As if the imminent threat of World War III kicking off in Ukraine wasn’t worrying enough, Britain’s national security now faces a far more serious danger closer to home…
Smart meters.
It turns out that these fancy gizmos allegedly designed to save electricity could also make us vulnerable to nuclear attack. Radio frequencies used by the meters have been discovered to interfere with early warning systems.
People living near RAF Fylingdales in Yorkshire have been refused permission to install them in case they prevent radar equipment detecting incoming Russian ballistic missiles.
Some householders are upset at the delay in getting their meters, which are supposed to help manage electricity consumption at a time when bills are going through the roof.
Imagine a carbon neutral world, little to no emissions. A world where you must use public transport to get anywhere, a world where you can have your appliances remotely turned off to level the load on our renewable power sources. A world where people must live in ever smaller dwellings and even co-live…because the architects of this world want ever increasing populations
Just wait until you discover the fact that power factor correction can be switched off and the bill inflated by the extra apparent power consumed by devices that use switched mode power supplies, LED lights and all wall chargers for example.
Power companies would remotely turn down home airconditioners and swimming pool pumps to cut power use on hot summer days in exchange for cash rewards for consumers, under a plan by Australia’s energy watchdog.
The Australian Energy Regulator wants power utilities to increase electricity supply by helping consumers use less, rather than building expensive new poles, wires and other infrastructure and passing the cost on to customers.
Chief Scientist Alan Finkel’s review of the national electricity market said “more attention should be paid” to how consumers were rewarded for managing their power demand.
Regulator board member Jim Cox said the plan encouraged power utilities and consumers to “try new and different things”.
“One of the purposes of the scheme is to get some ideas happening, because in the past the networks have simply wanted to build lines rather than manage demand,” he said.
One such idea is “direct load control”, in which consumers give their power utility permission to control their airconditioner at times of peak demand, in exchange for payment.
“[Power companies] may turn down your airconditioner just a little bit, but that does help to reduce the load across the network or in a particular part of the network,” Mr Cox said.
“People might feel that a small change in temperature at peak times is not something that they’d particularly notice, but if done on a large scale would help control demand and might lead to less investment and lower bills.”
Mr Cox said power-hungry swimming pool pumps could also be turned down remotely. Specially enabled appliances that communicate with power companies would be required.
Power companies already exploring such interventions include Queensland’s Energex, which offers cash rewards of up to $400 to homes and businesses that allow remote control of their airconditioners. When the network is under pressure, the appliance drops to a lower performance mode.
Research commissioned by the Australian Energy Market Commission in 2012 found peak demand reduction could save up to $11.8 billion in national electricity market costs over a decade, potentially cutting up to $500 off an annual household power bill.
UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures research director Chris Dunstan said while off-peak hot water tariffs had long been offered in Australia, nations such as the US had been quicker in adopting other demand-management tools.
He said if Australia matched the US average for managing peak electricity demand, it would deliver about 3000 megawatts of power into the national grid.
Mr Dunstan said demand management could also involve calling on consumers to run dishwashers and other appliances later at night, when power demand was lower, and encouraging the use of energy efficient devices.
Energy Consumers Australia chief executive Rosemary Sinclair said in the long term, effective demand management could reduce energy system costs, lower prices and “allow consumers to be equal participants in a much more dynamic and responsive market”.
A spokeswoman for Energy Networks Australia, the electricity and gas transmission peak body, said demand management was already in use, and the regulator’s draft scheme would help “promote innovation to benefit customers”.
Sources: Australian Energy Regulator, Australian Energy Market Commission, UTS Institute for Sustainable Futures, federal government
All they have to do is put people in a corner with high electricity bills and they will take complete control. They are well on their way. They will make themselves look like they will be saving you money.
once it happens somewhere itll spread, itll start non essential power hungry things like pool pumps. Watch it spread as more people are dumped into the west to keep down wage costs. The extra people/demand nobody seems to want to build infrastructure for. They explicitly say they dont want to build new power lines.
Sounds like tin foil hat stuff but it is the track we are all on. Its just a fair bit further down the line. Its just being signalled at this point.
Anyone who lives in Australia and has a pool always has the option of solar PV, the falling price of PV and batteries may keep the grid operators honest
He might be a little optimistic with his numbers, but as battery prices fall home batteries will be a good idea
