XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips   
   From: YourName@YourISP.com   
      
   On 2025-10-25 04:05:10 +0000, Titus G said:   
   > On 25/10/25 15:52, Your Name wrote:   
   >> On 2025-10-25 00:47:46 +0000, Lynn McGuire said:   
   >>> On 10/24/2025 5:15 PM, Your Name wrote:   
   >>>> On 2025-10-24 16:53:03 +0000, Paul S Person said:   
   >>>>> 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.   
   >>>>   
   >>>> Our electricity company offers "free days" (I think it is three per   
   >>>> year, plus you can 'buy' more using their loyalty scheme rewards   
   >>>> points). You of course need a smart meter, which they say we do have,   
   >>>> although we've had the house since new and nobody actually installed   
   >>>> one that we know of.   
   >>>   
   >>> Go look at your power meter.  Does it have a digital display which is   
   >>> flashing various things like instantaneous power demand, cumulative   
   >>> power demand, etc.  If so, it is a smart meter.  If it has the five or   
   >>> six analog dials then it is not a smart meter.   
   >>>   
   >>> Lynn   
   >>   
   >> It's not possible to see the meter, unless I open the cabinet (I've   
   >> never bothered to look to see how it opens), because the little plastic   
   >> window has become discoloured and clouded over the years.  :-)   
   >   
   > If it is not possible to see the meter, then your power company will be   
   > getting its information from your smart meter which they think you have.   
      
   Or the meter reader person simply opens the cabinet to read the meter.  :-)   
   As above, I've never bothered or needed to look at how it opens.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
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