Smart Meters –how’d we get here.
This issue came out of a 2008 law- when democrats controlled Pennsylvania’s governorship and the state legislature..Even my Republican state senator voted for it.
They were faced with the end of caps on electricity costs - which happened in an even earlier "D" reign in our state.
Its roots are in accepting that global warming is man made - Its support also came from the electric generators, hoping to not have to add more capacity. They would succeed by using neighboring electric generators in different time zones - not a bad idea IF:
There's to be no growth in industry or population.
Individuals would 'behave'.
As it is, our utilities treat us as LOAD or Rate Payers - not as customers.
BY 'nationalizing' energy, we lose some of each state's independence - becoming reliant on the National Grid.
Is it too outrageous to say that this would make us merely vassals of the federal government.
After all, who else could arbitrate disputes - but the Department of Energy.
Not only they have created problems in California, documented here on March 7th, but, I learned in a recent visit to the SouthWest, these instruments are ALSO appearing in Texas, among other places:
Smart Meter Backlash, Again: This Time in Texas
"As the CEO of energy management of an energy start-up recently explained, utilities, with their regulatory markets, have a long history of looking at their customers as “rate payers,” or even “load” and there needs to be a sea change in the relationship between utilities and power consumers.
http://gigaom.com/cleantech/smart-meter-backlash-again-this-time-in-texas/
Add this approach to the Pennsylvania problems of wanting to limit the amount of energy we use and it's going to be a bumpy ride.
Let's not forget the purpose of smart meters.
To reward users who use electricity at off-peak times.
The problems:
1. There is no plan (in PA) to bill at lower rates for 'good' behavior.
2. Utilities have no plan to audit erroneous bills experienced in Kansas, California or Texas.
3. The two way feature PERMITS you to be SHUT-OFF- if you don't behave.
ALL THIS IS TO PREVENT THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW POWER PLANTS, thereby INHIBITING GROWTH, in our work platforms, population....
ARE WE READY TO SUCCUMB TO ZERO GROWTH, AMERICA
Are you just a LOAD?
It seems like our big government keeps hammering us from all sides. Every time a "change" is offensive, they point the finger at the Republicans or big business or a "not green enough" environment.
ReplyDeleteAlso, if it is something that sounds onerous, they give it a nice name like "smart meters" to get the kind of support they want. By the time the public wakes up, it is too late.
Wake up America.
I don't know if the author of this blog will read this but as conservative republican who is very pro smart grid I am compelled to post here.
ReplyDeleteAll smart meters are is a modern version of the 100 year old analog meter you have now. Its digital nature allows it to send usage data over wireless and wired networks back to the utility and via the internet or an in home display to you. That abundance of data makes a lot of efficient things possible.
If you are a pro business, competition conservative you should embrace this technology because it is not a big brother conspiracy but instead liberation for you the consumer.
The electric system is a socialized operation where all the costs to serve everyone are divided up via a combination of economics and social engineering. Today it is likely you are subsidizing your neighbors who are less efficient than you.
Today the cost of the running the utility is carved into fixed retail rates that apply 24/7/365 days of the year, during low and peak periods. The reality is that like anything else, the cost to deliver you electricity vary widely over all those hours. With a digital meter and dynamic rates, you can manage your own way, and if you are very responsible or savvy than your neighbor, then you save money. Conversely if you are lazy and profligate, well you will pay what it costs.
So I can see how this sort of thing would appear on the service to be something conjured up by big government or the utilities to their advantage, it is not.
I gotta get back to work, but please do look into this more before you conclude that is like a lot of other worrisome leftist ideas or policies.
Currmudgeon responds:
ReplyDeleteYou are part right! For large users, who have options -it has great potential.
For smaller users, like most homes, even the electric co's think it is NOT COST EFFECTIVE, as they testified on August 22, 2011. Homeowners do not have the options of consuming A/C, as an example, OFF-PEAK.
Further, in PA, it is a condemnation to a no-growth policy for business and population.
pksour@aol.com