This is the logical extension of “smart grid” policies
(UK Daily Mail) Fridges and freezers in millions of British homes will automatically be switched off without the owner’s consent under a ‘Big Brother’ regime to reduce the strain on power stations.
The National Grid is demanding that all new appliances be fitted with sensors that could shut them down when the UK’s generators struggle to meet demand for electricity.
Electric ovens, air-conditioning units and washing machines will also be affected by the proposals, which are already backed by one of the European Union’s most influential energy bodies. They are pushing for the move as green energy sources such as wind farms are less predictable than traditional power stations, increasing the risk of blackouts.
This would increase costs for consumers and leave them at the mercy of the power company, which would decide whether to shut down your home appliances, possibly leaving you with sweltering inside temps, spoiling food, and no way to wash your clothes.
BTW, all those appliances are Bad for ‘Climate Change’. What, you didn’t think there would be some sort of globull warming aspect to this story? Sure, they refer to it as “Big Brother”, but The National Grid is a privately owned company. Big Brother is supposed to be Government. Ah, here we go
The National Grid – a private company that made £2.6 billion profit in 2011 – is required by law to balance supply and demand in the network.
However the EU has set a target that 20 per cent of all electricity will be generated from green sources by 2012 – but these are unreliable, making the task more difficult.
The solution proposed by the National Grid, along with its counterparts in 34 European countries, is to install the controversial devices.
You have all sorts of people, including civil liberties groups, complaining about this plan, but, interestingly, this is simply a direct result of the Leftist policies regarding hotcoldwetdry, otherwise known as ‘climate change’. They’ve been pushing this “smart grid” issue for years now, and the next step is another entity control over your appliances and energy usage. California Democrats attempted this a few years ago when they tried to pass legislation giving power companies control of citizens thermostats. Nancy Pelosi herself, back when she was still Speaker, advocated for this exact thing, regarding energy usage and our homes environmental footprint.
But, as we see, Warmists are fine when ‘climate change’ solutions affect Other People, but not themselves.
BTW, The National Grid is saying that, at most, consumers will see their appliances turned off for a few seconds, and will barely be affected. I think they miss the point that they still would control the appliances. To save Gaia from getting a fever or something.
I’m guessing that if you look deeper into this story, not EVERYONE will be affected. There will be… ahem… those who will be allowed to opt out.
Just like CERTAIN people in our country can opt out of Obamacare and get their own healthcare plan.
Forgot to add – is there anyone here who could figure this out better than me – if you shut down power to something that requires a temperature maintenance, such as a freezer, don’t you waste a ton of power when you have to turn it on and bring it back up to the desired temperature? And then what happens when you multiply that by five million freezers?
It’s sad that we are even having this discussion when the entire thing is predicated on a lie.
How can this be?
The Brits poured billions of pounds into clean energy so they would not have any energy worries. They put wind farms in the North Sea (well, they did have to shut them down, but the intent was there.)
They put more wind farms in Scotland and along the coasts to generate power as well. (Oh wait, those turbines haven’t generated enough power consistently and actually cost consumers more per generated kilowatt.)
But….. wait….. what about the solar plants? Oh sorry. I forgot that the Brits, like the Germans, were actually burning wood to heat homes because of high energy costs.
So the Brits have a energy system that has increased costs to the consumer, but lowered actual energy output.
Brilliant.
To be fair, we have some “rolling grey outs” here in the US at times, but the solution has always been to build more stable and reliable power generation plants – not rely on generation methods that are not dependable, not consistent and do not produce at rated output.
This is another failure of so called green energy.
Careful GC, you are starting to sound like me.
Actually, that practice stopped about a decade or so ago. the “solution” nowadays is to prevent building of new power stations and block re-certification of the older ones. Thus, we will very soon be in the same rickety boat that England and Germany are in.
But, while England at least has sense to turn off individual appliances, here in America we are pushing to turn off your whole house at the meter. You need an Oxygen Pump? too bad. You health demands a certain lower temperature? too bad. Your large aquarium demands pumped air? too bad.
Not where I am Gumball. Five years ago an old plant was taken offline and replaced with a more modern, more efficient, and cleaner power plant.
But I know what you are saying and it may be true in other areas.
I predict a black market disconnecting such sensors. any good electrictian should be able to bypass such devices. Also, a bigger market for standby generators to power your applicance in a blackout. All those little gasoline engines pumping out Co2. Yeah those are a good idea. Blick
Wait…. we have a foreign power company in NY? Anyone else a bit freaked at the fact that there is a company called “NATIONAL GRID” that controls your power in parts of the US and England? Where else are they?