The promise was to help you control your electricity bill by becoming more aware of your energy use. The downside is that with the data gathered, other people and businesses can also become more aware of your habits, like when you go to work, go on vacation, etc. Is the potential energy savings worth the invasion of privacy trade-off? I sure don’t think so. I really don’t want PG&E or anyone else for that matter knowing how I live my life inside my own home.
To add insult to injury, the Public Utility Commission just granted PG&E a rate hike to pay for lost profits due to these devices that no consumers asked for. In my own conversion experience, PG&E basically said “our way or the highway” – I didn’t have a choice. Now I have a ZigBee WiFi capable datalogger on the side of my house, tracking my family’s habits. Now the EFF is getting involved for privacy protection. Fortunately, the PUC has now ordered PG&E to provide an opt-out plan. With privacy issues rising, there may be more takers now.
From the Electronic Frontier Foundation:
California Proposes Strong Privacy Protections for “Smart Meters”
The California Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has released a proposal for strong privacy protections for “smart meter” data, closely following the recommendations from EFF and the Center for Democracy and Technology. If adopted and finalized, the plan could become a model for how to protect sensitive consumer information while providing new ways to save energy.
California’s PG&E is currently in the process of installing “smart meters” that will collect detailed data of energy use —750 to 3000 data points per month per household—for every energy customer in the state. These meters are aimed at helping consumers monitor and control their energy usage, but the information that is collected can reveal much more about a household’s daily activities: when people wake up, when they come home, when they go on vacation, and maybe even when they take a hot bath.
Many third parties will want access to this sensitive information, and the California PUC has recommended strong protections for the transfer of the data to others. This should help prevent the data’s misuse, hopefully blocking new intrusions into our home and private life. We hope the California PUC goes on to adopt its proposal, creating a blueprint for energy data and privacy protection that can be used across the country.
I am (suppose to) schedule to have mine installed but i keep ignoring them. I have been wondering what might happen if were to remove a microwave emitter from an old unit and tape it to the face and zap it for a few seconds?
Here in Victoria, Australia we have had a smart meter installation roll-out going on for a few years. Initiated by the previous Labor state government it has been quite unpopular with, as in your case, customer have “hobson’s choice” i.e. take it or no power. One of the concerns raised has been the privacy issue you have highlighted.
According to the Origin Energy web site smart meters are claimed to offer the following advantages:
The smart meters installed have the ability to remotely control the power, in our case the device performs the daily switching of our 3.6kW off peak hot water circuit. Presumably it could also be used to disconnect/connect the main power circuit as well and with a bit of reconfiguration high power circuits like air conditioners.
At present there is a delay in implementing time of use tariffs here following the election of a new Liberal National coalition (conservative) state government late last year.
Just curious, how will the smart-grid/smart-meter handle a situation like this – probable HV transmission line (in the range of 138 KV – 375 KV) short to distribution lines (7 KV to 14 KV), blowing multiple transformers (stepdown 14 KV to 120/240VAC) in neighborhoods in the process:
http://youtu.be/AaSqX0DsRPU
.
Perhaps a better link:
Not an insignificant task (considering a range of parameters, some safety-related, that would need to be met by this filter); that is also on the utility side of the meter … wouldn’t that normally involve an electrician?
Also, the circuit will be ‘live’ at this point too … a meter ‘pull’ kills power into the house …
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Kevin G says:
This problem goes very deep, to fundamentals of quite a different sort. It is impossible, under utilitarian ethics, to be a part of the system one is controlling. For consider: an average westerner can save the life of a third worlder for a dollar or two: so to do the maximum good, one should work one’s self to death (at an optimally calculated rate) making money to save third world lives. Another example: a doctor cannot be in charge of the ‘hard’ decisions on equipment usage to make the most saving of lives or life time if their own family are amongst the patients. Thus the natural tendency of the ‘elite’ to exempt themselves from the restrictions they impose on others – as we witnessed with the Copenhagen pigs at the trough spectacle. This is one of the issues I discuss at my website.
A lot of people have observed that after these meters are installed their bills go up at least 20%. Investigations, lengthy, tedious and difficult revealed that the meters have a “settable” load factor. I.e it can record greater usage than that actually taken.
In my mid this is illegal, as it is a statutory fiscal meter. But nobody seems to care.
Also, as i never watch my existing meter, only check the bill if its high, how can such a smart meter help me control my usage. Thats just hype. The best thing for these, in the USA is a class action suit, damages and get them banned, as they should be.
Dang, always late to the party! And one of the few topics I can state I’ve got great experience in and some expertise. I actually just got home from a conference hosted by a “smart grid” company.
@jim, ‘Just curious, how…..”
In that particular situation, when the transformers on the distribution line blow, the meters don’t fair well. But, devices can be placed for protection at the transformer. I had a discussion with some people from different parts of the country about the reliability of these “smart meters”. In my part of the country, this time of year is always marked by heavy thunder storms. When one rolls through this area, I can usually count on have about a dozen or so that need replaced. (We’re very small, only about 3500 meters.)
You’re also correct about the “filter”. No utility is going to allow that to be done. And it would be dangerous for laymen to attempt to do such nonsense.
I haven’t had a chance to read all of the comments, but I’ve seen a few in support of these meters. I’m going to write something of more substance on this issue soon, but I haven’t had the time. Aside from the privacy issue, one should also consider the cost. That is, after all, the alleged motivation for utilities to control usage towards cost control. But here’s a tidbit. PG&E’s own little paper they put out stated the life expectancy of the “smart meters” are about 10 years. My experience says that’s optimistic, but it may be that the climate there allows for such longevity. So we’ll use that number. Smart meters cost about $250/10yrs.(Some prices are going down.) Traditional mechanical meters cost about $25/20yrs.(After about 20yrs, the gears wear down to where they don’t measure the usage properly.) These numbers are for the typical 2S class 200 240volt meter.(The one at most peoples houses.) I’ve often wondered how much peak shaving was necessary to resolve the cost, but I see PG&E didn’t have to do any to start seeing a gain from the investment.
Of course, I haven’t mentioned the software and other bits of hardware necessary to collect the data. Many utilities have argued that costs can be saved by negating the need for meter readers. This is laughable. The simply moved the meter readers in house, bought high priced servers and gave guys like me a job! You wouldn’t believe the cost of the software. BTW, Anthony is correct. I can print a graph of hourly usage and know when people typically wake up and when they go to bed. I could get reads every quarter hour if I wanted. With ZigBee and other protocols coming, yes, there is an ability to control your appliances. It is my understanding that GE is already producing appliances ZigBee capable.
How smart are out smart meters? Not very. It was just another charade implemented because of a self inflicted problem. It isn’t that we need to shave our peak usage, it is that we need more electrical generation. No, not the whirlygigs and pinwheels, we need reliable and cheap electricity.
What many people don’t understand is the cycle the utility business is now on. THIS WILL NEVER END AND WE’LL NEVER REALIZE THE COSTS!
We had cheap and effective meters. We fixed that. Now, the utility business is on the tech cycle. We all know the tech cycle. That the never ending innovations of modern technology. We started using “smart meters” about 5 years ago. Those meters that we install then are now obsolete. They’ve been replace by meter with more capabilities. The equipment we installed to facilitate the comm is obsolete. And so it goes……….
One last jewel. At the conference various meter venders were invited to show their wares and participate. I asked several, were there any manufacturers of the electro-mechanical meters in the U.S.? The answer is no. Even if we wanted to, it’s probably too late to stop this madness. (sung) When you leave this way you can never go back, a train wont roll on torn up tracks…….
Neil says:
May 12, 2011 at 12:50 pm
Many meters are using wireless transmission, cellular etc. This is because communications access has in the past been a problem. Anyone noticed where most of their communications goes, yes the internet. Eventually these meters will talk directly into an internet connection.
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Perhaps, and they sorta do already. I’m currently using power-line carrier to various metering points and am now using TCP/IP to move the information in-house. As you stated others are using different protocols, but a recent “advancement”, uses a public radio frequency(wireless internet) to form a mesh network and move the data in house in that manner.
Its a brave new world fellas.
In the UK they go further and are able to stop your supply if they consider your use excessive, their assessment with no input from the customer! This is to cover times when the wasteful wind turbines cannot supply enough power and all our old coal plants are shut down by EU order. The Uk is becoming a third world country with government to match.
Whenever the smart meter gets installed where I live (I don’t have a say), I will be looking for ways to get out from under it.
In the meantime, I keep my focus on survival. I figure that the high frequency (emf) that these things emit will caused me all kinds of headaches (in more than one way) and so I will be trying out some equipment, like cooks diodes, to help me weather that impending storm.
When and if they use it to increase my energy bill, I am not at all concerned.
They already have all the income than can gather from me.
If they really are going to use this to coerce me to pay higher energy cost then let them try.
I figure if my money runs out, fine, ….if they don’t want us to have energy, fine,….if they want to keep us from using ‘their’ energy factories (power plants), whatever….
I am just not afraid ‘of the man’ anymore.
Too tired to be afraid
There’s another issue with this that hasn’t been discussed much. That being security holes in SCADA software> http://news.cnet.com/8301-27080_3-20062425-245.html .
This is only one example, and as the “Smart” grid/meters become more prevalent, there will inevitably be additional vulnerabilities discovered, and exploited.
The U.S. government is warning critical-infrastructure operators of a serious hole in software used in oil and gas; water; electric utilities; and manufacturing plants around the world.
The stack overflow vulnerability affects the Genesis32 supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and BizViz software sold by ICONICS, according to an advisory (PDF) released yesterday by the Department of Homeland Security’s ICS-CERT (Industrial Control Systems Cyber Emergency Response Team). ICONICS has issued a patch to close the hole, which could allow an attacker to remotely execute code and take control of the computer.
Meanwhile, an exploit targeting the vulnerability was publicly available, the advisory said. To be successful, an attacker would need to use social engineering to lure a user with the “GenVersion.dll” (dynamic-link library) ActiveX control installed to visit a Web page that hosts malicious JavaScript. The dynamic-link library is a component of WebHMI (human machine interface) used in the ICONICS software, according to the advisory, which cited a report (PDF) by researchers at Security-Assessment.com.
“This vulnerability requires moderate skill to exploit,” the warning said.
Fifty-five percent of the Genesis32 installations are in the U.S., 45 percent are in Europe, and 5 percent are in Asia, according to Foxborough, Mass.-based ICONICS.
The advisory comes less than two months after the ISC-CERT and several researchers warned of a handful of holes in different SCADA software.
Security issues with software used to monitor and control critical-infrastructure systems are cropping up more and more as those systems adopt Web-based technologies that provide channels into previously isolated networks.
James, when I ask these kinds of questions, I ask them rhetorically … I am fully aware of what exists, at least in our area, on the ‘distribution’ (as opposed to transmission) side of the line vis-a-vis ‘protection’ (surge suppressors, reclosers et al).
I’ve seen (and read about) * ‘primary across secondary’ damage in residential situations (to sum it up: everything gets ‘fried’). Presently I am residing in the southern end of the ‘early’ tornado alley (KS OK TX) and still ‘spot’ with our county’s ARES group when the national weather service requests.
The rarity here is, IMO, a Transmission-Primary (in the range of 138 KV to 375 KV here in TX) to Distribution-Secondary (7 to 14 KV) ‘short’ (in a substation) which caused the ‘lighting up’ of the literally a couple dozen pole (and pad) mounted step-down transformers (14 KV to 120/240V or 440 V 3 ph) out past the confines of the substation and out among homes and businesses in the area.
Thanks for your input BTW.
Regards
*References upon request.
In Australia, a council of Federal & State ministers decided that smart meters could be compulsory, then let each State work it out. In Victoria, they are compulsory. They have provision for load reduction, even cutting off from a central control when regional demand is high. They have made no warranties as to security. The home owner never gets to own a meter, though he/she pays for it on a continuing basis. In this way, it is represented as a benefit for the consumer because it reduces the number of electricity meter readers (but omits that manual meter reading is still done for water and gas, sometimes by a single outsourced company).
There is a nastiness in the “compulsory” bit. It is hard to conceive of a compulsory requirement that does not involve some form of acquisition from the person getting the rough end of the pineapple. In Oz, the Constitution requires that there shall be no acquisition of property on other than just terms. No terms have been negotiated, so we are potentially seeing a violation of the Constitution.
Those who have yet to have a smart meter installed are being charged as if they have one, including a 10% goods and services tax. What goods, what services? The utilities claim that they have already expended on computing and hardware for meter development and even though your particular home might not have a meter the utility has incurred a cost. But then, in the absurd case, the development of meters has been going on for a century. Can that cost be back-taxed? I think not.
Nasty, nasty, nasty. When I said I did not want one, they said they would cease to supply me with electricity. See you in Court, utility.
The final blow seems to be severe punishments for tampering with the devices, as some above have suggested. Also, I cannot plead trespass if I lock the home security system when the man comes to instal the smart meter. I cannot benefit from self-management of peak rates, because the apartment block has no scope for off-peak use, with instant water heaters etc. To see when spot peak concessions are offered, I have to walk about 50 yards to the communal meter box room on another level and unlock a metal door that hides them from view. That’s hardly an effective feedback.
Had enough? I’ll break them even if I have to redefine “benefit”.
I was examining in detail the image of the digital electric Smart meter Anthony posted at the top of this blog and noticed a (company) name, as can be seen in this 2X image excerpt:
http://oi53.tinypic.com/316x4sm.jpg
I ran “Silver Spring Networks” through an NCIC ‘wants and warrant’ check -er- Google search and indeed, there exists such a company – here is their:
Silver Spring Networks – About Us webpage.
On the web page linked below there are accessible resources for viewing ‘white papers’ as well as a Flash Demo about their technology offering, including:
1) How it works,
2) Network Provisioning (important info for the power system operator’s staff) and
3) Outage Detection.
Tossed in there is also info on their ‘back office’ interface … specifically mentioned is the ability to “remotely connect or disconnect customer service”.
http://www.silverspringnet.com/resources/flashdemo.html
James Sexton, you may have some input on this, perhaps after viewing their material.
BTW, their claim that WiMAX is not ‘quite ready’ is false; WiMAX alive and well and available in a number of cities (via CLEAR) as I write this, including the DFW area. On an expedition with a spectrum analyzer in the car a year ago I verified active, traffic-carrying WiMAX signals in the 2.5/2.6 GHz range …
.
It’s called the “bologna method”… they take freedoms from us 1 slice at a time and eventually they have taken the entire bologna. But you didn’t notice just one little slice, did you?
Ron Dean :”But arguing that the old technology worked fine thus nothing should be changed, is ludicrous. Using that argument, you should be using a computer build in 1985 with a 100bps modem hooked up to it. Maybe a punched paper tape for external storage.”
LOL talking about red herring…
“Second, you raise a classical “red herring” logical fallacy in comparing my statement to “alarmist climate literature”. One has nothing to do with the other in this conversation – however, I’ll address both your inference and the red herring itself.”
BS, it has all to do with it since this is the IPCC http://www.ipcc.ch/news_and_events/docs/ipcc33/SRREN_FD_SPM_final.pdf
that direct this garbage. As for the “other” events that can prevent my bill to stay low… you truly sound like Ontario Hydro!
As for the investement for 4 or 5 time a year, this is truly BS: next you’ll claim “who needs roads that are mostly used during the day and not much at night”… or something in this effect…
Just like the PR of these utility companies, you peddle that stuff with the word “blackout” attached, subtle blackmail.
EOM.
“SilverSprings Networks” or SSN is a specialty company dealing with wireless backhaul data transfer from the meter to the utility. This is one of the proprietary wireless technologies I referenced in my original comment. I have briefly worked with SSN transponders, and as a device, they seem to be about as good or as bad as their competitors.
Ron Dean, any experience with the Landis+Gyr product line, like the FOCUS AX series?
http://www.landisgyr.com/na/apps/products/data/pdf1/Residential_Brochure.pdf
I’m assuming the AXR series is the ‘radio’ version, the ones being phased in by ONCOR:
http://oi53.tinypic.com/23rjng6.jpg
The “SD” suffix indicating “(remote) Service Disconnect”.
The GRIDSTREAM RF version: http://www.landisgyr.com/na/en/pub/solutions_na/advanced_metering/rf_technology.cfm
Any idea what architecture/RF/Wireless technology they offer?
Full discl. – At one time I was with WebLink Wireless (AKA ‘PageMart’) where we were working to offer wireless data services (telemetry services) using the ReFLEX 25 air interface spec and (Motorola’s) Creatalink 2XT data modules on the NBPCS (901 uplink/940 MHz downlink) frequencies, about the 1999 time frame.
Creatalink 2XT module – http://catarina.udlap.mx/u_dl_a/tales/documentos/lep/martinez_m_c/apendiceC.pdf
This is going to be interesting; I can already see the same ‘crew’ who reverse-engineered Apple’s iPod/iPhone product turning their energies to ‘observing’ the behavior and habits of their local electric meter and working out 1) the protocol ‘spoken’ back to the office and, eventually, 2) the encryption (if any) used to encode their data packets.
A device (PC w/outboard USB pod) akin to the ‘blue box’ used by early hackers to ‘score’ on the phone company will eventually be available through anonymous FTP (e.g. 2600.com), bittorrents and P2P sources to emulate the ‘comms, habits and behaviors’ of an electric digital reporting meter …
Ref, Blue Box – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_box
_Jim says:
May 13, 2011 at 6:23 am
“James, when I ask these kinds of questions, I ask them rhetorically ….”
=============
Right Jim, sorry for my lack of clarity. I was simply expounding on your thoughts. While these thoughts may be obvious to you and me, it may not be for all of the readers here. As to SSN, I went to their website. They appear to be what I call a “me too” company. They’re not doing things much different than what many others are. They figure out a way to carry the signal into the office and then have various applications that utilizes the data and communications. You’re correct, too, WiMax is being used now. But these are technical points and miss what I consider the greater questions.
First, we should ask why are we chasing this tech? The answer most likely given would be so that we can curtail peak usage. This is necessary because consumer demand is out pacing production of generation capacity. More likely though, is that we’re simply being more creative in the methods used to control behavior. Here’s why I say that. A follow up question to the first question would be, will these actions be sufficient? The answer to that is “no”. It doesn’t matter what we do, or what our approach is, we’re simply not going to be able to keep up with demand. In the end, to avoid rolling blackouts and rising costs of electricity is to simply build production plants. And, it will necessarily have to include coal and nuke. There is no getting around it. We need to start building and we need to start now.
For all of the control lost, individual liberties given up, privacy lost, this will culminate in nothing but hirer costs to the consumer (with more novel ways to bill the consumer) and only perhaps a momentary delay in the inevitable. It is extremely clear that this neuvo-technology will be paid for by the consumer. PG&E has clearly demonstrated the utilities have no intention on sharing in the costs.
Not all “smart grid” technology is bad though, much of what we’ve learned can be applied to very useful purposes. Outage managment, for example has made great strides and will continue to do so. Mapping and engineering also have made great strides, though costs continue to be problematic.
All of this will continue. Much of this discussion is moot in that the train has already left the station and it isn’t coming back. As to your liberties and privacy, its almost too late. We need to raise our concerens in a collective voice. Its not like the people weren’t told. I wish things were different, but they’re not.
James
I have worked with L+G’s Focus AX series in the past. The model numbers are:
Focus AX – Also called the Focus AXD. Base demand meter. AMR (Automatic Meter Reading), but no database functions.
Focus AXT – A Focus AXD with Time of Use functions (ability to have different rates for different time frames)
Focus AXR – A Focus AXT with data recorder. This adds load profile capability.
The “SD” suffix is, as you have stated, for “Service Disconnect”.
The AMR functions are via a serial port communicating to an adjunct transponder. I know L+G has some of their own transponders (as you have shown with their “Gridstream” line, that also has a “Power Line Communications” or PLC device), but I have not really worked with theirs, so I can’t really comment on their architecture. They partner with other transponder companies such as SSN and Aclara to provide backhaul communications.
Once a utility decides on an infrastructure for backhaul, they generally want to stay with it. Consequently, for L+G or other meter manufacturers to sell into existing utility markets, they must try to support the existing backhaul network – thus the reason they work with the external transponder companies. The offering of their own backhaul line is primarily to be able to offer a full solution – but meters are their bread and butter and their backhaul offerings are a pull to sell more meters, particularly in emerging 2nd world country markets.
The purpose of these meters is not to control when you use electricity – – it is to make possible “peak hour” pricing, so you can be charged more per kilowatt if you use your electricity at the same time everyone else wants to. That is, when it is most convenient or desirable to the consumer to be consuming the product.
So obvious as to almost defy mention.
So, will a Faraday cage block the backhaul functions?
A Faraday cage.