Big Brother Smart Thermostats

[SassyLady]

I would be so pissed!

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/remote-thermostat-adjustment-texas-energy-shortage/285-5acf2bc5-54b7-4160-bffe-1f9a5ef4362a

[Mr. P]

This is why I reject any "smart" homes, appliances etc.

[Gunny]

Some backstory. Yes, it sucks. No 2 ways about it. However... it beats the Hell out of your power being arbitrarily turned completely off from 1-4 hours in the S Texas summer. The "rolling brown out" has been in practice here for decades. Some numbnut sitting in the AC turns yours off. No notice.

I get the part where touching my.shit without my knowledge or consent is just bullshit. It doesn't appear to be an option with the overlords. Of the 2 available I'd just as soon.be a it uncomfortable as have to leave the house altogether.

Not to mention we have been asked to conserve. I'm the only one I know of that does. Seriously. I learned to trying to keep the bill down, not because I give a rat's ass what a bunch of suits want.

Fact remains we have to share public utilities.

[Gunny]

The "Paul Harvey": this is not just a Houston thing. State-wide . And guess what? If your thermostat was remotely raised, you agreed to it when yo got the thermostat. Whether or not you remember. In return, you were entered into a $5k sweepstakes toward your electric bill.

Of course it was probably in the fine print on page 4. Given the attention span of most Americans, especially in leftwingnuts. In our blue cities, they probably quit reading halfway down the 1st page. No sympathy there from me. I piss people off because I'll read shit twice if I need to.

[jimnyc]

I would be so pissed!

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/remote-thermostat-adjustment-texas-energy-shortage/285-5acf2bc5-54b7-4160-bffe-1f9a5ef4362a

Oh hell no to that! My ass owns the equipment and my ass pays my entire usage bill. My ass also turns down or up my thermostat as "I" see fit for my comfort. That would have me leaving for another company and ensuring it's no smart crap. And if none, my ass moves to another city. You have no idea how much this would piss me off. I love my AC and I pay for it happily.

[fj1200]

I would be so pissed!

https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/remote-thermostat-adjustment-texas-energy-shortage/285-5acf2bc5-54b7-4160-bffe-1f9a5ef4362a


The family’s smart thermostat was installed a few years ago as part of a new home security package. Many smart thermostats can be enrolled in a program called "Smart Savers Texas." It's operated by a company called EnergyHub (https://www.energyhub.com/).

The agreement states that in exchange for an entry into sweepstakes, electric customers allow them to control their thermostats during periods of high energy demand. EnergyHub’s list of its clients include TXU Energy, CenterPoint and ERCOT.

Be careful what you sign up for.

[Gunny]

Oh hell no to that! My ass owns the equipment and my ass pays my entire usage bill. My ass also turns down or up my thermostat as "I" see fit for my comfort. That would have me leaving for another company and ensuring it's no smart crap. And if none, my ass moves to another city. You have no idea how much this would piss me off. I love my AC and I pay for it happily.Not so simple. This is Texas and ERCOT is energy God. We aren't on anyone else's grid, remember? We go through this crap every summer because of the heat here in the SW. We aren't even in July yet when it really gets hot.

The BIGGEST problem is overloading the grid. The same for our water. We have a natural aquifer. As I posted previously, people doing what they want when we were asked by the State to voluntarily cut back/conserve not only causes demand overload, but CPS (city public service) will just start turning services off like they did when we were freezing in Feb.

People who live on a grid have a responsibility to it and the community it serves. People that think that is too socialist need to move off the grid and produce their own energy and pump their own water. That's just how it is, and how community works.

[Kathianne]

Not so simple. This is Texas and ERCOT is energy God. We aren't on anyone else's grid, remember? We go through this crap every summer because of the heat here in the SW. We aren't even in July yet when it really gets hot.

The BIGGEST problem is overloading the grid. The same for our water. We have a natural aquifer. As I posted previously, people doing what they want when we were asked by the State to voluntarily cut back/conserve not only causes demand overload, but CPS (city public service) will just start turning services off like they did when we were freezing in Feb.

People who live on a grid have a responsibility to it and the community it serves. People that think that is too socialist need to move off the grid and produce their own energy and pump their own water. That's just how it is, and how community works.
Yep. It's the "common good" reasoning. Too many think they can buy their way out and when the government allows that, they are undermining the system.

Think about paying/exemptions to draft. Another were some early colonists that figured 'others' could do the work while they they looked for gold.

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Yep. It's the "common good" reasoning. Too many think they can buy their way out and when the government allows that, they are undermining the system.

Think about paying/exemptions to draft. Another were some early colonists that figured 'others' could do the work while they they looked for gold.

Despite the true need, the reasoning- it is yet again--government taking control- or else more control over our lives.
One may ( acquiesce) reason enough times that they find that they are essentially in a state of being total slaves to the government's dictates-
dem/socialist ideology works toward that eventual goal. Some of us know that dark reality and we aim to resist it in every way that we can.
As we know those seeking that type nation-eventually want a dictatorial government where we become like or even worse than China or Russia.
Debating the pros and cons here is one thing, being blind or else ignorant of the reality and thus happily going along with that evil is entirely another thing my friend.
Some Americans are born to resist the decay....
They are called patriots and now are labelled by the dems, the media and the government -their allies , as being terrorists..
And that all to falsely vilify and get more forces to utterly defeat them.
When truth is they simply see far more great evil in the desired change being made than does the average bear, imho.-Tyr

[Gunny]

Yep. It's the "common good" reasoning. Too many think they can buy their way out and when the government allows that, they are undermining the system.

Think about paying/exemptions to draft. Another were some early colonists that figured 'others' could do the work while they they looked for gold.

I don't get the bolded. When you wander out of the social infrastructure into the desert or hills or wherever, you're on your own. I don't see a responsibility to a society or social structure you are not part of. If you mean living in town within the infrastructure and not contributing while you did your own thing, I can see that to a point.

In a perfect World, one contributes as much as one takes or there is no balance. We, as a society now, IMO, have no balance.

[Gunny]

Despite the true need, the reasoning- it is yet again--government taking control- or else more control over our lives.
One may ( acquiesce) reason enough times that they find that they are essentially in a state of being total slaves to the government's dictates-
dem/socialist ideology works toward that eventual goal. Some of us know that dark reality and we aim to resist it in every way that we can.
As we know those seeking that type nation-eventually want a dictatorial government where we become like or even worse than China or Russia.
Debating the pros and cons here is one thing, being blind or else ignorant of the reality and thus happily going along with that evil is entirely another thing my friend.
Some Americans are born to resist the decay....
They are called patriots and now are labelled by the dems, the media and the government -their allies , as being terrorists..
And that all to falsely vilify and get more forces to utterly defeat them.
When truth is they simply see far more great evil in the desired change being made than does the average bear, imho.-TyrHere's the problem, and this is not personal about you, just a generalized commentary.

I hate being told what to do. Gotten worse as I've gotten older because I find most people telling me what to do don't know their asses from a whole in the ground. At the same time, we live in a society. You cannot throw out all socialism without throwing out the society. Misuse/vilification of the word "socialism" has led to a hatred for a word, without understanding it's meaning. We live in and are a socialist society. A broken one, but one nonetheless.

Individuals who live within the society have a responsibility to that society to give back at least what they take in order for that society to function properly. Unlike our society and certain elements within it demand, I am more a believer in "one does what one can, when and how one can".

Those who refuse to participate in what is for the betterment of the society should not live off what that society provides. I don't like it when my electricity goes off. Or my water. Or my internet is down. When people who live off the infrastructure do not conform to the limits of the infrastructure they create an overload which creates a breakdown. There is no God-given Right to the amenities of infrastructure. You pay for its use, STILL within the confines of its limitations.

Too many people saying "f- that, I'm turning my thermostat to whatever" create the overload and breakdown. It is not only selfish, but self-defeating once breakdown occurs. Those same people are the ones who cry the loudest when breakdown occurs. I'm paying for it so it's supposed to be there.

As mentioned before, everybody had a cow and heads rolled over that freeze in February. Yet, the same people demanding heads roll are responsible for overloading our electrical infrastructure. Texas, and most of the Southwest is inhospitable for the most part. We were a lot smaller place when I was a kid and only wealthy people had AC. The ones that moved here counting on AC have to play by the provider's rules to maintain an artificial environment for themselves. Or stay the f- home. What really sucks is when the selfish actions of some cause the breakdown for others. Not their fault others are selfish.

ERCOT, (Electrical Reliability Commission of Texas) ASKED us to voluntarily conserve. I'm a prick. In case no one has noticed :). Tell or force me to do something I don't want to and I'm like as not to bow right up on your ask. Ask and I'll give you the shirt off my back. No one was asking too much. This is routine here. We have power problems all summer long, and are usually on water restrictions. If you're asked to contribute and it is not unreasonable I see no reason not to, nor to bow up.

[Kathianne]

I don't get the bolded. When you wander out of the social infrastructure into the desert or hills or wherever, you're on your own. I don't see a responsibility to a society or social structure you are not part of. If you mean living in town within the infrastructure and not contributing while you did your own thing, I can see that to a point.

In a perfect World, one contributes as much as one takes or there is no balance. We, as a society now, IMO, have no balance.

Buy they didn't wander off on their own, it took Smith to lay down the law, "You don't work, you don't get to eat, even if you starve." They thought gold was just there. Later folks wod talk of roads of gd. It was never easy here.

[fj1200]

Despite the true need, the reasoning- it is yet again--government taking control- or else more control over our lives.

Except it's not really government in this case.

[Kathianne]

Gunny just wrote what I was going to. Don't be beholden, go it alone. Obama had it wrong, government didn't build businesses. When necessary businesses built roads, started the rails, etc.

There came a time though when most thought it was in the common good to pool and plan, for obvious reasons businesses don't do that well across the board. It's why a constitution was set up originally.

I'm certainly for the least government possible, but am also practical.

[SassyLady]

The point I'm making is that it was too "Big Brother". Taking over your thermostat and doing it remotely means you don't have any control. Asking to turn up your thermostat voluntarily is different.

My power company has a tiered system. You get charged defferent rates for different times ... and more if you go over allowed usage for those time periods.

[icansayit]

Was right. ISN'T SOCIALISM WONDERFUL?????

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[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Here's the problem, and this is not personal about you, just a generalized commentary.

I hate being told what to do. Gotten worse as I've gotten older because I find most people telling me what to do don't know their asses from a whole in the ground. At the same time, we live in a society. You cannot throw out all socialism without throwing out the society. Misuse/vilification of the word "socialism" has led to a hatred for a word, without understanding it's meaning. We live in and are a socialist society. A broken one, but one nonetheless.

Individuals who live within the society have a responsibility to that society to give back at least what they take in order for that society to function properly. Unlike our society and certain elements within it demand, I am more a believer in "one does what one can, when and how one can".

Those who refuse to participate in what is for the betterment of the society should not live off what that society provides. I don't like it when my electricity goes off. Or my water. Or my internet is down. When people who live off the infrastructure do not conform to the limits of the infrastructure they create an overload which creates a breakdown. There is no God-given Right to the amenities of infrastructure. You pay for its use, STILL within the confines of its limitations.

Too many people saying "f- that, I'm turning my thermostat to whatever" create the overload and breakdown. It is not only selfish, but self-defeating once breakdown occurs. Those same people are the ones who cry the loudest when breakdown occurs. I'm paying for it so it's supposed to be there.

As mentioned before, everybody had a cow and heads rolled over that freeze in February. Yet, the same people demanding heads roll are responsible for overloading our electrical infrastructure. Texas, and most of the Southwest is inhospitable for the most part. We were a lot smaller place when I was a kid and only wealthy people had AC. The ones that moved here counting on AC have to play by the provider's rules to maintain an artificial environment for themselves. Or stay the f- home. What really sucks is when the selfish actions of some cause the breakdown for others. Not their fault others are selfish.

ERCOT, (Electrical Reliability Commission of Texas) ASKED us to voluntarily conserve. I'm a prick. In case no one has noticed :). Tell or force me to do something I don't want to and I'm like as not to bow right up on your ask. Ask and I'll give you the shirt off my back. No one was asking too much. This is routine here. We have power problems all summer long, and are usually on water restrictions. If you're asked to contribute and it is not unreasonable I see no reason not to, nor to bow up.

I do not dispute that in the specific case being discussed - the fix may have to be that of them controlling the thermostat .
But dems/government almost never stops when it starts taking control of a thing.
My words were directed at the action-if- it grew to include the entire nation and not just that one huge area...
Once government seizes any kind of power over anything it almost never lets go.
Socialism always preaches it is for the ***good*** of all the people.
When the correct phrase should be
Socialism is for the *** GOD**** OF ALL THE PEOPLE.
Because as you know, every communist country - government becomes a dictatorship - rules over the people like an angry God-
using massive brute force to set its goals and make its citizens obey its dictates as no more that mere slaves, imho...--Tyr

[gabosaurus]

If you are worried that a certain kind of thermostat, door bell, TV or other contraption might be watching you, don't get one. I am perfectly willing to give up whatever comforts or advantages that Alexa or Nest might provide me in exchange for knowing that they are not snooping on me.

[jimnyc]

Be careful what you sign up for.


If you are worried that a certain kind of thermostat, door bell, TV or other contraption might be watching you, don't get one. I am perfectly willing to give up whatever comforts or advantages that Alexa or Nest might provide me in exchange for knowing that they are not snooping on me.

Sometimes there is no choice and the electric companies will go out with new meters, and you either accept them or discontinue service. They run with 'outdated' meters and upgrading to better, but I have seen some times when that included remote monitoring.

In THIS case, it was a conscious decision on a number of customers in Texas. They joined a raffle and this option came with the deal. Many just opted out after this event. But they did in fact sign up for it. That's different and they should have known better or read the fine print.

Doing so without my knowledge is where I would take issue. They should send out instant texts like an hour - 2 prior to doing so if possible, and again when it's changed. And IMO, should be set to a chosen set of numbers that all customers are aware of an signed off on. So for example, a 2 hour warning, then text and have them all lowered to say 76 across the board, for a pre-determined amount of time if at all possible as well. Maybe not all possible but keeping the customer informed should be the first thing.

I really don't like remote access. But understand like what Gunny wrote, that sometimes it's unavoidable and all should kick in order to keep it across the board. So another thing where I understand both sides. Fixing the issue collectively I can deal with, it's the giving access to them that I fear.

[fj1200]

Sometimes there is no choice and the electric companies will go out with new meters, and you either accept them or discontinue service. They run with 'outdated' meters and upgrading to better, but I have seen some times when that included remote monitoring.

In THIS case, it was a conscious decision on a number of customers in Texas. They joined a raffle and this option came with the deal. Many just opted out after this event. But they did in fact sign up for it. That's different and they should have known better or read the fine print.

Doing so without my knowledge is where I would take issue. They should send out instant texts like an hour - 2 prior to doing so if possible, and again when it's changed. And IMO, should be set to a chosen set of numbers that all customers are aware of an signed off on. So for example, a 2 hour warning, then text and have them all lowered to say 76 across the board, for a pre-determined amount of time if at all possible as well. Maybe not all possible but keeping the customer informed should be the first thing.

I really don't like remote access. But understand like what Gunny wrote, that sometimes it's unavoidable and all should kick in order to keep it across the board. So another thing where I understand both sides. Fixing the issue collectively I can deal with, it's the giving access to them that I fear.

In cases like this there are costs involved in paying more for upgraded facilities to provide uninterrupted service or giving up some control. I signed up for something that was connected to our AC compressor outside once and I didn't have a problem with that and if it ever affected our service I have no idea.

I'm sure that they could be doing things better but that's up for their customers to demand but people should at least know who to direct their rage at.

[jimnyc]

In cases like this there are costs involved in paying more for upgraded facilities to provide uninterrupted service or giving up some control. I signed up for something that was connected to our AC compressor outside once and I didn't have a problem with that and if it ever affected our service I have no idea.

I'm sure that they could be doing things better but that's up for their customers to demand but people should at least know who to direct their rage at.

I know sometimes it may be advantageous to do so. Main thing again - communication. If I know exactly going into things, and then it's communicated properly again at the time of change, then that's one thing. I'm sure there could be many positive reasons now.

It's just the sound of it perhaps happening and folks are unaware altogether, or that they knew they approved of it, but then not notified when appropriate. Would hate to wake up as such, fully unaware and just sweating. I think communication is key here.

I also wouldn't mind if it were due to upgrades somewhere to give us all more power. Raise rates or do whatever necessary to pay that off. Then take it from there. Not sure if Texas has any plans where this is happening, but they should look to increase somehow if possible. I think that would be a better answer than cutting power usage off. Understood you need to get there & pay for it as well though.

[fj1200]

I know sometimes it may be advantageous to do so. Main thing again - communication. If I know exactly going into things, and then it's communicated properly again at the time of change, then that's one thing. I'm sure there could be many positive reasons now.

It's just the sound of it perhaps happening and folks are unaware altogether, or that they knew they approved of it, but then not notified when appropriate. Would hate to wake up as such, fully unaware and just sweating. I think communication is key here.

I also wouldn't mind if it were due to upgrades somewhere to give us all more power. Raise rates or do whatever necessary to pay that off. Then take it from there. Not sure if Texas has any plans where this is happening, but they should look to increase somehow if possible. I think that would be a better answer than cutting power usage off. Understood you need to get there & pay for it as well though.

No disagreement. I liken it to net neutrality on the one side and throttling bandwidth/speed on the other for ISPs. Somehow they needed to do something. I wonder if those with natural gas backup generators survived this whole thing better.

[jimnyc]

No disagreement. I liken it to net neutrality on the one side and throttling bandwidth/speed on the other for ISPs. Somehow they needed to do something. I wonder if those with natural gas backup generators survived this whole thing better.

Speaking of ISP crap, many had you use their routers where the cable comes in. They too were remotely accessible, and they were known back then for lowering various speed settings on customers. Or worse, they would "brick" your device, and now it's as good as a brick! Their equipment!

Have all my own equipment ever since!! :laugh:

And no doubt, if they killed my AC, I could turn off power and increase it via the generator!

[hjmick]

Why anyone would willingly bring these "smart" appliances (Alexa, Ring, Nest, Echo, et al) into their homes boggles my mind. Smart phones are bad enough, but why willingly expand the surveillance beyond that?

[tailfins]

Some backstory. Yes, it sucks. No 2 ways about it. However... it beats the Hell out of your power being arbitrarily turned completely off from 1-4 hours in the S Texas summer. The "rolling brown out" has been in practice here for decades. Some numbnut sitting in the AC turns yours off. No notice.

I get the part where touching my.shit without my knowledge or consent is just bullshit. It doesn't appear to be an option with the overlords. Of the 2 available I'd just as soon.be a it uncomfortable as have to leave the house altogether.

Not to mention we have been asked to conserve. I'm the only one I know of that does. Seriously. I learned to trying to keep the bill down, not because I give a rat's ass what a bunch of suits want.

Fact remains we have to share public utilities.

Changing filters and having basic maintenance done is a good way to use less electricity without making a day-to-day sacrifice.

[Gunny]

Changing filters and having basic maintenance done is a good way to use less electricity without making a day-to-day sacrifice.At the individual level, yes. In a perfect World, it could make a difference at the community level. But just as the stories in the papers go: "Hell no I'm not turning my shit up to 78".

The question this brings to my mind is who the f- are these "Texans" crying about 78 degrees? We slept with the windows open until I was at least 10. I don't recall it being a traumatic event. Oh yeah, we lived in homes with windows on every wall that were built to catch the cross-breeze. And, you COULD sleep with your windows open back then.

Still, if they're crying about 78 degrees how do they feel when the grid overloads and you have NO power? Some of these morons must have skipped simple math and basic science in elementary school. I'd rather have 78 than 105 plus whatever elevated temps get in these cracker box houses built to be cooled solely by AC.