The new smart meter has been legistated in BC to be on every house by the end of 2012, as that is nearing new products such as the Power Tab by Energy-Aware are coming this way. But is the new smart meter really a good idea. With people have many problems, such a privacy controls and health issues are these new ways of saving energy worth it?

Janice Cheam the founder and CEO of energy-aware came in and talked about the Power Tab. The device itself sounded like a great idea,  being able to see how much electricity you use at any given point is great. It motivates you to  reduce your consumption and save the total energy use. But the concept of the smart meter is concerning. Their have been many reports of individuals hacking into smart meters, stealing and even changing the size of your bill. There are also many accounts of people showing how a Smart Meter is like a wiretap, allowing power companies able to see when you are home, away, or even watching tv. If a device from inside your house could talk to your meter, just imagine what one individual could do to the smart grid.