[citation][nom]jgutz2006[/nom]I would assume as smart as this is, there would be programmable thresholds and not just a standard that is enforced by the power companies. That being said, maybe on top of the total power used, they will cap your maximums like a DSL connection so you are allowed a total of X watt hours per month but no more than Y watts at any given time. That or maybe things like your DVR or anything other than your AC/freezer/refridgerators would be able to shut down automatically during peak summer hours. Ultimately i dont like the idea of having to limit my power consumption but it could make people smarter and choose to turn off anything that they dont absolutely need to have running 24/7 which could ultimately lower the demand on the grid and maybe consumer prices (haha yea right, lower prices)[/citation]
Correct.. there will be no lower prices. There will instead be a 'monitoring fee'. So not only will they limit your power consumption during low-cost times, and potentially shut off your AC during high-consumption times, but they will also tell you it costs more to manage your consumption for you. It is already happening with smart-meters. Utility companies are metering off-peak consumption forcing you to use it when they can charge more. So if you want to charge up your car at midnight, they meter it, so that when you wake up in the morning you don't have a full charge, thus forcing you to charge up your car when they make more money,..i.e immediately after work. It is already happening. Don't be fooled, anytime someone tells you it is 'for your own good' it isn't.