Google has decided to get into another business. This new venture will affect you on a personal level. Google would like to connect with utility companies to get them to use their “Smart Metering” device. This device would tell the appliances in your house not to work when you want them to but to work when it would be energy efficient. Why does that sound like someone is spying on me? I agree and am all for energy efficiency but I wonder why a company like Google would enter into such an undertaking.
Smart metering is basically communication. That communication involves talking between your appliances and your utility company, between each transformer on your street, and between the transformers and the utility company.
The Smart Meter will tell you how much energy you will be using at home and what is the best time to use your appliances. They are estimating that they can save homeowners on average 5 to 15% on their electric bill. Is Google interested in saving the planet or telling you how to live? What do you think? If you are given an option of using your dishwasher after lunch in the middle of the day or at night after dark when energy is cheaper, which will you use?
Most people do not cook at 2:00 AM. Most people are not running inside and out the door causing heat loss. At 2:00 AM you are not creating usage of electricity and there is not a big demand. Peak usage hours are between 5:00 and 9:00 PM.when most people come home from work or school.
Posted by: Robert | November 05, 2009 at 07:02 AM
My dishwasher barely works as it is. It gets "stuck" in a few places, so I have to listen for when it gets stuck and help it move on. If I had to run it in the middle of the night, I'd have to get up in the middle of the night. Well, I'm usually up anyway since my husband works second shift, but what if everyone's dishwashers came on at 2 am? Would that make 2 am a peak time? Maybe some could come on at 1 am, some at 2 am, and some at 3 am. But if my machine turned on in the middle of the night, I'd probably have a heart attack and think someone was burglarizing the house! :-)
Posted by: Denise | October 28, 2009 at 01:23 PM
Derick,
I am sorry that you are unaware of what a computer with a Smart chip in it will allow.
Let's say you want a dishwasher to come on at 9:00 AM. The Smart meter will tell the chip in the dishwasher that electricity is high right now: it would be better to wait until 2:00 AM when the cost of electricity is lower. It is telling you to use your appliance during off peak hours.
Of course, it is only a suggestion and you will probably be able to over-ride the switch. This idea of a Smart meter is still in the beginning stages.
Please connect to the New York Times Article which is the second link in my post. It may clarify things for you.
Posted by: Robert Farbe | March 03, 2009 at 02:56 PM
I've read about this, but I have yet to see anything about the smart meter turning off an appliance or preventing it from working. How about if you cite this kind of claim - circulating unsubstantiated rumors like this do us all no good.
Posted by: Derick | March 03, 2009 at 12:33 PM