http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/11/13/questioning-the-smart-in-smart-meters/?ref=energy-environment
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Questioning the "Smart" in Smart Meters
Smart electric meters — those digital devices favored by utilities and efficiency advocates for their contribution to a more precisely and economically measured, monitored and managed electric grid — got a big boost last year with a $3.4 billion injection of stimulus cash. Over the last year, as utilities around the country have installed an estimated two million of the new digital meters, power companies have received plenty of complaints — and in some states have been hit by class-action lawsuits — most of them from consumers saying the smart meters are overstating their electrical usage.Using digital technology and computer networking, smart meters can transmit real-time data that is supposed to enable utilities to conserve electricity and better allocate power during parts of the day when overall demand is high. Utilities can also then vary the price for power, by time of day or time of year, based on when it is being used; some are already offering this option to customers.But because of faulty technology in some cases, and more often through general shortcomings in consumer education and customer-service support by many utilities, smart meters are leaving many customers dumbfounded. So how "smart" are these smart meters?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Even though there might be some negatives occurring with smart meters and "smart" technology at this time, I think that this is a problem that occurs whenever a new technology is being introduced and implemented. The idea behind the smart grid isn't a minor tweak to the way people like to consume power, it's a huge shift from utilities following demand to the demand following the utility power production. It is consumer regulation, which is necessary as electricity becomes more expensive. I think before people begin to judge smart meter technology, they need to let the complete implementation occur. I think changing people's habits and changing something that is so integral to everyone's everyday life is going to be tough, but it has to start somewhere if the world is going to manage its electricity needs. The idea that shows the most promise needs to be tried out.
ReplyDelete