Customers “had no control over the temperatures in their own homes” When Utility Took Control of Smart Thermostats

By B.N. Frank

Utility companies, regulators, and various experts continue to warn that American power grids are extremely vulnerable and prone to blackouts (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7). This has led to utilities, legislators, and organizations encouraging and even paying customers to install smart thermostats which allow utilities to remotely control customer energy use. Earlier this summer, research revealed that smart thermostats could actually be damaging local power grids so that pretty much negates that argument that smart thermostats will help the grid. Additionally, when customers give control of their thermostats to utility companies, they may find themselves living in dangerously warm homes. This happened last year in Texas and more recently in Colorado.

From The Denver Channel:

Thousands of Xcel customers locked out of thermostats during ‘energy emergency’

22,000 people lost control of temperatures in their homes for hours Tuesday

When thousands of Xcel customers in Colorado tried adjusting their thermostats Tuesday, they learned they had no control over the temperatures in their own homes.

By: Jaclyn Allen

DENVER — During the dog days of summer, it’s important to keep your home cool. But when thousands of Xcel customers in Colorado tried adjusting their thermostats Tuesday, they learned they had no control over the temperatures in their own homes.

Temperatures climbed into the 90s Tuesday, which is why Tony Talarico tried to crank up the air conditioning in his partner’s Arvada home.

“I mean, it was 90 out, and it was right during the peak period,” Talarico said. “It was hot.”

That’s when he saw a message on the thermostat stating the temperature was locked due to an “energy emergency.”

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Other issues associated with “Smart Thermostats” include

they can be hacked
they are privacy invasive
they emit high levels of biologically and environmentally harmful electromagnetic radiation which can also affect pets

Still think that a smart thermostat is something you’d want in your home?

Activist Post reports regularly about smart thermostats and other privacy invasive and unsafe technology. For more information, visit our archives and the following websites:

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