>>Next year in California, state regulators are
likely to have the emergency power to control
individual thermostats, sending temperatures up
or down through a radio-controlled device that
will be required in new or substantially modified
houses and buildings to manage electricity shortages<<
Not entirely new. In Minnesota we could have
gotten a lower rate if certain appliances (hot
water tank & electric stove) were on a program
where the utility could cut them off during high
use/expensive power buy times. This was voluntary.
Have also had power boxes that would report the
monthly usage to the power company (instead of someone reading the meter).
Having the power company set your thermostat
really does sound big brotherish, I guess they
could ask for volunteers for the program. If you
volunteer they bump your thermostat 10ยบ (in high
usage times) , if you don't volunteer they turn
your power off (in high usage times)<VBG>.
Rob
becida AT comcast.net
Western Washington State, USA