XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips
From: psperson@old.netcom.invalid
On Sat, 25 Oct 2025 18:25:39 +1300, Your Name
wrote:
>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.
Locally, Seattle City Power converted us some years back. Ours are not
only smart, they are /connected/. Using WiFi, of course. That is how
they plan to tell how much power we are using during each part of the
day, after all.
But those who opted out do still have their meters read manually --
for an extra fee. Well, /somebody/ has to pay the meter-readers'
salaries.
But that doesn't mean yours, even if smart, is connected via WiFi.
Although that would solve the "can't read the thing through the
window" problem.
--
"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)
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