Green Electricity or Green Money?

Posted on November 3, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

Green MoneyIn a new paper, “Green Electricity or Green Money?  Why some environmental groups hamper clean energy,” the National Institute for Science, Law & Public Policy seeks to foster dialogue about possible impediments to courageous leadership by environmental organizations.

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Smart Meter Privacy Invasions Are Not Justified in a Democratic Society

Posted on November 3, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

Privacy Clipart with Circuit Boardby K.T. Weaver, SkyVision Solutions

This article presents a compelling argument on how granular data collection by smart meters invades the privacy of consumers and, furthermore, how such privacy invasions are not justified in a democratic society.

This article is based on information documented as  part of a thorough and methodical review of smart meter privacy and security issues conducted in the timeframe from 2008 to 2011 in the Netherlands.

In 2009, the Dutch government backed off plans for a mandatory smart meter deployment plan after a majority of Parliament members were convinced that the forced installation of smart meters would  violate the consumer’s right to privacy and would be in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights.

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Smart Meter Failures a ‘Catastrophe’ in Saskatchewan

Posted on October 28, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

SaskPower CEO ResignsAs reported at this website in late July, “Fires Prompt Saskatchewan Government in Canada to Order Removal of 105,000 Smart Meters.”

On October 27th,  the Government of Saskatchewan released the results of a scathing review on the smart meter “debacle” which is now commonly being referred to as a “catastrophe.”

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Countering Smart Meter Industry Propaganda

Posted on October 24, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

What is a Smart MeterWith the growing backlash against smart meters, the smart grid industry is stepping up its propaganda campaign with new and recycled YouTube videos, pamphlets, and blog articles favorable to the industry.  For consumers concerned about the risks associated with smart grid technology, it can be hard to get the facts unfiltered by industry biased propaganda.

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Clearing Up ComEd Misinformation on Smart Meter Emissions

Posted on October 22, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

Meter Comparison PhotoAs reported on October 21, 2014 in the Daily Herald, according to ComEd officials on the topic of smart meters:

“Although the meters transmit six times a day, the radio frequency is on for less than 5 minutes a day.”

The above statement is common misinformation disseminated by the smart grid industry.

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Illinois Commerce Commission Mistreats Consumers Refusing Smart Meters

Posted on October 21, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

Introduction

Unfair ICCThe vehement and persistent opposition to utility “smart” meters has given rise to programs across the nation where customers are allowed to refuse installation of those meters and typically keep their traditional analog meters.  In most cases, a fee is required to be paid by the customer for this “service.”  This service is sometimes called an “opt-out” program.

The primary purpose of this article is to highlight how the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has perpetrated unequal, unfair, and unjust treatment of citizens in the state of Illinois who choose to refuse installation of smart meters.

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“Why Privacy Matters” by Glenn Greenwald

Posted on October 17, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

Greenwald PhotoJournalist Glenn Greenwald  has broken many stories on the  global surveillance being conducted by the NSA and GCHQ.  As one of the first reporters to see Edward Snowden’s files, he faced personal repercussions for his professional work — yet continues to speak publicly about mass surveillance.  In this searing talk, viewable below, Greenwald makes the case for why you need to care about privacy, even if you’re “not doing anything you need to hide.”

The presentation by Glenn Greenwald is particularly important to remind us on “why privacy matters” in a world threatened by more and more intrusive monitoring of our activities, whether it be from recording of telephone calls, tracking of Internet activity, surveillance drones, or utility smart meters.

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Analog Meters Withstand “Hot Sockets” Better Than Smart Meters

Posted on October 16, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

Reno Fire InvestigationKey Article Point

Even if  electric utility companies are able to “blame” a hot socket or customer wiring for many smart meter-related fires, the  meters themselves likely contributed to the fires, the severity of the fire damage, or the speed at which the fires spread.

Introduction

Subsequent to a house fire, one of the primary responsibilities for  investigators is to determine the point of origin and cause of the fire.  Determining the cause typically involves establishing whether the fire was accidental or criminal in nature.  It is also possible that the final investigation report will document that the fire’s cause remained “undetermined.”

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Utilities Can Monitor Home Occupancy Using Smart Meters

Posted on October 8, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

The utility companies say it can’t be done, but …

Privacy Invading EyeKey Article Phrase:  “Launching attacks that extract occupancy [patterns] from smart meter data is surprisingly easy.”

Utility Misinformation: “The utility cannot detect the presence of people in their homes.” [1]

Utility Misinformation:  “[Smart meters] are not surveillance devices.” [2]

Fact:  “An important example of the sensitive information smart meters reveal is occupancy — whether or not someone is home and when. … Occupancy is surprisingly easy to detect, since it highly correlates with simple statistical metrics, such as power’s mean, variance, and range.” [3]  Utilities claim smart meters are not surveillance devices, yet the repeated data gathering by smart meters beyond that required for billing purposes can reasonably be considered to represent unwanted surveillance and stalking.

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Smart Meters Can Be Hacked to Order a Power Blackout

Posted on October 4, 2014 by SkyVision Solutions

Cyber HackersAs explained in an October 1st article at DarkReading.com, European researchers will reveal later this month major security weaknesses in smart meters that could allow an attacker to order a power blackout.  A widely deployed smart meter device can be programmed to cause a power blackout or commit power usage fraud.

Researchers Javier Vazquez Vidal and Alberto Garcia Illera will reveal this month at Black Hat Europe in Amsterdam how they reverse engineered smart meters and found blatant security weaknesses that allowed them to commandeer the devices to shut down power or perform electricity usage fraud over the power line communications network.  The researchers aren’t disclosing the specific smart meter manufacturer at this time — they haven’t yet disclosed anything to the vendor in question, either.  They have hinted heavily that it’s a brand installed broadly in Spain.

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