Spy Fry: Smart Meters Explode in Californian Power Surge
9th April 2015
Hundreds of smart electricity meters exploded in California after a truck crashed into a utility pole and caused a power surge on Monday.
More than 5,000 homes in Stockton have been affected, according to CBS Sacramento, following a surge caused by a rubbish lorry driver crashing into a utility pole and causing the pole’s top wire to touch its bottom wire.
“The top lines are considered our freeways. The bottom lines are our distribution lines taking power directly to homes,” a Pacific Gas and Electric spokesperson told CBS. “So when the two collide, they’re at different voltages and the higher voltage wins out, causing an overload.”
Yup, those are pretty smart meters all right.
Smart meters are a popular idea with governments and electricity companies around the world. In theory they might help to reduce energy consumption as well as furnishing energy suppliers with a lot of valuable information about their customers. A smart meter often allows a customer’s supplies to be shut off remotely; another benefit from the utility company’s point of view.
Your tax dollars (and corporate fascism) at work.