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>my utility company demanding that I stop making ice during peak electric demand periods. I think this statement communicates a fundamental misunderstanding of

>my utility company demanding that I stop making ice during peak electric demand periods. I think this statement communicates a fundamental misunderstanding of the energy use management implemented by the SmartMeters, or an attempt to villify a fairly clever project that has the potential to save tons of electricity. For one, the SmartMeter system is entirely voluntary, and can be taken out at any time. For another, at least where I live, it applies only to A/C, and only will shut off one time, for one hour, once every week during peak usage. Please do not present promising technology like this as some kind of Orwellian spectre of tyranny. It's really not.

shit_parade 13y ago
>For one, the SmartMeter system is entirely voluntary, and can be taken out at any time. Lol, this is often how compelled compliance works, you begin with voluntary adoption. This is promising tech but not believing any and all data will be saved and used for every conceivable purpose including oppression is an obvious feat of delusion -- have you had your head in the sand this year?
Spooky23 13y ago
It may sound unfair to a practitioner in the energy space. I have friends who are energy engineers who are very passionate about things like peak load demand and the potential to have a positive impact, especially from an environmental standpoint. My post would probably be a little offensive to them. The problem is, while I trust the engineers, I don't trust the policy makers. When a large industrial customer or a big data center negotiates a curtailment program, they have lots of leverage to achieve a mutually beneficial arrangement. As a consumer, I have no leverage -- at best, I may live in a state with a public utility regulator actually thinking about the public interest. These types of technologies need strong privacy and consumer protections codified in law to be trustworthy. I don't see that happening, and until it does, I consider it harmful.

shit_parade 13y ago

>For one, the SmartMeter system is entirely voluntary, and can be taken out at any time. Lol, this is often how compelled compliance works, you begin with voluntary adoption. This is promising tech but not believing any and all data will be saved and used for every conceivable purpose including oppression is an obvious feat of delusion -- have you had your head in the sand this year?

Spooky23 13y ago

It may sound unfair to a practitioner in the energy space. I have friends who are energy engineers who are very passionate about things like peak load demand and the potential to have a positive impact, especially from an environmental standpoint. My post would probably be a little offensive to them. The problem is, while I trust the engineers, I don't trust the policy makers. When a large industrial customer or a big data center negotiates a curtailment program, they have lots of leverage to achieve a mutually beneficial arrangement. As a consumer, I have no leverage -- at best, I may live in a state with a public utility regulator actually thinking about the public interest. These types of technologies need strong privacy and consumer protections codified in law to be trustworthy. I don't see that happening, and until it does, I consider it harmful.