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‘Dark winter’ could bring utilities controlling your thermostat
The Hill ^ | 9/14/2022 | Kristin Tate

Posted on 09/14/2022 12:42:08 PM PDT by therightliveswithus

You thought you turned the thermostat down. In the Texas late summer heat, it keeps getting warmer inside. No matter how much you fiddle with the temperature, you cannot control the climate in your house. When winter comes, those with “smart thermostats” could find themselves without the means to do the same. A combination of smart devices, utility control, unreliable “green” energy, and poor planning will mean a retread of Soviet-style shortages and rationing.

For those who need the energy at the hottest and coldest times of the year, the effects will be critical. And as difficult as this summer was in Texas, the issues will be far worse in energy-strapped blue states. .

Indeed, energy failures are already accelerating while the rise of “smart” technology is often another way of giving away manual control. When a device becomes programmable, don’t always expect that it will be you doing the programming. During a heatwave in Colorado two weeks ago, thousands of utility customers were shut out from using their own thermostats. Around 22,000 customers lost the ability to change their thermostats as the temperatures in their homes ticked up to 88 degrees. Ironically, the customers opted into this loss of autonomy through their energy provider, Xcel, in exchange for a $100 sign-up rebate and $25 per year.

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: energy; russia; winter
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To: therightliveswithus
Indeed, energy failures are already accelerating while the rise of “smart” technology is often another way of giving away manual control.

Which is why we don't have a Nest. Or any other "smart" thermostat.

41 posted on 09/14/2022 2:31:59 PM PDT by sauropod (Unbelief has nothing to say. Chance favors the prepared mind.)
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To: nutmeg

I think I see the problem after looking at your links, Nutmeg.

Mine is a Whirlpool top-loader water saver. The last two words being the whole dang problem.


42 posted on 09/14/2022 2:41:56 PM PDT by SouthernClaire (God Help America!)
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To: hinckley buzzard

If you unplug your router the smart devices get dumb in a hurry.

“Don’t do that, Dave. Dave, don’t do that....”

;-)


43 posted on 09/14/2022 2:51:48 PM PDT by cgbg (Claiming that laws and regs that limit “hate speech” stop freedom of speech is “hate speech”.)
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To: Graybeard58

Sure, but in California? Who knows?


44 posted on 09/14/2022 2:57:56 PM PDT by Boogieman
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To: rlmorel

Dead or in-line they don’t care either way it appears.


45 posted on 09/14/2022 3:01:34 PM PDT by wgmalabama (Censored!)
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To: unixfox

pull it off the wall and connect two wires


46 posted on 09/14/2022 3:10:02 PM PDT by ronnie raygun
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To: nutmeg

If you don’t like how much water is in there on the minimum water auto setting open the lid a couple three times. Each time you do that the washer thinks you’ve added more clothes and shoots in a little more water. That’s how my Maytag works. That way you don’t have to use the full tub setting.


47 posted on 09/14/2022 3:14:10 PM PDT by Gaffer (Infidel, and proud of it!)
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To: therightliveswithus

I fell for the “smart thermostat” trope in early 2000. The energy company installer showed me exactly how their relay was wired into my condenser. The first throttling of my compressor happened during a blistering hot day and house temp climbed to 85 in no time. I quickly swapped the wiring back to restore cooling. No more!


48 posted on 09/14/2022 3:23:58 PM PDT by Kolb (Compone Accomoda Supera)
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To: nutmeg

IF you have a recently made MAYTAG-—you DO NOT have a REAL MAYTAG.

Whirlpool bought them out, closed the Newton, Iowa plant & is putting a Maytag emblem on a Whirlpool.

I have a “commercial” Maytag washer & dryer I bought in Spring of 2005. I will not let go of it. Model 2600 & 3600.
Top loading washer.


49 posted on 09/14/2022 3:27:09 PM PDT by ridesthemiles
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To: Boogieman

Exactly.

The frustrating thing is, there are parts of this country that do not experience drought constantly and don’t need water rationing.

If they just let it be and let states or localities make their own decisions, then we’d be better off. But they wanted so much control because someone might go somewhere else and buy a regular toilet that works instead of a low flush on. But the market can drive demand.

People who need to ration water will buy more efficient appliances, like a low flush toilet or a front loader that uses far less water, even though they are way more expensive.


50 posted on 09/14/2022 3:34:56 PM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith…)
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To: Mariner

Selling freedom bit by bit at $125 a pop.

Ah. But they will sell a bit more each year for another $25 decrement in their liberty.

Liberty Is Cheap to Those Who Have It.


51 posted on 09/14/2022 4:59:23 PM PDT by rlmorel (Nolnah's Razor: Never attribute to incompetence that which is adequately explained by malice.)
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To: wgmalabama

I certainly get that impression.


52 posted on 09/14/2022 5:00:51 PM PDT by rlmorel (Nolnah's Razor: Never attribute to incompetence that which is adequately explained by malice.)
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To: unixfox

It’s not always that easy. When I lived in Hellinois, ComEd came and put in new “smart” meters. So you’d have to change and/or tamper with the outdoor meter.


53 posted on 09/15/2022 10:09:35 AM PDT by Bluebeard16
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To: therightliveswithus

In LA they can already shut your electric off remotely. A couple of years ago, the LA DWP mistakenly credited our payments to someone else’s account. Woke up in the middle of the night and there was no power. The gas meters also have a remote shut of capability. The problem got fixed after a day or two. Point is, they can already do this crap if you are anywhere close to a big blue city.


54 posted on 09/15/2022 10:15:29 AM PDT by jpp113
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