The Guardian - 24th June 2017
 

Is your smart meter spying on you?

The French are getting heated up about their meters collecting data on their daily lives. Perhaps the British should be concerned too

They are the mini-computers being installed in 30m UK homes and businesses in an £11bn programme that will allow the energy companies to remotely monitor our gas and electricity usage. But could smart meters also become the new spies in our homes, raising fresh fears about a surveillance society as they track our daily activities?

Campaigners in France, where a similar installation programme is taking place, think so. On holiday in Bordeaux recently I was struck by posters advertising a demo called “Stop Linkyâ€. Linky is the name of French utility giant EDF’s new smart meter, but it has sparked a more vociferous backlash than here. “Dites NON! aux compteurs communicants LINKY,†posters shouted ahead of a demo in mid-June, with others planned around the country.

Lawyers for Stop Linky are preparing a class action against EDF and its subsidiary Enedis, which is implementing the programme. Lawyer Arnaud Durand claims smart meters pose health and privacy issues. He calls them a “Trojan horse’†that could harvest vast amounts of data about our activities. Even rudimentary information has commercial value. “For example, a telemarketing company will know if it’s a good moment to call your house.â€

In Britain, privacy campaigners share their fears. Guy Herbert of NO2ID says: “Smart meters are presented as an environmental and power-saving initiative. But it’s a highly surveillant model. It can tell how many showers you have had, when you are cooking, when you are in and out of the home.â€

Evidence of the race to monetise the data from smart meters is already emerging. A video on the website of Onzo, a British analytics company, says: “We take energy consumption data from smart meters and sensors. We analyse it and build a highly personalised profile for each and every utility customer.†It will have “the ability to monetise their customer data by providing a direct link to appropriate third party organisations based on the customer’s identified character.†Last year Onzo was at a “consumer goods hackathon†hosted by Procter & Gamble to help sell more detergent, shampoo and toiletries.

But, as Herbert says, this is not just about commercial activities. The Investigatory Powers Act also hands the authorities access to bulk data, including energy data. “A smart meter is also a smart controller,†he warns.

Are these fears overblown? Bernard Lassus is head of Enedis, the company that has already installed 4.7m smart meters in France. Study after study in France, the US and Canada have disproved health fears surrounding the meters, he says. The French meters transmit energy consumption data once a day and contain no more information than a current meter. Data is not individualised and cannot be sold on to third parties without active prior consent by the household.

In Britain, the industry body Smart Energy GB takes a similar line. “Your smart meter stores and transmits simple information on how much energy your home has used. Personal details like your name, address and bank account details are not stored on or transmitted by the meter. Your supplier can’t use any data from your smart meter for sales and marketing purposes unless you give them permission to do so.â€

But we all know that once data is out there it is used in ways we didn’t anticipate. A smart meter bill introduced in this week’s Queen’s speech also says there would be new “powers to make changes to smart meter regulationsâ€.

It’s not even clear if smart meters will result in more transparent or cheaper tariffs, with some warning it is turning into an £11bn white elephant. And can someone tell me why our programme, near identical in size to that in France, is somehow costing us more than twice the €5bn it is costing them?

Just a device to read your utility bill - I don't think so. At the moment not compulsory to have one installed - yet!

Not exactly a riveting topic I admit, but one which is likely to be in the headlines shortly.  Yesterday (Tuesday) Worc CC held a public meeting to brief its council taxpayers on why it was getting into bed with Herefordshire Council to build a PFI-funded state-of-the-art waste incinerator.  Each authority will be committed to divying up £350M for the new plant.  Herefordshire's Cabinet is due to discuss the plan tomorrow (Thursday).

What I would like to ask well-informed and knowledgable followers of The Voice is this: I was told that at one time HC considered building its own waste disposal unit at Rotherwas, as it would have produced sufficient energy from the waste's heat to be fed to the new factory units which we are told will one day grace the re-branded Skylon Park. 

This is such an emminently sensible eco-friendly idea that I think the person who told me was pulling my leg. Is there a grain of truth in this story?

I am pleased report that Belmont Rural Parish Council approved last Thursday (08 December 16) to reinstate the goal posts on the play area behind Northolme Community Centre.

These will be installed as soon as the right conditions arrive.

I will post an update when this work is completed.

Take 17 of the poorest EU member states, and there's plenty to choose from, lump them together and add up their sovereign wealth, GDP and any other economic factor that'll estimate a nations wealth, and that combined sum total will not surpass the wealth and economic power of Britain.

Britain is the second largest contributor to the Brussels EU funds and its second lowest beneficiary. Indeed, if you factor in the levy that Britain has been required to pay twice during the last decade that punishes us for our economic success story of growth, jobs and wealth, we actually pay more in than our closest economic rivals Germany.

Factor in the contributions of Britain, Germany, Italy and France and you'll calculate that these four nations of the 28 member states account for 64 percent of all the EU funds received in Brussels. Whilst all pay in something, what the poor get out to fund their poverty stricken countries can often be as high as 200 times the size of their annual contribution.

The population of the entire European Union is just over three hundred million people. Britain accounts for over a fifth of that number which probably goes some way to explaining why we take more EU residential migrants and are the first choice of destination of the other member state citizens.

So, you'd think that given we've provided all our free of charge public services that include housing, health care and education to many millions of people and their dependants, we've been extraordinarily generous and giving hosts, you'd think that in some small part they'd treat us with a little kindness and understanding? No such bloody luck!

Our problem in extricating ourselves from this Union essentially boils down to one bloody thing. Nigh on 11 billion quid! For probably the one and only time in the history of this neo communistic model of globalisation madness that sees the wealthy giving and the poor taking so that we all end up as f.uck.ed up as one another, not one single member of the remaining 27 is in disagreement. The rich don't want to pay anymore and the poor don't want to be given any less which means, unless I'm a fiscally illiterate bloody idiot, we're about to be buggered over and have the lips of the poor member states clinging onto our cash cow teats for decades to come.

We ain't leaving the European Union!

I have MAJOR concerns over these two tree's on the Belmont Road, I have mentioned this several times over the years but nothing is seems to be done about it. These tree's are an accident just waiting to happen! The roots have pushed out the wall beneath. 

Between Theresa May's visit to the London tower block fire & Jeremy Corbyn's

1045/270217

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Glastonbury goers like to occupy the moral high ground but don't practice what they preach...

Our Mayor Jim Kenyon and Cllr's Laura Hall and Kath Hey and the rest of the team have travelled to Poland this week representing Hereford wit the view to to exploring the possibly of twinning Jaworzno in Poland with Hereford. 

We have a thriving Polish community in Hereford and personally I think this is a great idea and we should embrace it.

Good luck with the trip guys and I apologise that I was unable to join you this time.

Jim wrote:

Just embarking with a team on a "self funded" trip to jaworzno in Poland which I hope will be the first of many we are looking at the potential of Hereford twinning with that city we have a fantastic polish community in our city time to build stronger links culturally and socially I'll keep you guys posted over the next few days!

I will have a full update from Jim when they return.

I think someone might be in a wee bit or trouble with Tesco's   

Belmont community action day loads of progress at Glastonbury Close Well done to Tracy Bowes, Derek Preedy, Neil Hooper, Mandy Preedy and a local chap called Mark.

I was not aware until I saw the post on Facebook otherwise I would of most definitely been helping out.

A great job clearing many years of rubbish and overgrown bushes and grass.

Thank you to all the team who worked so very hard today.

I have heard from several reliable sources that the GP walk-in centre at Asda is to be closed.

Please SIGN the petition here

Cllr Glenda Powell managed to get over 700 signatures on a petition to prevent it being moved to the A&E department at the hospital back in 2010. (See this topic)

Fair play to the Polish Prime Minister, she is absolutely 100% SPOT ON in everything she said. We should take the same stance here in the UK however, it is probably to late for us now, thanks to Angela Merkel and the rest of the European Looney Left. 

http://www.youtu.be/QPZiAQ9bKbk

Scene: A bedroom in 10 Downing Street. A bespectacled man in a dressing down stands beside a four-poster bed.

Man: More tea, Prime Minister?

Woman occupant of bed: Thank you, Philip. So much nicer with a pinch of Earl Grey, don't you think?

Man: Indubitably, Prime Minister. There is a visitor outside to see you.

Woman: Who is it?

Man: Sir Tufton Bufton, Chairman of the 1922 Committee.

Woman: Ask him to come in, will you Philip?

Man: Certainly, Prime Minister.

An elderly gentleman in a pin-striped suit enters the bedroom.

Gent: Good morning, Prime Minister. Thank you for the knighthood.

Woman: It was richly deserved, Tufton.

Gent: How may I be of service, Prime Minister?

Woman (reaches for gilt-edged card on the bedside table): I should value your Committee's views on my new Cabinet. I intend to make several changes. Cut out some of the dead wood. Strong and stable must remain our watchwords.

Gent: Quite so, Prime Minister. Will you be appointing a new Chancellor?

Woman: I certainly will! I'm sending Hammond to the Lords, as he seems to spend most of his time asleep in the Chamber.

Gent: Who will be replacing him?

Woman: Stephen Fry.

Gent (spluttering): But he's an Iron Hoof!

Woman: He's in a same-sex marriage, if you don't mind, Tufton. It's all perfectly legal these days. Anyway, I want to annoy that fat lump Arlene Foster.

Gent: Very well, Prime Minister; I'll put it to my Committee. And Home Secretary?

Woman (closing her eyes wistfully): Ah yes.  An Office of State I know well. Dealing with intransigent Chief Constables and our archaic judiciary is a huge challenge, which calls for someone with a commanding presence. So my new Home Secretary will be Dame Shirley Bassey.

Gent: An unusual choice, if I may say so, Prime Minister. And the Foreign Office. Will Boris be staying?

Woman (opening her eyes menacingly): No he will NOT! I'm fed up with that bovine clown's gaffes. I'm moving him to Northern Ireland.

Gent: A form of political punishment beating which I seem to recall our last woman Prime Minister favoured!

Woman: Exactly. His place is to be taken by a true diplomatic and a distinguished man of letters.

Gent: A senior figure from the diplomatic service, no doubt.

Woman: Sir Ken Dodd. What a great ambassador he'll make for this country. Meeting world leaders like Putin and Erdogan - and of course that nice Mr Trump.

Gent: And Brexit, Prime Minister. What would you like me to tell the Committee about your new Brexit strategy? Will it now be a Soft Brexit? Or a Collegiate Brexit? Or perhaps a Swiss Muesli Brexit?

Woman (sharply): None of the above. I shall be appointing two negotiators to replace those idle tossers Davis and Fox. Our strategy henceforth - created by Sir Lynton Crosby - will be a Rough, Tough, You-looking-at-me-chum Brexit.

Gent: A high risk strategy, is it not Prime Minister?

Woman: Not where my new negotiating team are concerned. Both are financial titans sans pareil. Believe me, they take no prisoners!

Gent: May I ask who they will be, Prime Minister?

Woman: Fred Goodwin...

Gent: Fred-The-Shred?

Woman: The very same. Soon to be ennobled as Lord Lucre of Leith. And my dear friend Sir Philip Green. Any man who owns three ocean-going yachts is a global entrepreneur, in my view.

Bespectacled Man (re-entering the room as the sound of an ambulance siren can be heard from the street below): It's time for your visit to the clinic, Prime Minister.

Bloor Homes have submitted planning application for 82 new homes along Roman Road Hereford.

(Land to the North of the Roman Road and West of the A49 Holmer West Hereford)

Planning Application P171073/RM

ProposedPlans 57.pdf

How pathetic that you cannot buy hot food in Hereford after 1.30am!



This stupid idea of Hereford Council I assume is designed to prevent a build up of people coming out of nightclubs...well guess what? It does not work! Because now people que at the sandwich bar in Commercial Road or in the 24 hour garage.
So why can we not buy hot food? It's no wonder many people think the nightlife and everything else is so poor and choose to avoid Hereford altogether! This Council needs to have a rethink and get into the 21st Century!
Hereford is becoming like a ghost town both during the day and night!

I have written to the Hereford Times expressing my opinion and quite a lot of other locals too

I cannot help but notice that more and more commercial properties are having a change of use to become residential. Personally, I would prefer to see an empty property being used however, for me, it is about finding that balance between satisfying the need for homes or allowing the constant shrinking of Hereford's commercial properties.

One of my concerns is, if the council allow the change of use from commercial to residential to often, how long will it be before residents start to complain about the 'business's next door', being to noisy or about smells, lights, people, traffic etc...

I think that this conversion in Eign Road looks terrible.