[RedMDer]

Snip:
BGE customers who still have concerns currently cannot opt out of the smart-meter project. The Maryland Public Service Commission, however, plans to consider at a hearing in May whether to require the state's utilities to have an opt-out provision.

[RedMDer]

More transformational change where we can’t opt out.

[lacrew]

“..save customers money by helping them control energy use...”

Gee, I wonder what ‘control energy use’ means.

[dforest]

More government takeover of people’s lives. Denying people the right to set their thermostats to what is comfortable to them.

I wonder if Obama still has the Whitey House at 80 degrees in the winter?

Cause he is from Hawaii dontcha know.

[NonValueAdded]

Florida Power and Light is also deep into the installation project. Over 500 unskilled jobs will be lost as a result. It makes economic sense but the unprecedented automation - e.g. rubbish pickup has gone down from a truck with three men to only one operating the truck and barrel lift - is quickly making unskilled labor a thing of the past. Heaven help the unschooled inner city youth.

[MD Expat in PA]

When I live in MD some years ago, I voluntarily agreed to have BGE install a smart meter. It did actually save me a lot of money over time in usage and I got a monthly rebate for participating as did the programmable thermostat that I installed myself. I never noticed any down side. But that was as I said, voluntary at the time.

I also installed programmable light switches that turned off and on according to my schedule whether I was at home or not. Being a single woman, I liked coming home into a house with some lights on especially in the dark winter months without having to burn electricity all day long when I didn’t need to.

[soupbone1]

While stationed at Ft. Benning in early 1990’s I remember the base purchased power at a discounted rate for the year. The caveat was that if the base came close to exceeding their power usage they would cut power to the AC in the Enlisted Housing. This would last for up to nine hours on some really hot days.
Some of the Enlisted Wives confronted the Housing Office and were told everyone was sharing the hardship. During one such outage the Wives went around and found out that Officer Housing still had power, and that caused a big stink. When confronted a new policy was adopted that power would only be off for up to four hours and all Base Housing would share the burden.
I wonder if this smart metering is a way to force people to not exceed their allowed maximum power usage. Of course exceptions will be applied to those who have been deemed important.

[FlingWingFlyer]

It appears as though the electric companies have figured out that people are going to be able to afford and pay for the energy rates we are going to get from Barry the Kenyan Guy and his EPA energy gestapo. Whatever happened to America? The Obama voters sure need their asses kicked for causing this crap.

[FrankR]

We’ve had those for quite a while down here in Georgia...you know, “Tobacco Road”, “Crackerville”...hey, it’s St. Crackers Day today down here. Hold muh beer!

[Fee]

NJ tried that on a voluntary basis. People signed up and within one year most of them opted out. Why? When one powers down the AC not all AC units can handle that resulting in damaged AC. Other problem is when the AC is powered down that it generates only luke cool air in the ducts, the vent ducts condensate water damaging wall sheet rock and cause mold growth. One customer had drippings from a vent above his electrical panel that he almost failed to sell his house when the inspector found rust spots on his electrical panel. BGE will end up with lawsuits for damage if they impose these smart meters on customers. If mold growth caused health problems to the customer the damage can be even worst.

[PAR35]

I pay for a smart meter but don’t have one.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Smart Meter sez: I'm sorry, it's 95 degrees outside, and there's too much electrical demand for me to allow you to use the air conditioner...

Maryland "Freak State" PING!

[Ditter]

I thought I had a smart meter but I am beginning to wonder what I have. What I have allows the electric company to read my meter, first from the street without coming around into my back yard, and now I think they can read it from their office. What I have is great and has nothing to do with turning my a/c or heat off.

[Pride in the USA]

ping

[the invisib1e hand]

big oil, bad. big grid, good.

double-standard-alert.

[rockinqsranch]

Really IMO the only reason for the so-called “Smart Meters” is to eliminate costly meter reading jobs for the power companies, and to comply with U.N. restrictive energy use goals for AGW aka; “Climate Change”.

Part real in cost reductions, yet quite unreal in the sheer idiocy of the fantasy of AGW.

Getting the U.S. out of the U.N., or at least getting the ICLEI the “H” out of our State’s affairs would be advantageous to remaining a free nation.

[a fool in paradise]

Put them in the White House first since the Dictator in Chief insists on keeping the White House warm while telling taxpaying Americans they are not permitted to just set their thermostat at whatever temperature they want.

[Jimmy Valentine's brother]

The article indicates that the smart meters do not control use. The meters just make it easier to collect useage data, i.e., a meter reader doesn't have to come and misread the analog meter attached to your house.

People using a lot of grow lamps in their basements for herb production should probably be concerned. The smart reader is also harder to bypass.