EPA Encourages Utility Controlled Refrigerators

[thundley4]

At times of peak demand for electricity, do you want your refrigerator to run at the discretion of the power company?

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has revised its Energy Star energy-efficiency requirements for residential refrigerators, and it is encouraging the inclusion of “connected” features that respond to utility signals to curb their energy consumption.
The EPA announced the new requirements on June 27. Included is the optional “smart-grid” connection for customers to electronically connect their refrigerator or freezer with a utility provider.

"The updated requirements raise the bar for energy efficiency in these products and, for the first time, encourage manufacturers of Energy Star appliances to include optional 'connected' features," according to the EPA release.

The connection feature allows the utility provider to regulate the appliances' power consumption, “including curtailing operations during more expensive peak demand times.”

http://cnsnews.com/news/article/epa-encourages-utility-controlled-refrigerators

Hell no!! 

[J P Sousa]

While doing some research on electric companies I found this "greenie" blog. 

  Today’s bills are generated off that single monthly meter read, however bills generated from 2,880 meters reads a month (or even 720 – one meter read per hour) will be very different. They should be easy to understand, reflect the intelligence gained from the extra information and offer customers ways to reduce their next bill based on this.

Crucially too, utility companies will need to be pro-active in contacting people who go out of their normal pattern of usage/billing, otherwise we’ll see even more consumer backlash against smart grid roll-outs.

Obviously, transitioning away from paper bills to electronic ones will vastly enrich the possibilities utilities have with data presentation for customers as well as offering utilities ways to monetise their billing delivery (Google Adwords for bills anyone?).

On the consumer side, consumers will need to be able to see their energy consumption in real-time. Not only that, but to ensure that they act appropriately on the information, the user interface will be critical. A poor user experience will see a deluge of calls swamping customer care as people struggle to understand their consumption patterns. Or worse, mis-understand and send their bills soaring!

http://greenmonk.net/2010/04/16/utilities-ready-for-full-smart-grids/
 

Sounds to me like the utility companies will be charging based on what time we use electricity.

Communism is here.
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[Chris_]

Sounds to me like the utility companies will be charging based on what time we use electricity.

The TVA already does that.  We have peak and off-peak rates.

[J P Sousa]

The TVA already does that.  We have peak and off-peak rates.

Did they give you a "smart meter" to tell WHEN you are using electricity ?
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[Chris_]

Did they give you a "smart meter" to tell WHEN you are using electricity ?
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I've heard about them... I don't know if they're required on older homes.  I know they're going into new ones.

[obumazombie]

Did they give you a "smart meter" to tell WHEN you are using electricity ?
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With a "Made in the NSA" label ?