http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_meter
They want to charge you a higher rate based WHEN you use electricity..not HOW MUCH YOU USE...and remotely load shed (shut your stuff off)...
It's about control...not convenience...
If you wont voluntarily conserve..you'll be “helped” to conserve...
You are darn right my friend!!
Supply and demand, pure capitalism. If you want to use electricity in peak demand hours, why should it not cost you more?
remotely load shed (shut your stuff off)...
I'm on the fence on this one. On one hand, they can prevent brownouts or blackouts by turning off unnecessary or "convenience" loads. Why should we tolerate a blackout on a 100+ summer day because a bunch of people want it to be 65 degrees inside, when there would be no blackouts if nobody went below 75? Or reverse it, people like Obama wanting it to be 80+ in sub-zero weather? When it's a limited resource, other peoples' actions do affect me.
The 1984 aspect is troubling though.
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner.
In addition, being able to shut down power supplied to customers means that the utility company does not have to invest in upgraded transmision lines or new power plants.
They can now use the upgrade and R&D funds for salaries and union dues.
These devices being installed provide no control to inside equipment or have the ability to curtail demand.
They can monitor demand at any moment in time and bill accordingly rather than only on monthly total total consumption.
A lot of people throw out the term smart meter meaning a variety of different things.
But without installing additional equipment inside the home, the smart meter only reports and cannot control.