Smart grid poses privacy risks

This is an interesting post.

And I agree that this could pose privacy concerns. What the article fails to show is how this is negative. Not that I disagree and that it is all positive, but the entire article smells of "they'll know when you are making coffee! watch out!"

Its speculative, and borderline fear-mongering. If anything, this data could be useful on which house hold appliances suck the most power and could create more innovation on the markets of individual appliances as consumers can see where their high energy bills are coming from.

I am curious and open to opinions on how this can be a negative thing. Now, if you start receiving more Starbucks advertisements in your mail or through selective digital cable advertisements I could see how this could be construed as sneaky, but consumers have already given up this right with Google, Amazon, Mint.com, etc.

it's pretty cool how these smart grids can map out the different load patterns appliances.This is at the core of the privacy debate. That information can show exactly how you are living your life within your home and a lot of other habits as well. Since most of what you do in your home requires energy. I would watch closely to see what these smart grid companies will do with that data.