[Erasmus]

There is soooo much misinformation and hysterical reaction to all of this.

If they came out and installed a meter without tearing into your house wiring (which I am certain they did not), then the only purpose this type of ‘smart meter’ could serve would be:

1. Automating the reading of your meter.

2. Making it possible to monitor your power usage by day-part. This in turn would allow them to offer you plans based on your peak power consumption (or, to view it negatively, increase the rates for high peak power consumption).

The smart meter may or may not have a wireless communication link, which would go to some wireless access point in the neighborhood, owned by the power company.

The people who are fomenting fear over this type of meter either have an agenda or are just plain nuts. Probably the ringleaders are in it for money or publicity, and the ones they convince are the nuts.

The more common kind of smart meter doesn’t even have a wireless component; it sends and receives its data over the power lines themselves.

[yorkie]

Well, Erasmus - if you don't mind having 'anyone' who wants to know how many times you flush your toilet, or turn on your tv (and which channel you watch), or what time you turn on your oven OR know when (and how often you and your wife are intimate,) then, sweetie - you go for it.

Personally - it is WAY too invasive for me - this administration has already taken away so many of my Constitutional rights. I will stop them, any way I can.