XPost: rec.arts.comics.strips   
   From: morrisj@epsilon3.me   
      
   On 10/25/2025 11:10 AM, Paul S Person wrote:   
   > 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.   
      
   Do they actually say it uses WiFi? According to this   
   https://envocore.com/blog/how-do-smart-meters-communicate/   
      
      
   In-home smart meters do not use your personal Wi-Fi network. Not   
   everyone has a Wi-Fi network, so it would be counterproductive to   
   require this. Additionally, there are potential security risks in both   
   directions. Instead, they typically connect to a Home Area Network (HAN)   
   via a low speed wireless protocol, such as Wireless M-Bus or ZigBee, or   
   they connect to the cellular phone network. The amount of bandwidth   
   needed by each individual meter is low. They then connect to a WAN   
   network, although this often also uses the cellular network because it   
   is already in place.   
      
   Some smart meters use a RF transmitter to connect. The meters connect to   
   something called a data concentrator, which pulls together the data from   
   several smart meters and sends it to the central grid. This is typically   
   mounted on a utility pole.   
      
   Smart meters do not connect directly to the internet. Customers get the   
   data from the central location or from a display in their home. Smart   
   appliances may also talk to the smart meter, which allows customers to   
   track electricity use by appliance. As smart appliances become more   
   common, the HAN will gain more nodes, supporting this and giving an even   
   better idea of consumption. This will help consumers make smart choices   
   to reduce their energy consumption and better time peak consumption.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)