them so they can be controlled through the smart meters. I am guess if the power load is real heavy during a certain period, they can then shut down x-amout of water heaters which in the end would make it cheaper as they wouldn't have to fire up the on-demand turbines and such.

What could go wrong, go wrong......

(obscure WestWorld reference...... )

Rgds, D.

 

[k0ua]

What could go wrong, go wrong......

(obscure WestWorld reference...... )

Rgds, D.

Oh, man.. you are really dating yourself there.

 

[3930dave]

Oh, man.. you are really dating yourself there.

Gettin' older..... beats the alternative !

Rdgs, D.