Smart meters

[dejaysk1]

Some people say that smart meters are an invasion of privasy.....what do you think

[falcon9]

Some people say that smart meters are an invasion of privasy.....what do you think

How are such meters any more, (or less), invasive than the ones which are manually-read?  Unless your utility usage is considered a private matter, (something that the utility company would likely disagree with when it comes time to pay the bill based on meter readings), what are you getting at?

[kords21]

Not a fan at all of giving the gov't/coprataions (is there a difference anymore?) more access into my life. Here's a good article on it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/science/earth/31meters.html?pagewanted=all

I'm all for wanting a better environment, cleaner/more efficient fuels and such, but this kind of stuff is not about any of that, it's about more control of the people. Look up the UN program Agenda 21 and it becomes more clear and sinister.

[falcon9]

Not a fan at all of giving the gov't/coprataions (is there a difference anymore?) more access into my life. Here's a good article on it:

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/31/science/earth/31meters.html?pagewanted=all

Do you refer to this bit: " ... from a cadre of environmental health campaigners who see the meters’ radio-frequency radiation — like emissions from cellphones and other common devices — as a health threat" as well? The reason I ask is because the article mentions that some people regard such smart meters as a privacy concern but, do not specify how.  Utility companies have been reading wired meters for decades now; where were any "privacy" concerns then?

I'm all for wanting a better environment, cleaner/more efficient fuels and such, but this kind of stuff is not about any of that, it's about more control of the people. Look up the UN program Agenda 21 and it becomes more clear and sinister.

Agenda 21 is no more or less "sinister" than the current county, state and federal planning commissions.  Of course, I'm not a conspiracy theorist so, it's possible that I'm more pragmatic about closing the barn door after the cows have already gotten loose.

[kords21]

http://www.pri.org/stories/science/technology/smart-meters-privacy-nightmares

I think the radiation concern is overblown. As far as the electric company reading meters, they have to come here to do it, they don't get the data in real time that they would with a smart meter.

You're right that a lot of it starts at the local level, but the feds are starting to do more on their own and to hell with what the states want to do.

[falcon9]

http://www.pri.org/stories/science/technology/smart-meters-privacy-nightmares

I think the radiation concern is overblown. As far as the electric company reading meters, they have to come here to do it, they don't get the data in real time that they would with a smart meter.

Alright, how does getting the same information remotely, in realtime, differ from a wired meter reading in such a way as to be a privacy violation?

You're right that a lot of it starts at the local level, but the feds are starting to do more on their own and to hell with what the states want to do.

I'm just not seeing any real difference between local restrictions/ordinances, state restrictions/ordinances or federal restrictions/ordinances, (beyond the slight one of degree).