[backwoods-engineer]

You are aware that the meter itself can be told to shut off electrical power?

Not only am I aware, but I work down the hall from the man who holds more patents on remote disconnect than you can shake a stick at. I design smart metering systems for a living.

So it you controlled the system you could shut off the power to any place with a smart meter then you could sabotage the system making it unable to turn the power back on or re-direct the power to cause damage to the grid or both.

That is not the fault of the smart meter OR the systems that control them (like the article is saying). This is basic computer security. Physical security, encryption, limited disclosure of system architecture are all ways my company prevents hacking.

Can a single utility be hacked? Maybe. Enough to bring down one of the grids? I doubt it. Bring down ALL of them like the article says. Utter bullsh*t.

I'm a hardcore prepper, but this article is Chicken Little fearmongering. Period.

[Kartographer]

A tree falling on a line in Ohio can bring the entire NE, but a hacker getting inside the control system has no chance?

[Sarajevo]

That is not the fault of the smart meter OR the systems that control them (like the article is saying). This is basic computer security. Physical security, encryption, limited disclosure of system architecture are all ways my company prevents hacking.

OK, for the sake of discussion- are these systems totally secure from inside sabotage? I know that there are critical nodes that can be attacked and damage the system just as bad as a computer malfunction. Is there an alternate power supply for the UNIX computers in case of a power outage to the main system?

So many questions.....;)

So, lemme guess: you owed them money, and the remote-disconnect smart meter allowed them to turn your power off.

I guess that many of us don't relish the idea of power being turned off without someone to shoot at.