Power line communication sees increasing interest for Smart Grid

Oh yes indeedee. Let''s make even more of the grid hackable and potentially accessible to those who would like to undermine same to the detriment of our nation. How dumb is "Smart" ?

Data over Power Lines will not work especially after the last NE ice storm. It makes more sense to have the user have time of day cost of electricity via the local utility web site and obtain their actual demand useage so the user can plan when to run expensive devices (dryer, heaters, dishwasher, etc). Most utilities have special rates for these devices if they can shut them off during high demands/emergency conditions and make use of radio control. The addition of customer loss of power and demand requested useage should not be a big deal to implement. Let the customer control their useage and keep the criminals out of knowing your at home schedules....... The utility should invest in Distribution Automation, alternate sources (looped circuits) that are self healing with real time data.

Based on my experience, such high speed supervisory control and data acquisition isn't worth a cent for power line. A lot of thing need revise such interconnected all the transformer etc. PLC just suited for simple supervisory control and data acquisition in one's premises.

I'm curious why sattelite communications is not the way to do whatever communications is necessary for balancing distribution. It seems that having meters report usage through a USB port incentivised by a discount would be pretty simple to get people to do. Many of us already use recycle bins just because we think it is good for the environment. I always thought that smart grid meant routing power to minimze losses. Isn't that what we really want to do.

This is a masked prelude to energy usage taxation. Energy usage will be reported and fines levied for busting what some faceless bureaucrat deems excessive "carbon release".

Is SmartGrid now only a code word for revenue enhancements for the power companies? What is described would certainly not be applicable to any actual high level power grid security and reliability improvements. A basic rule for truly secure Control & Communication of any system would be to NEVER have any significant system supervisory traffic rely on the integrity of the controlled system itself. Any real smart and secure distribution grid would have to include separate paths for critical control functions. This story is just about further enabling the lust for revenue at your local utility.

Seems overly complex without any real return. Power company needs to know power consumption, power factor, maybe voltage, verse time of day. Weather information is readily available elsewhere. Cummunication is important, however, if the information is limited to what is useful, not a big deal even with strong security. Use the KISS principle and the system might make sense. Avoid all of the sensors that provide little useful information. It would make much more sense to spend the money to revamp the power grid to improve reliability instead. Smart meter eliminate the cost of a meter reader, they do litte else for the power company and even less for the consumer.