The grid could be upgraded technically but consumers are not comfortable with its proposed use of smart meters
Because the grid was designed a long time ago by man, with his myopic limitations, it wasn’t designed to handle the technicalities of this age. This shortcoming calls for an upgrade in the electricity infrastructure we know. The upgraded grid, as idealized, does everything the electric grids of the past could do and more. It also utilizes digital technology to improve efficiency through the use of smart meters.
These digital meters are useful for utility companies as they provide helpful and precise information. With these meters, they could easily point out who is and isn’t affected by a blackout. This way, the companies can act more quickly, saving time and labor in the process.
⚡️Smart meters help utility companies control the consumption of electricity during peak times when power is being used simultaneously.
Albeit a great idea, Americans have their worries as the upgraded grid’s methods of improving efficiency include monitoring consumption of power. This seems to be a form of unwanted surveillance to many as studying electricity use could not only show which appliances are currently in use but could also discern which channel was being watched in a house at a given moment.