your electric bill and your power meter

[chad]

i was opening my power bill about half an hour ago.

i noticed (and i have noticed this before but blew it off) that it says "estimated usage." read the verbiage, it says they estimate how much power i am using and bill me accordingly. hmm. what if i am being billed for way more than what i am actually using? it says that if a meter reader can't access my meter, they estimate it.

i found this odd, as my meter is on the outside of my house, easily readable. no scary enzos to scare people away, etc.

so i called them.

they've never read it once in the year i've lived here. every month has been "estimated." i couldn't get an answer on to what they based the estimate on. me at my previous address, the previous owners of this house at this address, etc.

so i asked that from now on they actually send a person out to read it. nope. if i want that, i have to buy and pay them to install a smart reader. $150.

what a scam. make up fake numbers for a bill, then when i call them on it, charge me MORE money.

even the power company is trying to screw me. does your power company run this scam as well? >:(

[iOWNme]

so i asked that from now on they actually send a person out to read it. nope. if i want that, i have to buy and pay them to install a smart reader. $150.


This is a LIE. The entire premise behind the smart meters, is complete and total control WITHOUT having to send a person out. My local company told me all smart meters are read remotely, which saves them money on having people come out.

They said they would install it for free if i wanted.

[chad]

so i asked that from now on they actually send a person out to read it. nope. if i want that, i have to buy and pay them to install a smart reader. $150.


This is a LIE. The entire premise behind the smart meters, is complete and total control WITHOUT having to send a person out. My local company told me all smart meters are read remotely, which saves them money on having people come out.

They said they would install it for free if i wanted.


i'm not lying, they said i have to pay for a smart meter because they don't use meter readers anymore. why would i be lying about my electric meter? >:(

[sirgonzo420]

It's probably all that asshole Ron Paul's fault.

[JJ.G0ldD0t]

so i called them.

they've never read it once in the year i've lived here. every month has been "estimated." i couldn't get an answer on to what they based the estimate on. me at my previous address, the previous owners of this house at this address, etc.

so i asked that from now on they actually send a person out to read it. nope. if i want that, i have to buy and pay them to install a smart reader. $150.



did you check your contract / agreement?

How does it read?

[JJ.G0ldD0t]

so i asked that from now on they actually send a person out to read it. nope. if i want that, i have to buy and pay them to install a smart reader. $150.


This is a LIE. The entire premise behind the smart meters, is complete and total control WITHOUT having to send a person out. My local company told me all smart meters are read remotely, which saves them money on having people come out.

They said they would install it for free if i wanted.


i'm not lying, they said i have to pay for a smart meter because they don't use meter readers anymore. why would i be lying about my electric meter? >:(

I think he was calling the elec. co rep a liar

[joe_momma]

This is about overbilling - just like the government - they'd like to collect a little extra each month then refund it later.

The way this really pays off is that most utility companies have tiered rate structures - they'll "over estimate" during peak demand months to bump you into a higher rate tier, then "refund" the over charge using a lower tier when they "read" the meter - oddly they seem to read the meters only during low demand months.

[chad]

It's probably all that asshole Ron Paul's fault.


truce? i quit bitching about ron paul and you let your bad week go.

[Cobalt]

My water and power comes from the local PUD, I tried years ago to buy my meter because they rent them too you, at the time I installed underground utilities and knew I could have bought a meter for less then $200.

My current water portion of the bill is
Meter surcharge $16.88
Water usage $3.59

They have one hell of a racket going for a so called non profit public utility

[sirgonzo420]

It's probably all that asshole Ron Paul's fault.


truce? i quit bitching about ron paul and you let your bad week go.



lol


fair enough


;D

[chad]

so i asked that from now on they actually send a person out to read it. nope. if i want that, i have to buy and pay them to install a smart reader. $150.


This is a LIE. The entire premise behind the smart meters, is complete and total control WITHOUT having to send a person out. My local company told me all smart meters are read remotely, which saves them money on having people come out.

They said they would install it for free if i wanted.


i'm not lying, they said i have to pay for a smart meter because they don't use meter readers anymore. why would i be lying about my electric meter? >:(

I think he was calling the elec. co rep a liar



complete bullshit. i have to pay for some piece of shit reader in order to be billed correctly? and the whole time they are lying about "how they might not always be able to read it so they have to estimate." how can you read it if you don't even have meter readers anymore? hell.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

The SMART meters are wireless devices which sent data above and beyond power usage to the power company for "analysis". They are in CONSTANT contact with home base.


Because I refused a smart meter, I was able to strike a deal - I can take a monthly picture showing my usage and send it to them.


"They" really are disappointing, aren't they? Even BASIC services are nearly impossible to get if you don't want to get on board with whatever the latest invasive plan is. I just want power - somehow, to get that, I need to consent to having every facet of my power usage analyzed? I think not.

[Mouse]

Write your Public Utilities Commission or Consumer Advocate. Most PUC's have rules in place that limit estimated bills to no more than X many cycles and then a real meter read MUST be taken. I think a google search for your company and PUC will find these reg's pretty easily, then you can just call them and tell them what they are violating and watch how fast a monkey shows up with a handheld.

[mick silver]

read it your self . to see how close they are

[Veni, vidi...evigilavi!]

It's probably all that asshole Ron Paul's fault.
;)

I used to work for an electric co... let's just say they really weren't that "reliant" at times, but I recall we had to explain to customer's their mo. usage had to be estimated when comparing to the previous year usage not that current years usage. It sux ever since everyone now wants their money's worth before you actually use the service ::) damn monopolies!

[Cobalt]

The SMART meters are wireless devices which sent data above and beyond power usage to the power company for "analysis". They are in CONSTANT contact with home base.


Because I refused a smart meter, I was able to strike a deal - I can take a monthly picture showing my usage and send it to them.





Sounds like you need to invest in a photoshop utility bill reduction program :whistle

Hell, the way the tax codes are written, you could probably write it of as "energy credit" because it saved on the usage :D

[gunDriller]

even the power company is trying to screw me. does your power company run this scam as well? >:(


i don't know, but you're sure inspiring me to read my bill more carefully !

[Publico Pro Se]

Place a couple of heavy-duty jumper cables to by-pass the meter. Since they do have to send out a meter reader once a year to verify the estimated readings, a couple of days before the meter reader is due out remove said cables. Then next year's monthly estimated power bills should be a lot lower. Or they'll be sending out a meter reader once a month just as you want.

Commonwealth Edison?

[Ponce]

My electric bill is from $32.00 to $42.00 depending on the month of the year.......one time they try to charge me $87.00 and I raise so much hell about it that a supervisor came over to take a reading...the meter guy had the wrong reading.

[iOWNme]

so i asked that from now on they actually send a person out to read it. nope. if i want that, i have to buy and pay them to install a smart reader. $150.


This is a LIE. The entire premise behind the smart meters, is complete and total control WITHOUT having to send a person out. My local company told me all smart meters are read remotely, which saves them money on having people come out.

They said they would install it for free if i wanted.


i'm not lying, they said i have to pay for a smart meter because they don't use meter readers anymore. why would i be lying about my electric meter? >:(


I most certainly wasnt saying you were lying.

I was saying the Corp is lying. Whether they are lying to you, or they are lying to their own employees. It is a big fat lie. There is no way in hell, their new system would require an actual body to read it. The entire premise of this beast system is to reduce Corporate overhead and thus reduce quality and service. The effect of that is increasing Corporate profits, and an enslaving of the customers through a scientific technological control grid. Run through the Government first of course.

And when all homes have smartmeter technology, It will be that much easier for them to ration your carbon credits to decide if and when you can use a little bit of energy. That you will pay premium price for.

[osoab]

Place a couple of heavy-duty jumper cables to by-pass the meter. Since they do have to send out a meter reader once a year to verify the estimated readings, a couple of days before the meter reader is due out remove said cables. Then next year's monthly estimated power bills should be a lot lower. Or they'll be sending out a meter reader once a month just as you want.

Commonwealth Edison?


Best answer to the thread. I haven't heard of the jumper cables method.
There is a way to stop the little disk thing from moving though. :whistle

See if any readers come by chad. If not, then bypass the sob.

Hell, run a line to your neighbors and get them to pay you. ;D

[midnight rambler]

Gee, do you think the electric company can curtail or cut off your power with a 'smart' meter?

[Sparky]

I have one of those smart readers on my house; they installed for nothing.

But now I'm afraid they can track the location of my house at all times. Bastards.

;D

[willie pete]

I have one of those smart readers on my house; they installed for nothing.

But now I'm afraid they can track the location of my house at all times. Bastards.

;D



No....what it does is turn all the wiring in your house into a gigantic antenna, so they're listening to EVERYTHING that's said... :D

[Buddha]

It's probably all that asshole Matt Paul's fault.


Fixed

[mick silver]

I have one of those smart readers on my house; they installed for nothing.

But now I'm afraid they can track the location of my house at all times. Bastards.

;D



No....what it does is turn all the wiring in your house into a gigantic antenna, so they're listening to EVERYTHING that's said... :D
do you have anything to back this up thanks

[SLV^GLD]

I have one of those smart readers on my house; they installed for nothing.

But now I'm afraid they can track the location of my house at all times. Bastards.

;D



No....what it does is turn all the wiring in your house into a gigantic antenna, so they're listening to EVERYTHING that's said... :D


No, what it does is intelligently log your usage so basically they know when you are and are not at home, what time you get up, when you cook dinner and if it is a microwave dinner or a stovetop dinner. There's quite a bit of information that can be inferred, derived, cataloged and forever recorded with these devices in the chain.

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

SMART" METERS CAN VIOLATE FEDERAL SAFETY LIMITS ACCORDING TO FINDINGS OF INDEPENDENT STUDY
Christiane Tourtet B.A.February 08, 2011
Sage Associates, Environmental Consultants, have written a very important release in regard to "Smart" Meters likely to violate Federal safety limits, and about the adverse health effects due to radiofrequency (RF) radiation levels, emitted by "smart" meters. I am urging everyone to read this information very carefully:

Scientific Analysis of New Wireless Meters May Explain Reported Health Symptoms.

A new study on wireless "smart‟ meters shows they are likely to violate Federal Communications Commission (FCC) safety limits in some instances where they are installed and operated close to where people spend time in their homes and back yards. Further, the study found it typical to have excessively elevated radiofrequency (RF) radiation levels in rooms adjacent to the meter, comparable to living within 200 - 600 feet of cell phone towers. . Scientific studies have reported adverse health effects from chronic exposure to pulsed RF at the same levels and frequencies emitted by smart meters.

Health impacts can include neurological symptoms such as headache, sleep disruption, restlessness, tremors, cognitive impairment, and tinnitus, as well as increased cancer risk and heart problems such as arrythmias, altered heart rhythms, and palpitations.[1]

"From a public health point of view, it is very shortsighted to bring on new sources of human exposure to radiofrequency radiation without any attention to the adverse effects on human health. Smart meters result in a significant increase of exposure to a form of radiation already shown to cause cancer and other diseases." David O. Carpenter, M.D. Director, Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, New York.

1. Khurana VG Hardell L Everaert J Bortkiewicz A Carlberg M Ahonen M, 2010. Epidemiological Evidence for a Health Risk from Mobile Phone Base Stations. Int Journal of Occupational Environmental Health 2010;16:263–267.

It is a must to read the full report "Assessment of Radiofrequency Microwave Radiation emissions from Smart Meters" which can be downloaded at:


http://sagereports.com/smart-meter-rf


Contact: Cindy Sage, Sage Associates, info@sagereports.com

I thank, Sage Associates, for their dedication to the public awareness of the health effects of "Smart" Meters.

© 2011 Christiane Tourtet

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

Across the United States a growing rebellion is starting to gain momentum as reports about SMART METERS have begun to find their way into to local newspapers, radio, and television news. In California, as Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E), began to roll-out their SMART Meter installation program, residents began to learn more about these meters, in many cases learning this lesson the hard way as their bills skyrocketed upward at alarming rates.



Health questions began to increase, not only about the meters themselves, but the cell towers needed for transmission of the SMART Meter signals, and the SMART Meter Relay Antennas that have begun to show up across California. Many are asking their local, city, and state elected representatives to stop this process until all impacts can be evaluated. We know that these types of SMART Meter signals may disrupt pacemakers and other similar medical devices. And it should be clear that hospitals, which ask cell-phone users to turn off their cell phones in hospitals, are protected from these types of signals.



The rebellion, here in California, started in Southern California where local residents began protests that have spread across California. This issue has been gaining momentum in other states as well with the push to put SMART meters on every home, business, school, apartment; every place where electricity is metered. (The change-out has also included the installation of natural gas SMART meters to replace the older existing meters.) It is a topic we all need to know more about as the installation of SMART meters sweeps across California and the United States.



PG&E in California has rolled out the program with $Millions in television, radio, and print media advertising (being paid by ratepayers in California). Their goal is to SMART Meter the entire State of California without residents having the option to permanently “opt-out”. This issue will be decided this September by the California Public Utilities Commission. (In other states different options may be available for residents-for information on how to “opt-out” in California see [7] below or file a complaint with the California PUC [8].)



PG&E in California and Texas [16] have also been having problems with defective Smart Meters [14-15], overbilling problems, questions about privacy, and ease of hackers hacking into the system [17]. The list of Smart Meter problems keeps growing. In California, the latest revelation in the S.F. Chronicle on May 3, 2011, is that PG&E has installed some SMART Meters that overcharged customers when the SMART Meter interior temperature reached 100 degrees [18].



In addition, PG&E is being forced into an “opt-out” position because people are refusing these meters. The California Public Utility Commission will make a ruling for California residents in September 2011, on whether there will be an “opt-out” option for PG&E customers. The problem is that PG&E wants huge amounts of money paid to them for a possible “opt-out” option and also wants to encumber our property in the event we want to sell, in order to collect additional money from ratepayers. California residents are not in favor of these “opt-out” options. Also it means that middle, low, and those on fixed incomes (like seniors), would not be able to afford to “opt-out” of the program.



What is an Analog Meter which most people in the U.S. have at this time? PG&E, on their website, made the following statement about analog meters: “…Gas and electric meters record the total amount of gas or electricity consumed, just as a car's odometer records mileage. Meters are highly accurate instruments. In fact, our accuracy record is measured and found to be correct more than 99 percent of the time…” [2]. With analog meters so accurate why should PG&E have to move to SMART meters?



What is a SMART Meter? PG&E, on their website describes Smart Meters and their operations: “…The SmartMeter™ system uses programmable solid-state meter technology that provides two-way communication between the meter at your home or business and the utility, using secure wireless network technology…” [2]. We question how “secure” this technology is at this time as hackers may be able to easily intercept these signals and charge their own utility bills to your account. And other problems may be generated, like human health problems, from using this type of wireless network technology.



PG&E also states on their website: “…The solid-state digital SmartMeter™ electric meter records hourly meter reads and periodically transmits the reads via a dedicated radio frequency (RF) network back to PG&E. Each SmartMeter™ electric meter is equipped with a network radio, which transmits meter data to an electric network access point (pictured below). The system uses RF mesh technology, which allows meters and other sensing devices to securely route data via nearby meters and relay devices, creating a "mesh" of network coverage. The system supports two-way communication between the meter and PG&E. SmartMeter™ electric meters can be upgraded remotely, providing the ability to implement future innovations easily and securely…” [2].



This technology increases our electromagnetic radiation exposure and could lead to increased health problems from this type of technology. Thus, residents of California and other states are asking for more studies and are using existing studies to obtain this type of information prior to installation of Smart Meters in California.



The SAGE report, released on January 1, 2011, is now online and should be required reading with regard to this subject [4]. Human health issues are one of the main reasons that most people cite as a reason not to deploy these meters without more research.



PG&E also is promoting an Energy Partners Program. Their Energy Partners Program offers free services (allegedly billed to ratepayers), to help reduce energy usage. The PG&E Energy Partners Program offers qualified customers who own or rent a home free energy education and energy-efficient measures which may include: Refrigerator replacement, door replacement and weather-stripping, attic insulation, and compact fluorescent lighting [5-6].



This Energy Partners program was rolled out in Plumas County, California in 2010-2011, with plans for future installations in California. There are several problems with this program:



A. The replacement refrigerators are alleged to have all been made in Mexico, many had reported defects or failed to keep food at proper temperatures, they were all one size and one color fits all, and required the purchase of an expensive warranty.



B. The PG&E Contract for these items, which residents were required to sign, was designed to protect PG&E and not the customer from defective refrigerators [6].



C. The energy efficient light bulbs could turn any residence into a HAZMAT site if broken or when a fire occurs due to Mercury and/or Mercury vapor being released into the room. PG&E failed to notify residents of this HAZMAT problem or the fact that disposal of these bulbs required a HAZMAT site. PG&E did not provide their customers with U.S. or California EPA information regarding these types of energy efficient light bulbs and the hazards associated with their usage and disposal. And they did not inform customers that improper disposal could lead to fines being issued by the EPA or other government agencies.



D. PG&E customers were not warned by PG&E that introducing a HAZMAT item (light bulbs), into their homes might mean that their home and other insurance policies may not cover the homeowner or renter in an broken bulb accident or fire involving these types of light bulbs.



E. PG&E did not provide receptacles for HAZMAT waste disposal, for broken or burned out bulbs and tubes, in the areas near where these light bulbs were installed nor did they warn the local sheriff, hospitals, fire departments, or other emergency workers that they were installing these hazardous light bulbs in Plumas County, California.



It should be noted that the EPA has announced (December 2010), that older fluorescent light bulb ballasts may be leaking PCBs (or oils), in our schools, homes and businesses. The EPA in December 2010, issued new home, school and business clean-up rules for broken bulbs which contain mercury; some types contain arsenic and lead. The range of light bulbs this covers include fluorescent light tubes and bulbs, high intensity discharge (HID), metal halide, sodium and neon bulbs, LEDs, CFL, and other new types of energy efficient light bulbs. We are required to take them to a HAZMAT site for disposal [9-11].



Many counties and cities throughout California are banning Smart Meters and rethinking the use of light bulbs that have expensive HAZMAT requirements attached to them, not only in our homes, but in the our waste stream as a whole. It is time to reconsider the use of incandescent light bulbs until safer light bulbs are designed and tested. And it is also time to reconsider the use of SMART Meters when analog meters work just fine in California and other states. END

1, For more information on these issues visit: http://www.agriculturedefensecoalition.org/ or

http://www.agriculturedefensecoalition.org/?q=pg-and-e-smart-meters



2, PG&E Analog Meter Information on Website May 1, 2011

http://www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/smartmeter/analogmeters/



3, PG&E Smart Meter Information on Website May 1, 2011

http://www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/smartmeter/howitworks/



4, The SAGE Report – Released January 1, 2011

http://sagereports.com/smart-meter-rf/docs/Smart-Meter_Report.B-Tables .pdf



5, PG&E Energy Partners Program Website Information May 1, 2011

http://www.pge.com/myhome/myaccount/explanationofbill/billinserts/prev ious/2009/august.shtml



6, PG&E Plumas County Documents, Contract, Photographs, regarding their Energy Partners Program will be found on this website:

http://www.agriculturedefensecoalition.org/?q=content/plumas-county-ca



7, In California PG&E is allowing temporary “opt-out” action that can be taken by California residents as reported by a San Francisco Chronicle newspaper article:



The California Public Utilities Commission won't vote on PG&E's "OPT-OUT" proposal until mid-September, at the earliest. Until then, customers who have not yet received a SmartMeter can call the company at (877) 743-7378 and ask to "OPT-OUT" until this decision is made. If this number does not allow for the PG&E “OPT-OUT” option either write a letter to the address below or call PG&E Headquarters in San Francisco: (415) 267-7070



Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation – PG&E Corporate Headquarters, President Christopher P. Johns, Members of the PG&E Board of Directors, One Market, Spear Tower, Suite 2400, San Francisco, CA 94105-1126 or residents may call the following PG&E telephone numbers to “opt-out” until the September 2011, ruling by the PUC.



8, California residents may also write to the California Public Utilities Commission in regards to the “opt-out” PG&E plan [12], filing complaints or raising other issues about PG&E Energy Partners Program, hazardous light bulbs or to express their views on PG&E’s SMART Meter Program. PG&E is a public utility company in California and the California PUC has oversight and other authority over PG&E. PUC Address:



The California Public Utilities Commission, Consumer Affairs Branch

505 Van Ness Avenue, Room 2250, San Francisco, CA 94102

[TheNocturnalEgyptian]

How your meter
will be read
with the new
automated system:
Energy (kilowatt-hour) usage information is securely
stored in the meter itself and transmitted
from the meter through existing power lines to
the local substation. From the substation, the data
is transfered back to Blue Ridge Electric’s central
office. Meter data transmission will not interfere
with your television, telephone, computer or other
electronic equipment.
Occasionally, Blue Ridge service technicians will
still need to come to your property to inspect,
monitor and maintain the meter and any of the
cooperative’s equipment.
Although the new meters will be read automatically,
every automated meter will have an electronic
numeric display, similar to a car’s odometer, that
shows the current reading.

How
automated metering
benefits you:
• Reads meters using proven technology
• Improves power outage restoration response times
• Enhances power quality and reliability through
better voltage and system load monitoring
• Makes uniform billing periods possible and
eliminates estimated readings
• Provides information about hourly and daily
electricity usage that can help members
control energy costs and improve efficiency
• Shows irregular patterns of electricity
usage that can help you detect appliance
operation problems
• Allows member service representatives to
confirm power is flowing to the meter
• Will enable the cooperative to offer special
energy-efficiency programs and rates

12, PG&E Press Release April 24, 2011 Regarding their Request to the PUC for an “opt-out” program in California:

http://www.pge.com/about/newsroom/newsreleases/20110324/pgampe_propose s_smartmeter_option.shtml



13, Another side of SMART METERS and how they work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLeCTaSG2-U&feature=player_embedded

November 1, 2010 In this invitational presentation to the San Francisco Tesla Society consulting engineer Rob States explains how PG&E's so-called 'smart' meters work and why they may endanger health and privacy.



14, Reuters News May 2, 2011 PG&E California Replacing Broken Smart Meters that Overcharged Customers Thousands to be Replaced

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/02/idUS406816379420110502



15, PG&E Acknowledges SmartMeter Problems by Michael Finney ABC7 New "On Your Side" Video:

April 26, 2010 - SACRAMENTO, CA (KGO) -- There is a startling admission from PG&E about the controversial SmartMeters. The utility has insisted its new meters are accurate, but on Monday they admitted to some problems at a state Senate committee hearing. PG&E confirmed on Monday that more than 43,000 of its SmartMeters have suffered from various problems. The utility remains insistent however that these problems have had little impact on customers' bills.

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=740665 2



16, http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=738681 7

TEXAS Video - Texas Utilities Admit Billing Errors With Smart Meters - April 14, 2010



17, http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/business&id=7353737 CALIFORNIA

Video - Are Smart Meters Easy Targets for Hackers? ABC7 "On Your Side" March 26, 2010



18, San Francisco Chronicle May 3, 2011 “PG&E finds some SmartMeters Erred when they got too Hot by Running too Fast-Overcharging Customers.”

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/02/BU8J1JATB0 .DTL



19, San Francisco Chronicle April 26, 2011 Where to Call in California to Opt-Out of PG&E

SMART METER program in California Until September 2011 Article by Baker.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/25/MNG21J73UH .DTL

“…SmartMeter opt-out - Under pressure from the California Public Utilities Commission, the company last month proposed an option for such customers. If the commission approves the plan, PG&E would still install SmartMeters at virtually every customer's home, but the homeowner could choose to have the meter's radio transmitter turned off. That choice would cost customers as much as $20 per month, in addition to an up-front fee, because the company would need to a send a meter reader to that particular house.

The utilities commission won't vote on PG&E's opt-out proposal until mid-September, at the earliest. Until then, customers who have not yet received a SmartMeter can call the company at (877) 743-7378 and ask to put off installation…” PG&E no longer is accepting Opt-Out at this telephone number-if PG&E refuses just call this PG&E number or write to:

Pacific Gas & Electric Corporation – PG&E Corporate Headquarters

President Christopher P. Johns & Members of the PG&E Board of Directors

One Market, Spear Tower, Suite 2400, San Francisco, CA 94105-1126

Telephone: (415) 267-7070

[Hatha Sunahara]

We have a society where the rich and powerful are using technology to increase their control over all of us. We have a legal system whose job it is to help them. You see it with everything they do. They send us traffic tickets by mail from 'photo enforced' traffic cameras. They track us wherever we go using the capabilities of our cell phones. They watch us wherever we go with surveillance cameras. They track our purchases with 'incentive cards' from supermarket chains. They gather more information about us through social networking schemes like Facebook. They monitor our energy use with these smart meters. The purpose of the meters is a lot more than reading your electricity usage. There will be laws passed that appliances must have digital shutoff capabilities that these meters can activate. One day we will be micromanaged by TPTB who will be able to turn off our refrigerators or ovens or air conditioners selectively, without due process or notice.

What is sad is that most of us have no concern for our privacy. But some of us do. That minority that cares will face an uphill battle to preserve our privacy. We will get no support from the average person. The privacy issue is like the safety issue. The majority thinks they will be safer if they give up some freedoms. They don't see any threat to their well-being from unwarranted intrusions into their private business. The tradeoff between getting on with your life and giving up your privacy will one day become a titanic battle between the oppressed and their oppressors.


Hatha

[Golden]

"to seize this moment we have to use technology to open up our democracy"

http://www.youtube.com/user/thejuicemedia#p/u/1/NXbCwq4ewBU

[monty]

Patrick Wood, editor of August Review wrote an article about the scenario you just described;

www.augustreview.com/issues/technocracy/smart_grid:_the_implementation_of_technocracy?_201 00222156/




We have a society where the rich and powerful are using technology to increase their control over all of us. We have a legal system whose job it is to help them. You see it with everything they do. They send us traffic tickets by mail from 'photo enforced' traffic cameras. They track us wherever we go using the capabilities of our cell phones. They watch us wherever we go with surveillance cameras. They track our purchases with 'incentive cards' from supermarket chains. They gather more information about us through social networking schemes like Facebook. They monitor our energy use with these smart meters. The purpose of the meters is a lot more than reading your electricity usage. There will be laws passed that appliances must have digital shutoff capabilities that these meters can activate. One day we will be micromanaged by TPTB who will be able to turn off our refrigerators or ovens or air conditioners selectively, without due process or notice.

What is sad is that most of us have no concern for our privacy. But some of us do. That minority that cares will face an uphill battle to preserve our privacy. We will get no support from the average person. The privacy issue is like the safety issue. The majority thinks they will be safer if they give up some freedoms. They don't see any threat to their well-being from unwarranted intrusions into their private business. The tradeoff between getting on with your life and giving up your privacy will one day become a titanic battle between the oppressed and their oppressors.


Hatha