OG&E is testing a new concept that is said to help consumers reduce their energy usage. The concept consists of electric meters that communicate not only back to the utility company, but to the thermostat inside the house it's metering.
Why?
From the article...
The homeowner can use the equipment to monitor when electricity is used, which could help with decisions about usage to save money through more favorable rates.
My question is this:
just who would be making this decision?
How will a meter which talks to a thermostat help reduce energy usage or provide more favorable rates? Doesn't the monthly bill help a consumer make those decisions already? There's something more to this, and to assume that
decision will be left to the individual homeowner is to be naive. If you don't believe me,
just ask some Californians about it.
“The homeowner can use the equipment to monitor when electricity is used...”
If you can’t tell when electricity is used, you probably shouldn’t own a home.