Will PG&E's SmartMeters smoke out pot growers?

[Payaso]

Is Big Brother really watching you through your electric meter?

Why not, he's looking through your trash, over your shoulder, and into your private files and bank accounts already!

Here in California one can expect anything BUT privacy.

The Pacific Gas and Electric Company is many things to many people. It is the Bay Area's electricity provider; it is bogeyman, bane, and raison d'être for some in the local press; and it is an active player in the political process. But lately, some marijuana advocates are adding "Big Brother" to that list. They fear that the utility giant's new high-tech usage meters will tip off police to the existence of marijuana growhouses.

The SmartMeters feature digital displays, rather than the spinning-usage wheels seen on older electromagnetic models. They track how much energy is used and when, and transmit that data directly to PG&E. This eliminates the need for paid meter readers, since the utility can immediately access customers' usage records remotely and, theoretically, find out whether they are consuming, say, exactly 2,000 watts for exactly 12 hours a day.

That's a problem, because usage patterns like that are telltale signs of indoor marijuana grow operations, which will often run air or water filtration systems round the clock, but leave grow lights turned on for half the day to simulate the sun, according to the Silicon Valley Americans for Safe Access, a cannabis users' advocacy group.


What's to stop PG&E from sharing this sensitive information with law enforcement? SmartMeters "pose a direct privacy threat to patients who ... grow their own medicine," says Lauren Vasquez, Silicon Valley ASA's interim director. "The power company may report suspected pot growers to police, or the police may demand that PG&E turn over customer records."

For more on this topic read here.

Perhaps it is time to get those solar panels installed, the propane generator humming and the wind vane spinning.

 

[igrowone]

for every technical advance, there is usually a 'counter advance'
you'd think a back up type power system could disrupt this monitoring
batteries are charged in some other time cycle, possibly semi-random
they would be an extra cost, but not too much for small grows

 

[2Lazy]

I don't buy it. It might be a warning to police, but it really proves nothing. It could be an air conditioner set on a timer, or a number of other things.

I think what they are looking for are 10K grow operations, entire houses that are one giant grow room, that kind of thing. Places that have maybe a high traffic of people who only stay around for 5 to 15 minutes. Or maybe of someone who makes several short trips in their car daily.

I think that the energy evidence has always been available, this will aid in the pursuit of criminals, but for the average joe just growing his own I don't see this being an issue. Especially for medical patients. Just follow the damn law... Is it really that hard.

Anyway, with the cost of energy here in the bay, solar panels on a home that you own is a 100% smart investment. They utilize a battery system that will totally distort the true energy usage.

 

[msd828]

That's some bs. Pg&e should be stoked on calis high electric usage. Ill bet they've doubled there money since prop 215 started.

 

[CANNATOPIA]

lol yeah but I know a lot of Farmers that grow Indoors too with Big Green Houses out side as well that are totally legit. So I figure for the most part if not a HUGE set up would be a huge wast of time & money for them... another question is using power in a legal manner enough to get them a warrant or just ta snoop arround? Just a question I have no Idea.

 

[CANNATOPIA]

Nice post Payaso!

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

Is Big Brother really watching you through your electric meter?

Why not, he's looking through your trash, over your shoulder, and into your private files and bank accounts already!

Since when is the government poking into citizen's bank accounts without a warrant? Or private files?

Not saying some bad apples haven't done it illegally, but to act like that is the government's "standard operating procedure" strikes me as a bit disingenuous.

 

[Lazyman]

Some power companies (like in Florida, or the poor bastards on BC Hydro) DO report high usage to the cops. I've called PGE a couple times and have been told , "we don't care what your usage is, not one bit. In fact, the more the better, it's how we make money!"

I've talked to a PGE meter reader who said he has a 5-light grow, he talked about it openly. PGE also says they don't "furnish" data to cops unless they get a warrant for your records.

 

[Rysam]

S I've called PGE a couple times and have been told , "we don't care what your usage is, not one bit. In fact, the more the better, it's how we make money!"

I've talked to a PGE meter reader who said he has a 5-light grow, he talked about it openly. PGE also says they don't "furnish" data to cops unless they get a warrant for your records.

EXACTLY. A good buddy of mine who also happens to be one of the way upper level PG&E guys simply asked me a question in return. "Why would we want to shoot ourselves in the foot? You use power, we make money. period"

Makes sense to me.

 

[stink.whistler]

These smart meters are going in everywhere - it might not be a big deal in California, but it is definitely bad news for much of the country.

They don't need a warrant to look at your electric records, as far as I know. If anyone knows for certain one way or the other, I'd be curious.

I could easily envision an automatic monthly screen against an electric company's database to spit out the names and addresses of everyone running 12 hour light cycles. Maybe in big cities only the 3K and up would be looked into, but in Mayberry they might be curious about why Goober turns on a 250W lamp exactly 12 hours every day.

 

[Lifebreather]

The smart meter we got at my apartment went crazy for the first month. We were charged $370 while we only ran 1kw flower and 200w of cfl in veg. We'd shut everything off in the apartment and come back from a day at the coast to find the meter had registered 2kw per hour while we were gone. With everything off.

 

[Haps]

I never run 12's, 11.5, staggered will not show up on that pattern search.

 

[msd828]

Mr bongjangles -

Read up on the patriot act. Anything over 3500 now is being sent to nsa and irs. That's any transaction. Bank transer, deposit, new car, new tv, etc. U know what I'm sayin.

 

[stink.whistler]

I never run 12's, 11.5, staggered will not show up on that pattern search.

It would show up on an 11-13 hour pattern search, or the search could be far more complicated/advanced than the simple examples I am giving.

There are ridiculously advanced data mining techniques that would find people, send the list to local law enforcement (or DEA for the big ones) and they can easily make their arrest and confiscation quotas against mild mannered homeowners, instead of dangerous armed gangsters with no assets. Could probably afford to kick back some finders fees to the electric company for been such good citizens.

 

[Lazyman]

Mr bongjangles -

Read up on the patriot act. Anything over 3500 now is being sent to nsa and irs. That's any transaction. Bank transer, deposit, new car, new tv, etc. U know what I'm sayin.

Not entirely accurate, that. A CTA CAN be filed by the clerk on any amount exceeding $3500 per day IF they think the transaction is suspicious. a CTA is REQUIRED on all cash transactions in excess of $9999 per day.

Me, I buy and sell very high-end amplifiers off Craigslist all day.

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

Mr bongjangles -

Read up on the patriot act. Anything over 3500 now is being sent to nsa and irs. That's any transaction. Bank transer, deposit, new car, new tv, etc. U know what I'm sayin.

Nope, couldn't find that in the patriot act.

Same ol 10k limit its always been for triggering "suspicious activity" reporting so far as I can tell, with a few amendments.

Care to point out where in the patriot act this 3500 transaction thing is? And where it indicates it is sent to the NSA?

 

[Crispywaffle]

My solution if you are worried is have 2 seperate bloom rooms running at different times...1 goes on 1 goes off..peace

 

[zeppelindood]

lol yeah but I know a lot of Farmers that grow Indoors too with Big Green Houses out side as well that are totally legit.

I'm thinking the same... and legal med grows are legitimate as well, no?

My solution if you are worried is have 2 seperate bloom rooms running at different times...1 goes on 1 goes off..peace

haha... nice

 

[stink.whistler]

My solution if you are worried is have 2 seperate bloom rooms running at different times...1 goes on 1 goes off..peace

There is a readable spike when the ballast fires up, flip flops don't help either, the new bulb firing has a fingerprint as well. All of which could be found when automatically sifting through the data.

 

[]A[Boss]

why are people in cali worried about smart meters when it's basically legal to grow..

you guys are living the life.. relax and enjoy it.