Killing In The Name Of Wireless

Rage Against the Smart Meter - Technology Review

Central Maine Power began installing the digital meters last year and has now put them on around 610,000 homes and businesses, including most residences in Maine. Spurred by several billion dollars in smart-grid incentives passed as part of the 2009 economic recovery act, utilities across the United States are quickly moving ahead with similar plans.

But the sudden appearance of the technology has sparked a national opposition movement, and poor communication by the utilities has not helped matters. In 2010, county officials in Marin County, a liberal bastion in California, voted to block the meters over health concerns. In Texas, Tea Party activists and militia members are now opposing smart meters and calling them Big Brother–type spying.

In California, meters now collect 750 to 3,000 data points per month instead of just one monthly reading, according to the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy group. The EFF says it is satisfied with controls put in place by the local utility, PG&E, but spokesperson Rebecca Jeschke says strong privacy controls are needed because so much personal data can be gleaned just from electricity use. "Many third parties will want access to this sensitive information," she says.

Local police forces are likely to be among them. Police in Ohio and other states already regularly subpoena electric bills as a way to pinpoint the location of marijuana-growing operations. Hackers may also be drawn by the devices. The FBI investigated a case in Puerto Rico in which criminals easily manipulated smart meters to avoid $400 million in bills.