Google Power Meter and the Next Great Conspiracy Theory

Several weeks ago, Rich blogged about the apparent cozy relationship between Barack Obama and Google's CEO Eric Schmidt, who in many circles is considered to be among the favorites for the administration's CTO job.

 

Two weeks earlier (January 11th), The New York Times published an article titled California Seeks Thermostat Control, which described how the State of California would reserve for itself 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."

 

That seems a bit "Big Brother-ish" now, doesn't it?

 

On February 9^th, Google announced a new initiative whereby it would help consumers track their home energy usage and thereby lower demand and the global warming emissions that come from producing electricity.

 

Dubbed Google PowerMeter, the new solution (which is currently in beta by Google employees only) would receive information from utility smart meters and energy management devices and provide that information regarding home electricity consumption right on a user's iGoogle homepage.

 

Ok, so this is about Google helping consumers save money in the Web 2.0 world right? And help green the nation while we're at it. Right? RIGHT?

 

"It may not sound like much, but if half of America's households cut their energy demand by 10 percent, it would be the equivalent of taking eight million cars off the road," Google said.

 

Now indulge my inner conspiracy theorist.

 

The software has a nifty "Sharing" feature, which would allow users to "strike up a little friendly competition to see how your energy consumption compares to your friends and neighbors."

 

Sharing personal power consumption information in a world where saving energy is the most patriotic thing you can do???

 

I'm not saying there's any conspiracy, but it's fun sometimes to play connect the dots and maybe supply budding novelists with alternative subplots for their adventure novels. Here you have the CEO of a powerful company that has access to your search patterns, your purchasing habits, your carbon footprint... You have him potentially working as a member of a government agency that wants to control your access to the grid (electrical, Internet, communications)... they have the ability to freeze you out or turn your home into a sweltering oven... And they plan to tax you for all the carbon offsets you don't voluntarily pay for! (See how it all comes back to taxes?  )

 

Might make a good short story. I don't know. I have to get back to work now.

 

I just got a Google News Alert for the term "procrastination."

 

Funny, I don't remember signing up for alerts on that term.

 

You don't suppose...?