Re: [smartpower-interest] [smartpowerdir] FYI OSTP requests input on SmartGrid

[Michael Richardson <[e-mail]>]

>>>>> "Fred" == Fred Baker <[e-mail]> writes:
    >> Are there papers which explain why residential SmartGrid service
    >> is worthwhile?


    Fred> I think it's fair to say that the Smart grid needs some
    Fred> consumer input (understatement).

    Fred> Where I have a problem, like you, is the idea that I'm going
    Fred> to spend my day staring at the electric meter and make random
    Fred> changes at random times at the whim of the utility. What makes
    Fred> a lot more sense to me is the idea that the electric utility
    Fred> will give me (or my electronic proxy) an idea today about
    Fred> pricing issues tomorrow, and I can set up policies in
    Fred> accordance that intelligent devices in my home will implement.

Yes.... your electronic proxy.  i.e. my home automation system.
Specifically, *MY* home automation system, not the power companies' system.

>From what I've heard so far from the grid people, a lot of them have not
quite thought this through --- they think they will controlling my
appliances, rather than me...

    Fred> But imagine that I was told yesterday (or even an hour in
    Fred> advance today) that the price would be "low" most of today but
    Fred> between the hours of <this> and <that> the price would be
    Fred> "high". With 24 hours notice, I could decide to do my laundry
    Fred> in the morning, for example, if that was a real issue. With

Your laundry can be sitting *in* the machine waiting to be done.
Lord knows my laundry spends half it's life in the machine after it's
done :-)

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