Recommended Action. Smart meters: Let's be clever and team up
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Deutsch: [Mitmachen! Smart Metering: Seid klug und schließt Euch zusammen! | http://www.unwatched.org/EDRigram_9.12_Mitmachen?pk_campaign=edri&pk_kwd=20110623]
The European Union decided that 80% of all users are to have a smart meter
in 2020. These instruments will then measure the consumption of gas and
electricity. They can be integrated in a smart grid, a network of users and
producers that ensures better tuning of supply and demand. When solar
generators produce electricity, the washing machine can best do its work.
This part sounds good? What about civil and digital rights? The issue is
related since there are also potentially some undesirable effects attached
to this new technology:
Privacy: The government, electricity producers and/or others may gain access
to detailed information about our energy use. The government may use this
information for investigations about when you were home, if you have a new
partner, if you lead a healthy life. You name it. Energy companies may
decide to target you with specific advertisements or sell the information.
In California, the energy company PG&E, smart meter producer GE and Google
work together. Also, criminals can use the information to build a profile
and ultimately use it for identity-theft, a once science fiction nightmare
that for many became a reality. Look it up if identity-theft is an abstract
word for you.
Security: This is closely linked to privacy. A leaky system will reveal
privacy data. In addition, the smart meter might give access to equipment
inside the house like the connected PC. Hacking the smart grid can also give
access to the light switch for the grid. By the way: smart meters can cut
off your energy remotely.
Electrosmog: With the authorities (WHO, Council of Europe) warning against
electromagnetic radiation, the dangers of wireless technology might finally
be taken seriously. Might. A smart meter can be equipped with wireless
technology, like GPRS, “RF-meshed” or a separate, more secure
protocol/frequency. Depending on the type of network and the information
exchange rate, the radiation can be more or less serious for the health of
humans, animals and plants. There is an alternative using wired technology.
It’s called PLC or Power Line Carrier. Italy has already implemented this
system.
These are a few of the issues that surround smart meters. We’re in the early
stages still. In Brussels, the representatives from all EU countries meet to
decide on the technology and the demands for smart meters, including the
rules and regulations.
The zeal to implement the smart grid is staggering. For the Netherlands the
whole issue started with a law proposal that would force every user to
accept the smart meter. This came out when Vrijbit, a Dutch privacy
organisation, and the Dutch Consumer NGO (Consumentenbond) read the small
print. Those who would refuse the smart meter could face up to 6 months
imprisonment. This brutal force was reason for the Senate to reject the law
proposal. The revised law passed early this year.
Now the Dutch pilot-implementation is planned by the start of 2012,
comprising 400 000 smart meters in 2 years. After the evaluation in the
parliament (end 2013), the final roll-out would comprise 7 million smart
meters. If it all satisfies the needs, i.e. a lot can still change.
In a recent meeting with people from the Ministry of Economic Affairs we
discussed privacy aspects of the smart meter. They made it clear that if
issues like privacy are to be taken seriously, European privacy
organisations need to team up. If pressure is applied now, if
representatives are compelled to take this issue seriously, then this
increases the chance for a better smart meter. From a manufacturing
viewpoint, special wishes will only be turned into actual product features
if there is sufficient market for these.
I am already member of Vrijbit, a Dutch privacy organisation. Other EDRi
members are also interested in smart meters as well. Are you a member of a
privacy organisation and interested in smart meters? Do you know people who
are? Let us establish a network to ensure our demands on privacy are known
in Brussels. Let’s team up!
Contact me by Twitter: Mr_Communicator or eMail:
smitentertainment[ed]hotmail_com (Subject: Let’s team up!)
Dutch government public message ‘What is a smart meter?’ (only in Dutch)
http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/energie-en-kleinverbruikers/slimme-meter
Vrijbit: File on Smart Meters (only in Dutch)
https://www.vrijbit.nl/dossier/financien/dossier-slimme-meters.html
The dark side of ‘smart’ meters (1.11.2010)
The dark side of the smart electrical grid (24.10.2010)
http://www.plusultratech.com/2010/10/dark-side-of-smart-electrical-grid.html
Article 29 Working Party Opinion 12/2011 on smart metering (4.04.2011)
http://ec.europa.eu/justice/policies/privacy/docs/wpdocs/2011/wp183_en.pdf
(Contribution by Hendrick Smit, Utrecht, The Netherlands)