I thought those boxes just measure the amount of power being used by your house(total) and when, and some other basic info. You're telling me they check that much?

The old boxes were like I said up there, a rotating needle that spun faster as more was drawn. That value was read and sent back. But it was easy to tamper, and it only tells you what's being used over a period of time. It doesn't give you an instant value. The new meters are digital, can't be tampered, and measure instantly every change in current draw. They can assume what's drawing those values of current, but from what I've heard the company tends to be pretty accurate about it.

What most people may not understand is that current isn't ONLY going into the house, it's also going out. It cycles, so they're reading what you take in, and what's left that gets sent out. Usually what's sent out is changed due to the resistances and impedences of your electronics. The voltage output drops down, and the current output goes up. Because of that, the meters can also tell if there's electricity missing from the circuit that isn't being accounted for.

I understand but I thought the meters only read the input and output at the main breaker level(i.e. total input/output from house), not reading from every breaker. I never heard of such a thing.

I don't know how they attach the new meters to the breaker, but if they can be so accurate to measure every change and every electronic, that's the only way they can do it unless they want to estimate changes via one big lump sum.

That's why I asked all those things. I don't think they measure from each breaker but from the main input/output to the breaker box. I'd like if someone more knowledgeable(with good sources) could verify either way. :\

They can already tell what time of day you're drawing around here and the only thing a "smart" meter does is let them read from the street (which probably enhances my privacy somewhat over having someone stomping around the side of my home to read the meter).

I'm not really sure what your real concerns are here.

I'm sad because there's people who believe all of that:(

Hardly. The cost of usage during peak hours will increase.

New appliances communicate directly with the meter, actually. From Wikipedia: And maybe the worst that happens is someone at the electric company knows when I take a shower or look at porn or look at porn in the shower. Not a big deal but the bottom line is there is no advantage to forfeiting so much private information.
No, I'm on the island. That might be why I'm so "granola." :p

I meant about the spying, not the power usage being charged by when you use it.
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They can't tell what you're looking at on your PC.......at the most(if they really can tell what kinds of appliances you have on and when.) they can tell you have it turned on. Now your INTERNET PROVIDER....that's a different story. They actually can tell what you look at(unless you're ultra secure in your connection and know how to fool them.).

Hah, probably. The only issue I have with the smart meters that BC Hydro installed is that I really liked the spinning dials in the old units. LCD readings are so inelegant.

It was an attempt at humour. That is Vic Toews' dream, however and bill C-30 will release the specific details from ISPs, should it or another bill like it ever pass.

With you and other peoples how can I tell when you're being serious or smerious? 0.o

I find Vic's bill to be intrusive and disgusting. Why can't the man find his own damn porn.

Cause he's worried he's not seeing the best and wants to know where all the kinky shit he loves is?