Posted on 01/24/2008 1:45:03 AM PST by FocusNexus
Considering that the state already legislates what people think (hate crimes), regulates what students eat (no trans fats), restricts where motorists drive (car-pool lanes), forces many people to pay for what they don't want (public schools) and restricts where anyone may inhale cigarette smoke (not in restaurants), it's probably no surprise that Sacramento bureaucrats' next scheme was to remotely control thermostats inside Californians' homes.
Apparently, Sacramento finally went too far. As the Los Angeles Daily News reported: "Amid widespread criticism and fear of increasing control over Californians' lives by 'Big Brother,' a state panel has dropped a plan that would have let utility companies use radio signals to dictate the temperature in residents' homes."
Whew. We're thankful for small blessings.
The California Energy Commission sought to reduce peak demand for electricity by forcing residents to install "programmable communicating thermostats" that utilities could remotely control. The commission bureaucrats' diktat (notice it was not voted on by voters or even by their legislators) would have required new buildings to include remote-controlled thermostats to allow utilities to regulate buildings' air-conditioning or heating during power "emergencies."
As word spread, and opposition mounted, the commission at first backpedaled, indicating consumers would be permitted to override the outside control. Last week, the agency junked the plan entirely from its 2008 edition of building efficiency standards.
"(I)t's not the job of the (state) to go into peoples' homes and control their thermostats," Democrat Assemblyman Lloyd Levine said, reiterating the obvious.
The remote-control regulation provided no exceptions for health or safety concerns and did not even define what constituted emergencies, reported the North (San Diego) County Times. The proposal for requiring nonremovable devices drew opposition from the building industry and consumer advocates.
"(I)t is repugnant and entirely unacceptable to mandate that the customer loses control over the device that will be mandatorily placed in their homes," wrote Michael Shames, executive director of the advocacy group Utility Consumers Action Network. "The implications of this language are far-reaching and Orwellian," Shames told World Net Daily.
At least for now, Californians may turn the temperature up or down on their own — but we wonder how much more of this thinking is in store. As the Riverside Building Industry Association's Borre Winckel told the North County Times: "This is not too different from certain voices we've heard from the water world … where if somebody were to use too much water, the water agency can (by) remote control turn your water off. What's there to keep people from deciding you've had your lights on too long? This really does go very deep into government control into how we lead our lives."
I am sure glad they at least are not going to control my thermostat -- at least for now.
Psychopaths. They’ll be back.
Showers are easy to fix.
As far as toilets, I found Toto toilets that work well, as is, without any modifications.
But it’s the principle of the thing.
How is it the Federal government’s business what kind of showerheads or toilet private people use in their own homes?
Welcome to the Worker's Paradise, your host for this party is Hillary and the Socialists Democrats. If you like those apples wait till they get their hands on Medical Insurance and the 2nd Amendment.
Enjoy :-(
I guess I wonder why this kind of draconian regulation isn’t challenged as beyond the domain of government. IS there in fact any limit to what government can regulate? And if so, what determines that limit? Obviously, the Constitution no longer provides that safeguard. So what’s left?
“a state panel has dropped a plan that would have let utility companies use radio signals to dictate the temperature in residents’ homes ...”
Of course they dropped it. It would affect non-smokers, non-homosexuals and illegals as well. We can’t have them being inconvenienced or giving up any sort of freedom can we?
They will come back. They will find a way to get this into law, like they got the damned compact fluorescent bulbs into law with NO MEDIA COVERAGE!
Things like telling us now what kind of light bulbs we can use (CFR’s). In my town, Tampa, they have city inspectors who ride around and send you a registered letter telling you to mow your yard or have fines assessed DAILY and enforced by liens on your property.
I am also convinced that it’s only a matter of time before the laws of unintended consequences bring their full pressure to bear on us and the whole system comes crashing down. Nothing of this world, good or bad, can go on forever, and I fear we’re past the point of being able to reign in our governments’ lust for power and control and the money it takes to accomplish their goals.
In order to be able to keep building, they need everybody else to reduce peak demand.
wait til they get thrir utopia and everybody plugs the car in at the same time...
Most of that will be during off-peak hours.
We bought our toilet BEFORE the regulations took effect. If that one dies, it’ll be a quick trip over the river to Canada (if THEY still sell ‘em by then).
We voluntarily had the electric company install a separate meter for our Air Conditioning that they can shut down a few minutes ever hour during peak usage. In return we got a reduced rate per kilowatt. THAT’s the way California should do it. Appeal to the pocket book.
We never even realize that they have shut down our air and it’s saved us a bundle over the years.
Don’t get caught trying to import the turlet. Not only a fine but an automatic membership in the border crossing strip search list (as happened to a friend of mine).
I’d be REAL careful! Of course, they have those jet assisted potties now, too.... :-)
Don’t worry. All this means is they will found out who leaked it, fire them, put it back into the bill and pass it on Midnight Chrismas Eve.
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