[Ghost of SVR4]

I can tell you from first hand experience, those cameras are used for initial diagnosis when there is a problem with the grid in that locale. There is not some evil government stooge monitoring those camera’s 24x7. The companies that own them get a quick idea of what might be an issue so they know what and who to send (beyond all the physical layer monitoring built into those stations) for repair. I agree with you, camera’s are everywhere; but with knowing what a bitch CIP5 is, it makes perfect sense to me these things are popping up now in the 11th hour of the rollouts.

[kingu]

I'm sure it makes sense to you, but to me, it just boggles the mind. $2,500 a camera, putting two in the same box? With a pretty limited field of view through a smoked plastic ‘sticker’?

That's some pretty pricey initial diagnosis, especially if they didn't skimp on the hardware in the box pushing it up to $10k a unit.

Oh, and the other fun part, now that this video is out, folks will know that ‘used cameras’ are easily available and pretty easy to pick up, compared to copper wire and bronze plaques.

I know folks can blow money pretty well, but this is government level blowing money. Wow.