Please don't cross post between groups.
The so called "smart meters" will eventually be necessary to run the
grid to capacity along with the use of "smart appliances", but for the
time being companies installing them may just bill based on the time of
demand. They may be like the company we have and go on an adjusted rate
based on how much you use, rather than when. When used with the big
users like Air Conditioning, they could remotely turn the thermostat
back a couple of degrees and give preferential rates to those who
subscribe.
As Jim mentioned, it's always a good thing to keep track of your usage
and trends. It not only keeps track of the billing, but of any changes
you make to reduce that usage with conservation and how effective they
may be.
The possible problem with the smart meter is how it communicates with
the power company. Some were using the so called, Broad band over
Power Lines, or BPL . Many of the original versions used a wide range
of frequencies including the ham bands which they also had touted for
communications. That aspect of BPL appears to be dead in the water, or
we can hope so although they made great strides in quieting it.
Good Luck,
Roger (K8RI)
EP Swynar wrote:
> Good Morning All,
>
> The good folks here at the Ontario Hydro generating outfit (or WHATEVER it is
> that they might call themselves this week) have elected to install so-called
> "smart meters", in place of the regular old-fashioned ones, at the street AC
> drop point outside of everyone's house...
>
> For the uninitiated, "smart meters" automatically keep track of power usage
> in each home, and then charge rates according to whether or not it's "peak /
> prime" time, or otherwise...apparently (as I understand it) these odious
> devices are in constant communication wirelessly with "Big Brother", feeding
> the data to some central collection point, to calculate final billing...and
> they mark the end of days for the old-fashioned, traditional humanoid meter
> reader.
>
> Oh yes, did I mention that this is all a "...GOOD thing" for Ontario...?
>
> Anyway, I'm VERY curious if any Hams reading this, who may have already had
> smart meters installed at their respective QTHs, have experienced any sort of
> RFI either to, or from, the readers...? I wrote a strongly-worded letter to
> the local co-ordinator of this effort, and received a phone message back from
> one of his minions that I would be hearing from them shortly...that was about
> a month ago.
>
> The monitor was installed at my QTH here a coupla days ago, but the system is
> not yet operational.
>
> Any sage words from the ranks of the knowledgeable...?
>
> Thanks in advance, & my vy
>
> ~73!~ Eddy VE3CUI - VE3XZ
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>
>
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