[QUOTE] Smart electric grids are championed by the federal government, conservation groups and industry as good for the economy and the environment. The digital meters in homes enable measurement and two-way communication with utilities so consumers can trim electricity use.

Traditional electromechanical meters — attached to the side of a house — are typically read once a month or less. New digital meters will collect data 750 to 3,000 times a month. Such fine-grained metering, privacy experts say, will make it possible to put together a picture of household life: when the people who live there get up, when they get home, what appliances they use most and when they go on vacation.[/QUOTE]

[URL]http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/15/tracking-electric-use-could-allow-utilities-to-track-you-too/[/URL]