I'm truly taken aback that you would sign up for the program to let your power company take control of your power usage. Seems very counterintuitive to the libertarian viewpoint of less government control, especially for a paltry 75 clams. Perhaps this is an experiment?
Not saying there's a down side. Just surprised, that's all. Giving someone control over your energy usage isn't something I thought you would subscribe to. And I work for an electric utility, lol.
I find this interesting. I'm not really ceding control. I'm retaining the power to override - if that didn't exist, I wouldn't have signed up for this, and if there is a single instance where I cannot override, that thermostat is coming right off the wall.
Thing is - if they adjust when I'm not home, and it saves me money, great. If they adjust while I am at home and I don't notice, great. If it gets too warm or too cold in the house at a moment, I'll adjust. I've got hot air heat and central AC, so the house temp changes quite promptly with changes in the thermostat, and with the app, I don't even have to get up to do so.
I have a healthy distrust of government and of ceding control, but I'm not reflexive about it all. Every situation deserves to be assessed on the merits.
Become ungovernable.
Great piece Peter. Somewhat coincides with my most recent piece.
Thanks. Catching up with my reading this weekend - yours is in the inbox :).
I'm truly taken aback that you would sign up for the program to let your power company take control of your power usage. Seems very counterintuitive to the libertarian viewpoint of less government control, especially for a paltry 75 clams. Perhaps this is an experiment?
I can override it whenever I want to. What’s the down side?
Not saying there's a down side. Just surprised, that's all. Giving someone control over your energy usage isn't something I thought you would subscribe to. And I work for an electric utility, lol.
I find this interesting. I'm not really ceding control. I'm retaining the power to override - if that didn't exist, I wouldn't have signed up for this, and if there is a single instance where I cannot override, that thermostat is coming right off the wall.
Thing is - if they adjust when I'm not home, and it saves me money, great. If they adjust while I am at home and I don't notice, great. If it gets too warm or too cold in the house at a moment, I'll adjust. I've got hot air heat and central AC, so the house temp changes quite promptly with changes in the thermostat, and with the app, I don't even have to get up to do so.
I have a healthy distrust of government and of ceding control, but I'm not reflexive about it all. Every situation deserves to be assessed on the merits.
There you go again hitting back with logic and reason. Maybe I'm just getting too cynical in my old age...
Oh, I get the cynicism, and I catch myself in 'reflex' often enough. Blogging has made me more aware of the tendency.