Digital Power Meter

I just had a new digital power meter installed by Progress Energy Carolinas, and I am just wondering about the security of these devices. Their brochure says they use unlicensed 900Mhz RF to remotely read these things and they transmit all kinds of info about you unit and usage, not just a simple reading. Not only that, but the guy installing it recorded GPS coordinates for the meter.

On 20 Dec 2005 06:33:20 -0800, "brady4747" wrote:

I just had a new digital power meter installed by Progress Energy Carolinas, and I am just wondering about the security of these devices. Their brochure says they use unlicensed 900Mhz RF to remotely read these things and they transmit all kinds of info about you unit and usage, not just a simple reading. Not only that, but the guy installing it recorded GPS coordinates for the meter.

You should be worried more about the rfid chip in the tires on your car.
The meter reader still has to drive by your house to take a reading. Big government only has to sit there and follow your travels.

"brady4747" wrote in message

I just had a new digital power meter installed by Progress Energy Carolinas, and I am just wondering about the security of these devices. Their brochure says they use unlicensed 900Mhz RF to remotely read these things and they transmit all kinds of info about you unit and usage, not just a simple reading. Not only that, but the guy installing it recorded GPS coordinates for the meter.

If this is your utility, then stop worrying. Unless you stop paying the bill. Some of the remote metering devices have the ability to stop the flow of current. One of our utilities has a pay by kiosk for one of their meters. Then you go and swipe a credit card through a reader and the meter continues to provide power. When the dollars run out the electricity is stopped. http://www.srpnet.com/payment/mpower/default.aspx Personally I think it is a marketing ploy to control problem accounts.
Do you really think anyone gives a hopity what your using?
Ya the GPS location and the meter id tells them if the meter is removed, or moved.
The foreseeable future all residential meters will be that way. There are some cities looking into water meters that work basically the same way. I guess this is progress.

brady4747 a �crit :

I just had a new digital power meter installed by Progress Energy Carolinas, and I am just wondering about the security of these devices. Their brochure says they use unlicensed 900Mhz RF to remotely read these things and they transmit all kinds of info about you unit and usage, not just a simple reading. Not only that, but the guy installing it recorded GPS coordinates for the meter.

Pretty standard for new meters.
The fact that it is a digital meter however, means that it's a good idea to have your monthly bills based on real values instead of estimated values. Digital meters have, IIRC, an estimated time before first failure of 10 years, much much less than the oldy sturdy mechanical meters.

"brady4747" wrote in message

I just had a new digital power meter installed by Progress Energy Carolinas, and I am just wondering about the security of these devices. Their brochure says they use unlicensed 900Mhz RF to remotely read these things and they transmit all kinds of info about you unit and usage, not just a simple reading. Not only that, but the guy installing it recorded GPS coordinates for the meter.

Is it any less secure than the traditional dials that all can see?

Thanks for talking me down :) I guess I just get paranoid with all the spying news lately and having tracking in the cars, the phones, the power meters, and who knows what else. Thanks again

Do you really think anyone gives a hopity what your using?

The DEA does, apparently. There have been a few 'raids' on unsuspecting housewives who were doing a lot of loads of wash, hence using 3-4 times the power of the neighborhood average. DEA gets notified automatically in California when 'unusual' power usage is found. (Presumably, to power pot 'grow' lamps).
-- Best Regards,
Mark A. Weiss, P.E. www.mwcomms.com -

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss wrote:

Do you really think anyone gives a hopity what your using?
The DEA does, apparently. There have been a few 'raids' on unsuspecting housewives who were doing a lot of loads of wash, hence using 3-4 times the power of the neighborhood average. DEA gets notified automatically in California when 'unusual' power usage is found. (Presumably, to power pot 'grow' lamps).
-- Best Regards,
Mark A. Weiss, P.E. www.mwcomms.com -
It's amazing how intrusive the Feds have become of late. It would be

downright silly if it weren't so serious.
I read an article earlier today about the list of people whose names keep them from boarding aircraft that you might find interesting:
http://news.com.com/Theres+no+getting+off+that+no-fly+list/2100-7350_3-5996897.html
I think the pendulum has swung too far. Civil liberties are being trampled. The terrorists must be pretty happy about that.
-- The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.

"CJT" wrote in message

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss wrote:
Do you really think anyone gives a hopity what your using?
The DEA does, apparently. There have been a few 'raids' on unsuspecting housewives who were doing a lot of loads of wash, hence using 3-4 times the power of the neighborhood average. DEA gets notified automatically in California when 'unusual' power usage is found. (Presumably, to power pot 'grow' lamps).
-- Best Regards,
Mark A. Weiss, P.E. www.mwcomms.com -
It's amazing how intrusive the Feds have become of late. It would be downright silly if it weren't so serious.
I read an article earlier today about the list of people whose names keep them from boarding aircraft that you might find interesting:
http://news.com.com/Theres+no+getting+off+that+no-fly+list/2100-7350_3-5996897.html
I think the pendulum has swung too far. Civil liberties are being trampled. The terrorists must be pretty happy about that.

It's often been stated throughout history, how easy it is for despotic leaders to usurp from the public, the hard-won rights and freedoms in times of crisis.

On Wed, 21 Dec 2005 02:55:30 -0500, Mark & Mary Ann Weiss wrote:

Do you really think anyone gives a hopity what your using?
The DEA does, apparently. There have been a few 'raids' on unsuspecting housewives who were doing a lot of loads of wash, hence using 3-4 times the power of the neighborhood average. DEA gets notified automatically in California when 'unusual' power usage is found. (Presumably, to power pot 'grow' lamps).

I would be interested to hear some substantiation of this. It is of interest to me because I am planning to install some metal halide lights in my garage. I also run various weird load like a rotary phase converter
http://igor.chudov.com/projects/17.5-Phase-Converter/
powering my welder
http://igor.chudov.com/projects/Welding/00-Hobart-CyberTig-Welder/
I suspect that what you said may not be quite true, but I am open minded.
i

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss wrote:

Do you really think anyone gives a hopity what your using?
The DEA does, apparently. There have been a few 'raids' on unsuspecting housewives who were doing a lot of loads of wash, hence using 3-4 times the power of the neighborhood average. DEA gets notified automatically in California when 'unusual' power usage is found. (Presumably, to power pot 'grow' lamps).
-- Best Regards,
Mark A. Weiss, P.E. www.mwcomms.com -

Same arrangement exists in Tucson between the power companies and FBI/ DEA.
Cathy

Not in Ontario. Our electric utility told the narcs to go fly a kite. If they steal power then the utility is concerned. If not...we are making big bucks!
Oh yeah, we are the maryjane growing uban farm capital of the world right now too.
"Cathy Strong" wrote in message

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss wrote: Do you really think anyone gives a hopity what your using?
The DEA does, apparently. There have been a few 'raids' on unsuspecting housewives who were doing a lot of loads of wash, hence using 3-4 times the power of the neighborhood average. DEA gets notified automatically in California when 'unusual' power usage is found. (Presumably, to power pot 'grow' lamps).
-- Best Regards,
Mark A. Weiss, P.E. www.mwcomms.com -
Same arrangement exists in Tucson between the power companies and FBI/ DEA.
Cathy

SolarFlare wrote:

Not in Ontario. Our electric utility told the narcs to go fly a kite. If they steal power then the utility is concerned. If not...we are making big bucks!
Oh yeah, we are the maryjane growing uban farm capital of the world right now too.

So that explains the increase in generator sales ......
-- Steve Spence Dir., Green Trust, http://www.green-trust.org Contributing Editor, http://www.off-grid.net http://www.rebelwolf.com/essn.html

LOL. Yeah that and the blackout we had a few years back.
"Steve Spence" wrote in message

SolarFlare wrote: Not in Ontario. Our electric utility told the narcs to go fly a kite. If they steal power then the utility is concerned. If not...we are making big bucks!
Oh yeah, we are the maryjane growing uban farm capital of the world right now too.

So that explains the increase in generator sales .......
-- Steve Spence Dir., Green Trust, http://www.green-trust.org Contributing Editor, http://www.off-grid.net http://www.rebelwolf.com/essn.html