Electric "Smart Grids"

[Lagerhead]

I'm not sure what to think of this -- good news, or disturbing news?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123984019224323139.html

Wireless Firms Eye 'Smart Grids' - Cellphone Carriers Cut Prices in Aggressive Push for Deals With Utilities

"Wireless carriers such as AT&T Corp. are setting their sights on so-called smart grids as a big business opportunity that could juice up earnings by utilizing excess capacity on their cellphone networks. The upshot for consumers is they may eventually be able to monitor and control home-energy use through a cellphone that talks to a digital meter and other devices, though that service is still in development. AT&T, Deutsche Telekom AG's T-Mobile unit, Verizon Wireless (a unit of Verizon Communications Inc. and Vodafone Group) and other carriers are making an aggressive push to provide the wireless communications link to millions ..."

On the one hand, having the utility pay for smart metering and having cheap mobile access to information for status and control is appealing.

On the other hand, I'm not sure that I want the electric utility having such detailed data on my usage, because it puts me, as the customer, at a serious disadvantage. Margin management will take precedence over customer service. Worse, later in the article it mentions the ability to control consumers' consumption and to terminate service without a visit. This is a perfect pathway for government to control my energy usage. These prospects are decidedly unappealing.

 

[crna1]

I have one of those smart meters. It has built in cell phone that duke power uses to read it. For $10 a month extra they will give ability to also access it, but just once a month like them. If there was some way to monitor it continuously that would be fine, but for $10, I'll walk outside and look at it once a month

 

[arbware]

I have one of those smart meters. It has built in cell phone that duke power uses to read it. For $10 a month extra they will give ability to also access it, but just once a month like them. If there was some way to monitor it continuously that would be fine, but for $10, I'll walk outside and look at it once a month

For $10 / month it might be worth it if it was a summer home.. or other remote location that you can't walk out and read..

My Co-Op that i used to purchase power from charged me a meter reading fee if i didn't call in the meter reading at least once every two months.

ARB

 

[hucker]

I am monitoring my meter in real time with a brultech 1240 and my blackberry I can see the real time data stream with an IM client and I can see upto the minute plots via the web browser. It is pretty cool but I'm not sure the cell access means much for peoples primary residence. I suppose I could see that one of our high draw lights are on and I could turn in off but I doubt it.

 

[SteveQ]

I have a smart meter and I am involved in a pilot study. My electric company will be implementing a "time of use" billing option. Different rates per KWh depending on the time of day. The goal of the utility is to try to get customers to manage there electric use to reduce consumption from 3PM to 9PM.

I think this is a great idea and I don't see any downside. I do not think the electric company will be "spying" on anyone.

I hope I will be able to get access to the data from their web site.

Steve Q

 

[Lagerhead]

I do not think the electric company will be "spying" on anyone.

I know this is not a political forum. I do not want Dan to throw a fit and I do not want readers of this thread to waste their time.

But simply, my point is around the question of "who has the data." Every one of us here (on CT) develops a ton of data about our family and household practices and we use that data to make our lives better, so it is not the data itself that is the problem (although some would disagree even with that point). However, I would think twice before sharing that data with anyone else, particularly with a vendor or a government authority, because it can be empowering, and ultimately to my disadvantage.

You alredy know this -- and practice it -- if you reject cookies, or run spyware, or block advertising domains at your firewall, etc.

 

[SteveQ]

I think we all should be sensitive to activities that could be considered intrusive. But I also think we have to encourage new technologies that will have benefits for all of us. There are already many, many, technologies that provide tons of information about each of us; cell phones, GPS, RFID tags, iPass, credit cards,........... I think the intrusive nature of all of these devices is propably far greater than allowing the electric company to know when my clothes dryer is running! And, we always have the option of going "off grid" with solar panels.

Steve Q

 

[sic0048]

Well I know much of the privacy arguement concerning energy is way ahead of the actual technologies available. But we do see companies already changing their energy prices based on demand or time of day. I'm OK with this because everyone is considered equal. But consider if the companies had information about specific devices in your home and charged based on those facts (rather than simply total energy used). Then things start to go down hill quite rapidly. Again, this isn't reality yet and may never be, but that is a fear people have.

More than 2 computers - that's a 10% extra fee
You left a light on continuously for 10 hours - that's a $5 excess use fee
Your dishwasher isn't meeting our efficiency requirement so we are putting you in a higher cost energy band until you replace it
etc
etc
etc

Those are all scenerios that I could easily see played out in real life.

 

[SteveQ]

I think this is a valid concern, but maybe it will go the opposite direction. i.e. You are using a high efficiency dishwasher, you get a 5% discount. I also think it would be extremely unlikely that smart grid technology will ever be able to identify individual appliances. Even if it was possible, I'm sure there wil be lots of gadgets to scramble/interfere with any data being uploaded. Hmmm...... sounds like a new product opportunity!

Steve Q