Interesting. Supposedly there are smart meters that can tell which appliances are running based on algorithms. I could imagine that it could detect a motor start versus a hot water heater, oven range or lightning circuit; and depending on running current, time of day, duration and how often it cycles, it could take an educated guess on what turned on. (Google: can smart meters detect appliances)
How accurate? And have utilities actually installed this technology?
I image the next step is billing where the electricity rate varies throughout the day based on market demand. This will lead to appliances smart enough to only run when the market is at a price point you set through an app on your phone. This will flatten electrical demand peak surges and overcapacity in during low demand times. “Letting the market decide.”, capitalism and technology will enable the grid to be more dependent on renewable energy sources.
This also avoids me subsidizing my neighbor who runs the biggest electrical loads during peak hours and gets charged same rate as a more conscientious consumer, not to mention causing brownouts.
