Ethical Arguement: Smart Grid

Background:

To begin the ethical discussion on the smart grid, I will first explain "the grid". "The grid" is the system of transmission line and substations that transport power from generation stations to homes, businesses, and industry. A smart grid allows a power utility to view how power is being consumed by a consumer and the ability to change that power consumption. The idea of the smart grid has arisen as a solution to the current grid becoming stressed and less reliable.

The Unethicality:
I believe the idea of a smart power grid should be abandoned due to ethical implications, and other avenues of solutions should be considered to alleviate the stressed grid. When a consumer pays for electricity they have used, they are also expecting the power to be there when they want to use it. A power utility should not be allowed to shut off a consumer's dryer, with their only reasoning being the power could be better used elsewhere. Not only would they be able to turn off the consumer's dryer, they could dim the lights stop the electric car from charging or shutoff the cell phone charger without any permission from the consumer.

Possible Solutions:
There are other solutions to the aging stressed power grid. The EPA could lessen restrictions on coal fire power plants. With the coal deposits in the United States, we could continue to maintain the current grid until a more permanent and reasonable solution was found. A permanent solution to the current problem would occur if the United States would finally embrace nuclear power. Although nuclear power has had a somewhat dark history, the safety of nuclear power has been greatly improved in the last two decades. Nuclear power would free us of our dependency of fossil fuels and help to provide power security for future generations.