XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips   
   From: psperson@old.netcom.invalid   
      
   On Fri, 24 Oct 2025 07:16:04 +1100, sjharker@aussiebroadband.com.au   
   (Stephen Harker) wrote:   
      
   >Cryptoengineer  writes:   
      
      
      
   >My concern is information on usage. We have smart power meters used by   
   >the power companies to get usage information and so bill more   
   >automtically.  There were repors of this being used tofind houses which   
   >were not occupied (on trips away for example) and so target for   
   >burgling.  Like most I have my heat-pump hot water progrmmed to heat in   
   >the period 1000 to 1500 hours where solar should be good and the grid   
   >power is on non-peak.  Some also progarm other devices (heating/cooling   
   >or washing) in similar times.  This is laragely to bank the solar when   
   >at a maximum.   
      
   I am eagerly (OK, that's satire) awaiting my next power bill because   
   it may reflect a new scheme where they charge for electricity   
   depending on the time of day it is used.   
      
   The notice was very interesting: it /talked/ about two periods/rates   
   ("light use" and "heavy use"), but it showed a chart with /three/   
   colors on it: one (11PM--5PM, say -- this is from memory) for low   
   demand, one (5PM -- 8PM, again, from memory) with no explanation and   
   one (8PM-11PM, again, from memory) for high demand.    
      
   But three periods make sense (even if my time frames are off): heavy   
   demand for cooking dinner, less heavy for watching TV, light for   
   everything else.    
      
   What will really happen is unclear at this point. I will have to see   
   it to even have a chance of figuring it out.   
      
   This is similar to my phone/internet bill: I got an email some time   
   back (and a letter yesterday) stating that they will be split so I   
   will get and have to pay two bills a month /starting in October/, and   
   yet my October bill (payment due 10/28/25) had both still combined.   
      
   Maybe the November bill will come in two parts ... maybe they meant   
   October 26 ... who can say until it happens?   
      
   At least I will finally see how the various fees, taxes, and other   
   petty annoyances are divided between the two!    
   --    
   "Here lies the Tuscan poet Aretino,   
   Who evil spoke of everyone but God,   
   Giving as his excuse, 'I never knew him.'"   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)