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On 4/13/2011 9:09 PM, Mike Harrison wrote:
<blockquote
cite="mid:Pine.LNX.4.64.1104132058590.24484@w0707.geeklabs.net"
type="cite">
<pre wrap="">Disclaimer: I am in the "smart meter business" and I am currently in S.
America on limited bandwidth (installing "smart" meter systems),
so I can't watch the youtube video, etc..
PLEASE STOP SPREADING THE FUD.
Smart meters are about (in my perceived order):
Theft/tamper detection
Quality/load detection
Time of use billing (it is coming, sooner in the TVA area)
Prepaid electricity (meter turns off automatically. reconnects automatically)
"Credit Control" same as prepaid for arrears billing customers, power
turns off at bill due date + 3 days typically, or limits to your deposit amount of usage.
Most of them 'chatter" RF at 900mhz or 2.4ghz (or licensed freqs) at very
low power at very low bandwidth at occaisional times. ie: 1 to 4 times a
day to some "constant" systems.
On topic: Our servers are Linux based.. Ubuntu 10.04 currently. Some of
the newer meters have Linux or Linux derived internals. A lot of the
"smart grid" com gear is Linux based. Great stuff.
</pre>
</blockquote>
<br>
Interesting, since you're in the business, I'd like to get your take on<br>
the 'Big Brother' and data mining capabilities of smart meters.<br>
<br>
Lee Tien, Senior Staff Attorney for EFF, <i>appears</i> to have some
valid<br>
concerns involving privacy issues:<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://stopsmartmeters.org/2010/09/22/interview-with-eff-how-smart-meters-violate-our-right-to-privacy/">http://stopsmartmeters.org/2010/09/22/interview-with-eff-how-smart-meters-violate-our-right-to-privacy/</a><br>
<br>
-or- <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="http://bit.ly/dTdFto">http://bit.ly/dTdFto</a><br>
<br>
<br>
Lastly, how vulnerable are 'smart meters' to malicious hacking and/or
packet<br>
sniffing? Have there been any reported instances of teens driving<br>
through subdivisions shutting off power,,,, yet?<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
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