Utility company wants to come into our homes without permission.

California Energy Commission has proposed procedures under which they could actually reach into our homes and control the thermostat settings during times of energy stress. Their idea is to prevent the rolling blackouts that plague the countryside during periods of electricity shortages, such as during heat waves when people turn their air conditioners up even higher putting a larger load on the utility company’s already taxed electricity generating equipment.

The concept, at first glance, is allowing big brother into our homes without our permission. And this freaks out a lot of civil libertarians. The really ‘out-there’ types would be convinced there is a listening device or camera in the thermostat that authorities could use to spy on us.

In fact, radio talk shows have been flooded with indignant callers claims of violating the ‘man’s home is his castle’ dictum.

Disregarding the paranoia that this scenario brings about, 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, proposed that utilities can adjust customers’ preset temperatures though the use of radio-controlled thermostats when the price of electricity is soaring. Customers could override the utilities’ suggested temperatures, but in emergencies, the utilities could override customers’ wishes.

They are attempting to control electrical demand at the source. This is something I can see as necessary because there is no way customers will cut back voluntarily. It just has never happened and we all pay for it by doing without power for however long it takes to get the power back on. So, on the one hand, it is a very worthwhile endeavor aimed at keeping power flowing for all of us all of the time. On the other hand, we are giving up some control over our comfort zone.

Personally, I think this is a small price to pay to ensure traffic lights remain working, hospitals maintain constant power, and 911 systems are not interrupted.

These people who are thinking only of their own paranoiac fears need to lighten up and think about the big picture and realize that this could just save themselves trouble and inconvenience.