GE to Offer WiMax Smart Meter Solution Through CenterPoint Energy

seekingalpha ^ | 3/30/2009 | Jeff St. John

[shove_it]

General Electric (GE) thinks 100 kilobits per second might be fine for reading electric meters. But 1 to 2 megabits per second is what's needed to make the split-second automation of the electricity distribution grid a reality.

That's what GE expects its new WiMax-based wireless communication system will be able to achieve for utility CenterPoint Energy (CNP)

In a contract announced Monday, GE will install a network of its WiMax-based MDS Mercury 3650 radios to link the utility's "backhaul" communications systems to collection points. Those collection points will aggregate data from millions of so-called "smart meters" that CenterPoint is installing for its 2.4 million customers in the Houston area.

Whether or not this marks a new trend in using WiMax for smart meter deployments – something that Intel (INTC) and GE-backed startup Grid Net wants to see happen – remains to be seen (see this Green Light post).

Like almost all the other "smart meter" deployments in the country so far, CenterPoint's smart meters themselves – built by meter manufacturer Itron – have radios with lower bandwidth to connect with each other in a mesh and transmit data to and from collection points.

In general, utilities have opted for lower-bandwidth, lower-cost wireless technologies for this "neighborhood area network" communications, since sending energy usage information and simple instructions to and from meters don't require high-bandwidth systems (see Smart Grid: A Matter of Standards).

But when it comes to distribution automation – using high-speed digital communications to control equipment that keeps the grid from breaking down – it's likely that utilities will need a lot more bandwidth, said Larry Sollecito, president and CEO of GE Digital Energy.

[...]

[henkster]

A step toward rationing electricity. The “meter” will tell you how much you need....

Socialism is all about rationing. We are seeing rationing implemented in the following ways:

1. Electricity: these spy meters, and as part of cap & trade
2. Gasoline: through restricted domestic production, more cap & trade;
3. Income: through the model of the TARP bailout. It will spread
4. Credit: Same as 3.
5. Health Care: “Universal” insurance = universal suffering
6. Education: limitation of deductions for producers, “free” education for the dependent class. Course material dictated by US Dept. of Education
7. Housing: Again, limitations on deductions, energy policy will drive home size.

I still haven’t figured out how they intend to ration food, I’m sure they are working on it. The excessive regulation of small farms and private gardens seems a good start.

[Tarpon]

SMART GRID == ELECTRICITY RATIONING.

Not hard, say it often.

[Hegemony Cricket]

And how far can it possibly be from CenterPoint Energy to ZeroPoint Energy? (OK, OK, wishful thinking, I know)

[Zeppelin]

I still haven’t figured out how they intend to ration food, I’m sure they are working on it. The excessive regulation of small farms and private gardens seems a good start.

Same as they did with banking.

Regulate the heck out of the industry so that only the big can survive. Then the family farms get bought out by the corporations. Next is a federally-subsidized boom period for the few big farming corporations, and when that bubble pops, the government "bails them out" by injecting capital into Big Food since they are, after all, "too big to fail."

Then the government continues to inject capital until they own Big Food just like they do (80% of) AIG.

It might be 10-20 years out, but if we continue down this path, it WILL happen.

[wolfpat]

I have no doubt you are correct in how this system will eventually be abused by the Obamanoids.

But the electric utility’s motives are more pure: Profit.

Each of the electric companies has a central control station where all the power plants and major distribution lines are constantly monitored. Some of the power plants even have ways of relinquishing load control to this station (None of the nukes because the station operators don’t have a license from the NRC)

The operators have to make both long term, as well as split second decisions to make sure the system has the right amount of electricity available. To watch these guys in action, you’d be convinced this is an art form.

If they’re wrong in their guesses, it will cost the utility millions of dollars. The more information they have, the more right guesses they can make.

[bossmechanic]

All credit to the power company individuals trying to optimize their distribution.....
However,
Introduction of smart systems allows remote control of utilities required by us little humans in houses.
If your water or gas is shut off, a physical act had to take place i.e. a neighborhood is shut down. People ask questions, calls are made, and voila the problem is fixed and the neighborhood goes on.
If the electric company is told to cut power to just one house on the block, that homeowner is on their own. Figure the legal bills that poor schlub will incurr trying to get his lights back on.
When you give the government the power to cut yours, don’t be surprised if they actually use it.

[wolfpat]

I hate to rain on your conspiracy, but they can cut your power now. You don’t own it or the meter you currently have. (You can do it yourself. Just clip that little tag on the ring around the meter, and pull the meter off. DO NOT touch the stabs inside the base.)

Now I have to go to work, so I’ll have to answer any replies in the morning.

[BenLurkin]

Bump!

[justlurking]

No, this won't be rationing in the traditional sense. But, unless you agree to the terms that they will offer, your rate will go up.

The purpose of the communication with the subscriber premises is peak load shedding. If you agree to it, the utility can make real-time adjustments to power-hungry devices like hot-water heaters and air conditioners, cycling them in a controlled fashion so that the peak power usage is lower across the entire grid.

If it is implemented right, average power usage remains the same. But, it reduces the need to build additional reserve capacity or buy expensive electricity from elsewhere. And if they can avoid using existing reserve capacity (which typically uses expensive natural gas, at least in Texas), the average cost is lower.

There are other things they might choose to implement, such as a pay-as-you-go plan (you "reload" your meter via the web, buying electricity in advance) or variable electricity rates that change according to time of day or even according to peak load. Perhaps the best feature would be the ability to view your electricity usage (instant and cumulative) in real-time.

[TNoldman]

A step toward rationing electricity. The “meter” will tell you how much you need....

Socialism is all about rationing. We are seeing rationing implemented in the following ways:

1. Electricity: these spy meters, and as part of cap & trade
2. Gasoline: through restricted domestic production, more cap & trade;
3. Income: through the model of the TARP bailout. It will spread
4. Credit: Same as 3.
5. Health Care: “Universal” insurance = universal suffering
6. Education: limitation of deductions for producers, “free” education for the dependent class. Course material dictated by US Dept. of Education
7. Housing: Again, limitations on deductions, energy policy will drive home size.

I still haven’t figured out how they intend to ration food, I’m sure they are working on it. The excessive regulation of small farms and private gardens seems a good start.

How can we stop this runaway destruction of America?

[Nailbiter]

They will ration food using 2 thru 7.
Petrol will severely limit what can be transported where.Artificial shortages, price restrictions rationing
Income, severely impacted by petrol shortages, will force people onto govt run transportation. Which will limit number of self producers being able to sell there surplus
Health care, Darwin the strong will survive the weak,sickly or injured will be allowed to die.
Education, govt run will kill the will to be other than part of the whole. Anyone exhibiting individualistic traits will be set to re-programming school
Housing , back to petrol,income, food.
Will be forced to live near city hubs to get what is rationed.