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Consumers May Find Smart Appliances a Dumb Idea
theodp writes "As GE readies appliances that communicate with smart meters in the hope of taking advantage of cheaper electricity rates, CNet asks a big question: Are consumers ready for the smart grid? Right now, most utilities only offer a flat rate, not time-of-use pricing, so the example of a drier that reacts to a 'price signal' about peak rates by keeping one's clothes wet until a more affordable time is pretty much a fantasy. And longer-term, a big question is whether consumers will want to deal with the hassle of optimizing household appliance energy usage themselves, or be willing to relinquish monitoring and control to utility companies — with a concomitant loss of privacy. After all, losing one's copy of 1984 is one thing — losing one's lights and refrigerator is another thing altogether."
The fridge? Not if you dont want you food to spoil.
The fridge consumes a lot of power in a home, but in a rather "distributed" way, does not really peak too much. Moreover, it would be possible to have the fridge relax a bit the thermostat requirement for a couple of hours if peak conditions are detected. It will not spoil your food to have it frozen at -17C vs. -18C for a few hours!
Stove/Oven. Not if you want to have dinner.
100% in agreement, that cannot be delayed!
Heating/Cooling. Not if you want to be in your house while you are awake.
Again, it could be set that a \pm 1 C extra is allowed during peak demand. In my community they give you 5% discount on electricity if you agree to have your AC controlled by the city (they may delay your ac 20' at peak times). I did not agree to that for such meager savings, I must say...
Dishwasher. Yes. That one.
Can wait. No problem there.
Dryer. Maybe, if you are okay with wet clothes sitting around (mold).
MOLD? For waiting a couple of hours? You've read too many crazy articles out there "MOLD IS COMING TO KILL US ALL!". :-)
Lighting Not if you want to be in your house while you are awake.
Not that much consumption if using CFL's. No need to regulate.
Entertainment system. Not if you want to actually use it.
What is your entertainment system, you know they do not consume THAT much...
Hair dryer? No, that's not how it works.
Who needs that? :-)
Australia has had off-peak rates at night for decades, most people use it for their hot-water service.
And did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? - Pink Floyd.
"Electric-only vehicles will be a huge drain on the power grid. "
This meme always pops up, and is untrue as the existing infrastructure is perfectly capable of handling millions of electric vehicles.
"Since utilities have built enough power plants to provide electricity when people are operating their air conditioners at full blast, they have excess generating capacity during off-peak hours. As a result, according to an upcoming report from the Pacific Northwestern National Laboratory (PNNL), a Department of Energy lab, there is enough excess generating capacity during the night and morning to allow more than 80 percent of today's vehicles to make the average daily commute solely using this electricity. If plug-in-hybrid or all-electric-car owners charge their vehicles at these times, the power needed for about 180 million cars could be provided simply by running these plants at full capacity."
http://www.evpowersystems.com/PHEVs%20Save%20Grid.htm [evpowersystems.com]
Note when you read this that it INCLUDES California.
Any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so.
I live in Central Florida and we had the "great" box in the garage that controlled A/C, Water-heater and Pool. For a ~$8 saving per month, the power company would send a signal over the wire to turn-off these items to save power on grid.
I had small children that were are home and temperature in house soared to 95+ for hours on end. The A/C cycle time was to at most 80 degrees. We were running the system for 4hrs or more at night to bring the temp back to ~75 degrees.
The pool was constantly green, causing more shock treatments and forcing us to run the filtering all night to catch up.
Finally, had to power company "cut" the connection. Lowered my power bill, 20% since the internal systems did not have catch up.
Also around that time, the power company was also cross connecting the meter with cable. The reason was to improve this control and let them read meter from afar. I had that removed when the power company would not warrant any damage that joining these isolated systems could cause since I was running multiple surge protectors. Lighting strikes were common, one hit the tree behind my neighbor's house taking out the power to back of the house (fried wires). Power Company tired to get me to leave installed after they offered upgrade my wiring to "full house" surge protecting - If I paid them $1000 to install it.
The Tesla elctric cars are an awesome vehicle, with the new model S having a range of 300 miles and a top speed of 120mph, 0-60 in under 6 seconds. Not bad for a totally electric car
Good luck with that. In Ontario, they've already mandated smart meters by law. Here come higher hydro rates too, we're about to get screwed and they said that it will net us lower rates. They did the same in Quebec, rates jumped by 15-35%. Big shock, there is such a glut in raw hydro here, that they're actually shutting down one of our nuclear reactors for several weeks because of excess power.
Annoying as all piss. There was no input on this, bloody statists.
Om, nomnomnom...
I wish I had points. I'd give you "+1 Ignorant"
Tankless waters heaters are instant. They heat the cold water as it passes through the pipe and into your shower. Picture in your mind a cold pipe heated with a large flame* - the water gets hot as it passes the flame. There's no waiting time involved.
* They also have electric versions.
"I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." - historian Evelyn Beatrice Hall