Are You Ready to Pay $50 for a 100-Watt Bulb?

[ClydeCoulter]

Anti Federalist said:

To me, it's no stretch whatsoever to think that information could not be linked in to the smart grid system and thus transmitted to the utility.

Yep, I'm a Software Systems Architect, have worked with hardware (ie, electical) at all levels for most of my adult career (I'm 57), am an inovator in communications and software, and I vouch for this being most likely in the very near future.

Wow, who would of thunk it? Someday they are gonna computerize my car, can even shut it off from the sky!

 

[Anti Federalist]

Anti Federalist said:


Yep, I'm a Software Systems Architect, have worked with hardware (ie, electical) at all levels for most of my adult career (I'm 57), am an inovator in communications and software, and I vouch for this being most likely in the very near future.

Wow, who would of thunk it? Someday they are gonna computerize my car, can even shut it off from the sky!

There you have it.

 

[Zippyjuan]

A utility really doesn't care what your are using your electricity on- they only need to know how much energy you use so they know how much they need to supply and what to charge you for. It does not gain them any useful information to collect data on every lightbult within their system and it would cost them more money to collect such data which would reduce their profits. Theoretically possible but why would they do it? And if they did identify you were using a 100 watt bulb, then what? Cut off electricy to the entire house? The wiring in the house is your responsiblity so you would have to connect all the sensors within your own home to track what each outlet is using.

Any appliance would have to have some sort of chip which relayed back info as to what was plugged into an outlet in order for the system to be able to identify what was actually using the electricity- otherwise it would only be able to say outlet #3 in the living room is using 75 watts (or whatever). Could be a lamp or a radio or a hair drier or laptop or battery charger or whatever.

 

[onlyrp]

Contact Congress! -- Let's Bring Back the Inefficient old light bulb that doesn't contain mercury because I hate new technology and care more about choices and jobs,
http://www.votervoice.net/core.aspx?APP=GAC&AID=972&IssueID=23696&SiteID=-1

If the bulb was cheap, somebody will complain that it's subsidized, if it's expensive, somebody will complain that it's not subsidized.

 

[onlyrp]

A utility really doesn't care what your are using your electricity on- they only need to know how much energy you use so they know how much they need to supply and what to charge you for. It does not gain them any useful information to collect data on every lightbult within their system and it would cost them more money to collect such data which would reduce their profits. Theoretically possible but why would they do it? And if they did identify you were using a 100 watt bulb, then what? Cut off electricy to the entire house? The wiring in the house is your responsiblity so you would have to connect all the sensors within your own home to track what each outlet is using.

Any appliance would have to have some sort of chip which relayed back info as to what was plugged into an outlet in order for the system to be able to identify what was actually using the electricity- otherwise it would only be able to say outlet #3 in the living room is using 75 watts (or whatever). Could be a lamp or a radio or a hair drier or laptop or battery charger or whatever.

you notice how these people aren't pushing to ban flourescent tubes or preserving desktops, typewriters, VHS, CD stores, DVD rentals, bookstores?

 

[TomtheTinker]

Im going to buy a gas generator , hundreds of incandescent light bulbs and roll up a fatty...call me a rebel

 

[onlyrp]

Im going to buy a gas generator , hundreds of incandescent light bulbs and roll up a fatty...call me a rebel

hoarders win!

 

[Sullivan*]

I want an LED bulb. Not because the government says I have to buy it, because I think it's neat and a good idea. Some people actually CAN'T use the new types of bulbs because of vision impairments, and I believe that this is a form of discrimination against those individuals, however indirectly. GOVERNMENT, if you can here me, GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY MARKETPLACE. No one wants you there, even if half the country doesn't realize it yet.

 

[Anti Federalist]

Zippy, love ya brother, but really, you have no imagination at all.

You must be an engineer.

Headline 10 March 2015:

ConEd first Utility in the Nation to take advantage of DHS grants to monitor Household Electric Use by appliance.

A utility really doesn't care what your are using your electricity on- they only need to know how much energy you use so they know how much they need to supply and what to charge you for. It does not gain them any useful information to collect data on every lightbult within their system and it would cost them more money to collect such data which would reduce their profits. Theoretically possible but why would they do it? And if they did identify you were using a 100 watt bulb, then what? Cut off electricy to the entire house? The wiring in the house is your responsiblity so you would have to connect all the sensors within your own home to track what each outlet is using.

Any appliance would have to have some sort of chip which relayed back info as to what was plugged into an outlet in order for the system to be able to identify what was actually using the electricity- otherwise it would only be able to say outlet #3 in the living room is using 75 watts (or whatever). Could be a lamp or a radio or a hair drier or laptop or battery charger or whatever.

 

[donnay]

Smart meters

 

[LibForestPaul]

the part about a smart grid behttp://www.facebook.com/ThomasMassieforCongressing able to tell if you have a incandescent bulb vs another device consuming 100w,
the part about getting a visit because of it.

i agree with what is being said in principle [govt shouldnt be outlawing bulbs], but to say that someone can tell that you are using a specific bulb via your homes [bulk] energy meter, and the subsequent visits from a officer, is imo a huge stretch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NmdUcmLFkw

The BBC has a van the goes around detecting unlicensed viewing of tv (Yes, insane)

The light signature of an LED bulb vs incandescent, w/o investigating, is likely huge, considering how much I see adverts trying to convince consumers that LED light is "soft". So having a government van trolling around town doing analysis of light leakage from your home is not only well within the realm of possibility, but sounds like a wonderful tool for intrusion and revenue enhancement.

 

[onlyrp]

Does the Federal Government have the Constitutional authority to Ban Light Bulbs?

No, only drugs, abortion, piracy, immigration, counterfeiting, gay marriage, ar-15 dias.

 

[ClydeCoulter]

They have no authority other than what the limits of the constitution gives them. And, if they break that contract, then they loose all authority since their authority comes from the constitution in the first place. Any other action is only force without constitutional contractual validity.

 

[The_Ruffneck]

This is obviously a ploy by big poultry producers like Tyson foods to put small time farmers who use incandescant lights for their chick incubators out of business.
*shakes fist*

 

[Carson]

So basically we already had meters. Now they are replacing working meters with Smart Meters. Were they smart enough to manufacture themselves and install themselves without any effort or expense in energy?

Those new bulbs don't look so great either. I'll admit though it is hard to tell in these light conditions.

 

[FindLiberty]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NmdUcmLFkw

....The light signature of an LED bulb vs incandescent, w/o investigating, is likely huge....

Yea, like NIGHT and DAY!

Modify an old unused digital camera by removing the internal IR filter (it's right over the sensor chip). For best results, replace it with a thin clear glass or modify/adjust focus as this will change the distant focus point. Even without correcting this focus problem, blurry pictures will still detect IR if the lens zoom is set at widest angle.
Place a dark IR filter (750nm to 950nm range) over the lens or use an un-exposed developed "35mm slide film" transparency as a visible light blocking / IR light pass filter.

Take a look in various rooms (or at your house through the windows from outside across the street) at night and notice the CFL/LED lighting is "dark" and the old inc lamps are "light" as viewed through the camera's viewfinder. It's 100% obvious - all or nothing!

The few remaining incandescent light bulbs in a whole town will easily stand out! (Oven light, refridgerator light?)
The large military grade high gain IR sensors can see this right through the walls too.

It's a tyrant’s wet dream come true!

Offer a reward for snitching and the unemployment problem is reduced from this new activity. The additional revenue from fines can also go to help the children who get sick from their malfunctioning EZ-Bake ovens!

 

[FindLiberty]

 

[TheNewYorker]

I'm hoarding light bulbs now. My house has about 40 lighting fixtures that are on a dimmer switch (home builder loves his dimmable can-lighting). Dimmable CFL/LEDs cost about $40 per bulb, I'm not paying $1,600 to replace my light bulbs on my home when these incandescents eventually burn out in a few years. Not only the fact that dimmable CFL/LED bulbs suck, they don't really dim at all, they get slightly darker, then just turn off all together. They don't have the full range of power that incandescents can dim too.

This isn't about energy saving. It's about screwing the American consumer out of more money. You know what? When I have all the lights in my house dimmed, they consume less energy than CFLs or LEDs. Granted they aren't bright, but some times mood lighting is nice. CFL/LED = NO MORE MOOD LIGHTING. You have one option: Full bright.

 

[FindLiberty]

eventually burn out in a few years. ...CFL/LED bulbs suck, they don't really dim

...When I have all the lights in my house dimmed, they consume less energy...

I'm 98% with you. Your dimmed incandescent lamps will last MUCH longer than undimmed lamps, and longer than new CFLs too. However, your dimmed equiv of 7 watts light is very dim indeed as compared to a 7W CFL draw, so your energy consumption is probably going to be more if you're running 'em above 7W level.

I gave in years ago and pulled out all my X-10 and dimmer wall switches. :-(
It's all or nuthin' now with the on'off switches.

Yea, those dimmable CFLs are an expensive joke - they don't last long or work out too well. The color of newest CFLs is better, but even now they still don't look quite as nice. miss my nice dimmers and look of that old lighting - I hope you can hang on to your old lighting!

IT SHOULD BE OUR CHOICE and it should not be forced. Why would ANYTHING have to be forced by gubermint if it's such a "good" idea in the first place? (HDTV also comes to mind.)

I also feel safer with the old 60W or 75W bulb in the garage, closet or attic ceiling. I've seen CFLs (and crap-o-quality 4' shop lights) die with a shower of sparks spitting out of the electronic ballast base (or open frame econo-ballast) - not a good thing over paper or flammable clothing IMO.

 

[onlyrp]

how about using less bulbs?

I'm hoarding light bulbs now. My house has about 40 lighting fixtures that are on a dimmer switch (home builder loves his dimmable can-lighting). Dimmable CFL/LEDs cost about $40 per bulb, I'm not paying $1,600 to replace my light bulbs on my home when these incandescents eventually burn out in a few years. Not only the fact that dimmable CFL/LED bulbs suck, they don't really dim at all, they get slightly darker, then just turn off all together. They don't have the full range of power that incandescents can dim too.

This isn't about energy saving. It's about screwing the American consumer out of more money. You know what? When I have all the lights in my house dimmed, they consume less energy than CFLs or LEDs. Granted they aren't bright, but some times mood lighting is nice. CFL/LED = NO MORE MOOD LIGHTING. You have one option: Full bright.