NATIONAL GRID RANDOMLY COMPARING ELECTRIC USAGE

[firsttimegrower]

Utility Customers To Get Home Energy Reports
Reports Will Track Energy Consumption Over 12 Months
POSTED: 5:34 pm EDT October 11, 2009
UPDATED: 5:52 pm EDT October 11, 2009

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/21266585/detail.html
WALTHAM, Mass. -- How green is your home?

About 50,000 randomly-selected National Grid customers will soon be the first in Massachusetts to be able to compare their energy consumption habits to that of their neighbors with similar sized homes and family demographics.

The Home Energy Report will track energy consumption over the last 12 months. National Grid says when consumers see how they stack up against their neighbors, they might be encouraged to take actions that will reduce their energy use and save money.

The utility says the comparisons to neighboring homes will be made anonymously.

National Grid says the program will be evenly divided between its electricity and natural gas customers, with 25,000 of each receiving the reports.

 

[firsttimegrower]

just wanted to post this its in the news. sounds like some bad things could come of this. comparing usage can be a very dangerous idea yeah lets think if this will stay anonymous

 

[rabid]

A little paranoid are we, firstimer? Most likely there is a perfectly benign reason for this study to be conducted...

 

[firsttimegrower]

man a little parnoid on a good day. teetering on insane! thanks 4 noticing. looking 4 opinions here still think there up to no good

 

[cellardweller]

yeah, I don't like the sound of that at all..although I do already have a bar graph plotting usage on my bill. ok. wheeeeeeere's my tinfoil hat??

 

[Dank-j]

I think the best plan of action would be to convince your whole neighborhood to all grow muting their point.

 

[SpasticGramps]

I don't think they can do much with that data. Most of us run >8k. You can disguise that in a big enough home to make it not so suspect. Welcome to the Smart Grid. Hopefully none of this will matter in the long run (where I could see it getting abused) if they legalize.

 

[Lord Doobie]

About 50,000 randomly-selected National Grid customers will soon be the first in Massachusetts to be able to compare their energy consumption habits to that of their neighbors with similar sized homes and family demographics.

That gives them a great baseline...sq footage and number of occupants
All the police would have to do is access the utilities company data and implement a little computer program looking for unusual electrical spikes
A little paranoia can be a healthy thing...

 

[GrassRoots]

I don't know how healthy the paranoia is when there is nothing you can do about it. So they're comparing electricity? What can you do? Shutting down your grow is probably the only way that you'll get rid of those "marijuana growing usage spikes" or whatever we want to be paranoid about.

 

[Marshmello]

Well, being compliant with the Laws of Colorado is a good place to start, for me.

 

[Lord Doobie]

There's lots you can do to cut down on usage all easily available right here at ICMAG.

Off the top of my head:

monitor your own usage, see results from
more efficient lighting
more efficient venting
limiting hot water heater
spare generator
grow less

I only advocate growing for personal usage, myself