SubscribeNYT: R-Wing Stupid About CA Temp Control
Thank Gaia we have the priests of global warming at the New York Times to explain these things to our stupid selfish selves:
Arthur H. Rosenfeld, a California Energy Commission member, said reducing electricity use could prevent power cutoffs.
California Seeks Thermostat Control
By FELICITY BARRINGER
January 11, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO — The conceit in the 1960s show “The Outer Limits” was that outside forces had taken control of your television set.
Next year in California, state regulators are likely to have the emergency power to control individual thermostats, sending temperatures up or down through a radio-controlled device that will be required in new or substantially modified houses and buildings to manage electricity shortages.
The proposed rules are contained in a document circulated by the California Energy Commission, which for more than three decades has set state energy efficiency standards for home appliances, like water heaters, air conditioners and refrigerators. The changes would allow utilities to adjust customers’ preset temperatures when the price of electricity is soaring. Customers could override the utilities’ suggested temperatures. But in emergencies, the utilities could override customers’ wishes.
Final approval is expected next month.
“You realize there are times — very rarely, once every few years — when you would be subject to a rotating outage and everything would crash including your computer and traffic lights, and you don’t want to do that,” said Arthur H. Rosenfeld, a member of the energy commission.
Reducing individual customers’ electrical use — if necessary, involuntarily — could avoid that, Dr. Rosenfeld said. “If you can control rotating outages by letting everyone in the state share the pain,” he said, “there’s a lot less pain to go around.”
While the proposals have received little attention in California, the Internet and talk radio are abuzz with indignation at the idea…
The broader stir on the Internet began when Joseph Somsel, a San Jose-based contributor to the publication American Thinker, wrote an article a week ago on the programmable communicating thermostat, or P.C.T.
Mr. Somsel went after the proposal with arguments that were by turns populist (“Come the next heat wave, the elites might be comfortably lolling in La Jolla’s ocean breezes” while “the Central Valley’s poor peons are baking in Bakersfield”), free-market (“P.C.T.’s will obscure the price signals to power plant developers”) and civil libertarian (“the new P.C.T. requirement certainly seems to violate the ‘a man’s home is his castle’ common-law dictum”).
Word of the California proposal hit the outrage button in corners of the Internet, was written about in The North County Times in Southern California, and got a derisive mention on Wednesday on Rush Limbaugh’s radio program.
The fact that similar radio-controlled technologies have been used on a voluntary basis in irrigation systems on farm fields and golf courses and in limited programs for buildings on Long Island is seldom mentioned in Internet postings that make liberal use of references of George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” and “Big Brother,” the omnipresent voice of Orwell’s police state.
Ralph Cavanagh, an energy expert with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in an interview that at a time of peak electricity use, “most people given a choice of two degrees of temperature setback and 14th-century living would happily embrace this capacity.” …
Oh, if such systems have been used in irrigation systems than it is all right of course. After all, the only choice is having this system or going back to the 14th century.
Really, what kind of a news article is this?
Instead of presenting the facts, The Times chooses to mock the obviously valid complaints that have been brought up.
No matter how you spin it, this program will take away something most consider a right. The right to be comfortable in your own home if you are willing to pay the price.
Luckily, those superior beings at the California Energy Commission and those at the New York Times know what is really best for us.
23 Responses to “NYT: R-Wing Stupid About CA Temp Control”
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January 11th, 2008 at 11:30 am
Double your trouble from the server
January 11th, 2008 at 11:30 am
No problem. In the summer put a light bulb by the thermostat if you want it colder. In the winter put a fan near the thermostat to make it see cooler.
These people are idiots.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Interesting to see how the California Energy Communism will enforce a requirement for radio-controlled thermostats. Will they dispatch jackbooted environmental thugs to bust down doors to check for compliance?
In my house, such a device would operate in permanent malfunction mode.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:52 am
It was the 14th century when the downturn started in the Middle-Ages Global warming period, so that is a tough call here.
I have a counter proposal. Before the Utlility is allowed to control the thermostats of the homes of private citizens, those on the public dole should go first, particularly those in political positions starting right at the Governor’s house. Lead by example. I also suggest that before the Utility is allowed to counter the private citzens’s settings, the NY Times offices should be cut off of all power completely along with the power to the houses of employees of the California Energy Commission. Let those proponents feel the pain first.
January 11th, 2008 at 11:56 am
I must have overslept, is it April 1 already?
January 11th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
The first controlled thermostats, I am sure, will be placed in the homes of the most vocal proponents of manmade global warming. After all, Boxer, Gore, Lorie David, Melisa Etheridge etc. are the front-line eco-warriors that shame us with their unselfish love of Mother Earth. No sacrifice is too small for these brave pioneers! While you are at it eco-warriors, please remember to use only use one piece of toilet paper as mandated by federal law, (except for Al since he is allowed to use the IRS form Sz3xBM “fat ass” exemption)….Go get ‘em guys! We Love you!
January 11th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
No kidding, U NO HOO!
..and we keep electing politicians that think up these brilliant (sarc) regulations, why? Nanny state, “Brave New World”, here we come! Are they going to come and tuck us in at night also? (Give me a break!)
So this is the type of “change” Liberals think that America needs?????
January 11th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
In the meantime … Baghdad had snow today for the first time in 100 years.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
Ralph Cavanagh, an energy expert with the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in an interview that at a time of peak electricity use, “most people given a choice of two degrees of temperature setback and 14th-century living would happily embrace this capacity.” …
Almost like being given the choice as to whether you’d prefer your pinkie finger being chopped off or your entire hand.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Dr. Rosenfeld is one the truly gifted men of our time-in physics. Having said that, I think that his exposure to the Left Coast Insanity has damaged his ability to make political assessments. California’s lights dim or go out because of their choices (choices of the few), nothing more or less. They will not allow safe power plants to be built, safe grids to be constructed, safe wells to be drilled, and on and on. Now he is willing to have an incompetent government extort more freedom from a submissive constituency. Where is the backbone of the American people? How long will it matter?
January 11th, 2008 at 1:17 pm
This is wonderful! They are essentially blaming the energy shortage on the “overuse” by Californians. How about building a nuclear power plant? What about allowing Alaska to drill for oil, something they want to do? I seems to me the real people who need to have their electricity shut off are the politicians who have failed to solve the problem that is so easily solvable.
I really think California is trying to get rid of all of the sensable, intelligent people in their state. I thought the “I feel like a girl today so I am going to shower in the girls locker room” legislation Schwartz just signed was insane. Next, it will be illegal to drive an all fuel vehicle, no matter the fuel economy. 50 mpg diesel VW? Nope, you must drive a 29 MPG pius.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:30 pm
On second thought, maybe I won’t move back to Kalifornia. On the other hand, if Kalifornia leads, Washington State is sure to follow behind. I’m screwed.
Actually, Warziristan is starting to look good. At least there’s no tree huggers there and I’ll have a shot at taking down OBL for a fat reward.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
Will this apply to the residences of illegal aliens and people on welfare ?
Thought not.
January 11th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
FTA: The fact that similar radio-controlled technologies have been used on a voluntary basis in irrigation systems on farm fields and golf courses and in limited programs for buildings on Long Island is seldom mentioned in Internet postings that make liberal use of references of George Orwell’s dystopian novel “1984” and “Big Brother,” the omnipresent voice of Orwell’s police state.
The key word in this sentence is “voluntary.” This new proposal is anything but.
Leave it to liberal bureaucrats to decide that micromanaging people’s behavior is somehow better than building new infrastructure to meet increasing demand. Scratch a liberal, find a fascist.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
Cheeflo, but this type of voluntary almost always leads to mandatory. It would be different if a group of farmers got together to arrange a reasonable watering plan to conserve, but they did not, they decided to let someone else determine what is appropriate. Now they are used as a model for everyone to conform to.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
S/G you said that “The right to be comfortable in your own home if you are willing to pay the price.” Al Gore and others have the right to live and heat mansions because they are willing and able to pay the price to heat them,but in doing so they are making it tougher for those of us who are fighting higher prices by conserving.When the price of a unit of heat goes up because of those who view the right to be comfortable in every room of a house/mansion it is all of us who will pay the price for their waste.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
The retail industry has been using this technology for years (I build their stores). And with the tecnology that’s been around for years and all their experience they and their energy management system people and contractors have, they still have a lot of problems with it. So if the state decided to implement this, and this system doesn’t work properly, can you imagine the lawsuits against the utility companies and the states that impletment a mandatory system, when, say, some elderly couple dies of heat stroke or hypothermia? I know that’s extreme, but that’s how our country works. Then the extreme becomes the norm. But not to worry, Shillary’s money give-a-way will take care of all these little details I’m sure.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
WI -question for you:
A few months ago, the power company here started installing “smart meters” on all the houses. Supposedly they will eventually allow homeowners to see exactly how much power each appliance in the home is using.
Is this potentially a step towards what CA is looking at -the proverbial camel’s nose under the tent ?
Would (or could) these things have that capability ?
January 11th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
DW….it could be depending on what type of “smart meter” technology they are using. Where I live in WA, Puget Sound Energy has started to install them. Not only is it supposed to allow the resident to see how much energy they have used, but it allows remote reading of the meters, thus eliminating the need for the old meter reader. Since it involves wireless technology, there’s no reason it couldn’t be modified to control the amount you’re using.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
Thanks WI. That didn’t even occur to me until I saw this article. And yes, mine has some wireless capability.
I should know better -living in the People’s Republic of Ontaristan.
January 11th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Here in IL Com Ed has offered the option to individual homeowners to allow Com Ed to shut off power during times of heavy usage. Of course, Com Ed PAYS the homeowner for this and it is VOLUNTARY. Free market choices should be the FIRST option.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:36 am
You all know it’s only a matter of time, if these devices are installed, to going from “emergency events” to “emergency seasons” - wherein entire summers or winters are spent with the GOVERNMENT controlling one’s household temperature.
They know no bounds, and it’s alarming.
When each and every single member of the NYT staff has these in their homes/apartments, and allows people to control *their* thermostat (especially in bitter cold NY winters) then we’ll have a conversation.
I pay my utility bill. Why do I lose control? Will I be credited for days when the thermostat is set different from what I wish? I doubt it.
January 17th, 2008 at 5:13 am
Update, from the San Francisco Chronicle:
Of course the plan has not been killed, merely dismissed for now.