[sionnsar]

Someday the government will control your thermostat and they’ll decide how warm or cool you should be.

Nope. That's the utilities' old vision still being rolled out. But the more comprehensive Smart Grid being developed under the auspices of NIST per the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007 is converging on a somewhat different direction.

"Cut your demand" (emergency) will still be a part of it, but more likely they will convey price over time and let you, the consumer, decide how to respond. It may be as simple as a "Home Energy Manager" box with a three-way switch: "Save all I can" / "Typical savings" / "I'll pay whatever."

Communicating thermostats are a "solution" very likely to create a sizable backlash.

[bicyclerepair]

Here in S FL (Ft. Lauderdale burbs) they forced the SMs on our houses.

Fortunately our homes are cement block and the signal is greatly attenuated by cement.