[Boatanchors] "Smart" Electric Meters

[Robert Nickels]

Jim Wilhite wrote:
> I have one on my house and there is no resulting RFI from it. 
I think this is the norm.  There are two issues here, AMR or RMR 
(automatic or remote meter reading) which has been done for >20 years 
but is rapidly moving from wired to wireless systems based on spread 
spectrum mesh networks operating in the 900 mhz or 2..4 ghz bands under 
Part 15 rules, and the "Smart Grid" which involves doing load monitoring 
and control.  See  http://www.smartgridnews.com/  for more info about 
smart grid activities. 

Smart meters are an essential part of the smart grid, but if the 
utilities focus on delivery of electrical power and resist the 
temptation to get into broadband internet services, hopefully the 
technologies they select will not present the kind of interference 
potential we saw with at least some of the BPL systems.   I think the 
market is voting that other forms of broadband delivery are superior to 
BPL, but when you put yourself in the shoes of the electrical utility 
companies (regulated rates, limited capital investment dollars, and all 
this cool technology that can help improve efficiency)  - it's 
inevitable that they will move in this direction.   As long as they do 
so in a way that doesn't cause interference to ham radio, as ratepayers 
and consumers, we all should benefit.

However, there is always the threat that broadband can be the cash-cow 
that pays for the smart grid, as this article indicates:  
*http://tinyurl.com/44b9vd
With ARRL taking a proactive position, the systems that are deployed 
will be radio-friendly.
*
73, Bob W9RAN