• Laurel Talabere
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  • Added 15 Dec 2009
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The Poinsettia and the Fern

Taken at the Franklin Park Conservatory, Columbus, OH USA - 2009 Canon Rebel XT Copyright: Photographer Laurel Talabere

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Anonymous Guest

Anonymous Guest 24 Feb 2013

I say that you are correct. Also PG&E cliams that the ZigBee transmitters in the meters to transmit what the real-time energy use that is displayed on the meter, and also one way commands to smart thermostats that control compressor motors on air conditioning units (in the future), and to in home monitors is not being used now, but they don't say that the ZigBee transmitters are not transmitting. Granted, the ZigBee transmitters are very low powered, only about 0.30 watts, and only can send signals about 75 feet. It is the trick wording from PG&E that pisses many people off.The in home displays will take information from a broadband connection about current pricing, but not everyone has or wants a high speed broadband connection, and these in home display monitors cost around $200 plus the cost of the monthly broadband connection ($45-$60 per month), plus the installation costs. These are the 2 big features advertised that come with the SmartMeters. And these features will not even be available for at least 2 years !Also, the Home Area Networks system is entirely purchased by the customer, and does not communicate with the utility. These systems involve the customer purchasing special new appliances with monitoring chips, separate modules to turn these appliances on or off, controllers, computer interfaces, monitors and computers to use these HAN systems pipe dreamed to be available in the distant future. Now there is a new mandate that these HAN systems use other communications protocols other than ZigBee. It's a corporate marketing thing. This could render the ZigBee transmitters useless that are in the new meters and transmitting NOW for NOTHING.The main purposes of the SmartMeter deployment are to eliminate meter reading jobs, and implement a new time differential pricing program in a few years. It is just another way for PG&E to extort more money out of the customers, blessed by the PUC.Charging $1.00 per kilowatt hour during the hours of 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm is not going to save any energy at all, people will still use electricity whenever they need to, but it is going to fatten the wallets of the investor/owners of PG&E BIG TIME !In these challenging economic times , it is nice to know that someone is getting rich, AIN'T IT ?

Peter Rivron 16 Dec 2009

Very beautiful capture Laurel.

JENNIFER KESSELL 16 Dec 2009

What a beautiful shot . Thanks for sharing . ~ jennifer kessell

Emily Reed 16 Dec 2009

BEAUTIFUL HOLIDAY COLORS!

Sharon Gonzalez 15 Dec 2009

WOW LAUREL!!!!!!!!!! VERY VERY AWESOME IMAGE AND MAGNIFICENT COLORS.