On 09/06/2018 2:30 PM, alan_m wrote:
On 04/06/2018 22:14, Rod Speed wrote:

Smart meters cant turn your supply off.


A reply to the question from British Gas....

Quote:

No. With smart meters, energy suppliers have no more powers to disconnect than with a standard meter. On those extremely rare occasions when this is necessary it will be possible to disconnect the meter remotely but for customers in payment difficulties, we will always look for alternatives to disconnection.

Only regulation stops the supply being disconnected. However, from the
above it appears that the meter can be remotely controlled to cut off
the supply. If the regulations change to, say, cut off the supply during
certain periods of the day when demand exceeds supply this will be
possible with smart meters.


There are many cases of disconnections due to unresolved bills. There
is indeed a relay inside the meter.

The problem is not at the single consumer end, which 'IS' hackable,
but, at the utilities end. Several energy companies have been hit by
'Dragonfly'. It has been said they operate like a 'state-sponsored
operation'. Many countries have been hacked by them and it is thought
that Dragonfly may well have huge area maps of distribution networks
and, 'key' data.

Or, how about a ****ed off utilities worker who programs
disconnections for the future?

Individuals and whole areas can be switched out. Because power
stations have to be switched regulated to match demand, and, because it
takes days to 'reboot', software hackers only need to operate every few
days to keep the system in turmoil.

To say it will never happen may be true; to say it cannot happen isn't.

As with banks, utility companies cant wait for a total disconnect
between company and user. Then again, no human interaction also means no
'eyes' at the user end. At which point, I'm not so sure whether
companies or users will win or lose?

I just searched for 'Dragonfly' and found this, some interesting
reading. Particularly the UK response to major outages in other
countries, abridged dramatically by me, 'It can't happen to us cos we
are much more advanced'....
https://unearthed.greenpeace.org/201...cybersecurity/

I love technology and where it is tending but, it's so open to attack.

The tech I aim to set myself up with now I am retired is:

Single high intensity LED emergency lighting.

Solar charger and car batteries.

And, something everyone should have regardless, Fleece blankets with the
Thermal Carbon Tape/Ribbon. It gives heat up to 50C at 2p a day. No
chance of shorts or fires. Can be machine washed. Cheap at £15 and £23
for single or double.

I like the idea of still having a wired landline too.

Don't forget the dry beans.


Ray.