1984 wrote on Jan 7, 2008 8:48 PM:Big brother is watching you.

How about.... wrote on Jan 7, 2008 9:10 PM:some sort of turn-off device for the greed and avarice of corporate executives who create false energy shortages to gouge consumers? Why aren't these corporate terrorists being pursued mercilessly by the FBI? Why aren't their bank accounts and pensions being seized as they rot in jail? People died thanks to these people and most of the scum keep on living affluent lives on golden parachutes. Send the corporate scum to Guantanamo with the other terrorists.

Don't worry Orwell wrote on Jan 7, 2008 9:27 PM:Where you moving to? Good bye Boxer, Finestine, Schwarzenegger, CARB, CDFG, CDF, CDI, DMV and every other California Department operated public service. Retirement out of the Union of Socialist Republic of California is less than 5 years away here. To those that say good riddance, I say fare the well, enjoy the illegal migrants,liberal judges, urban sprawl, forced bonds, grid locked freeways, excessive tax and socialization of my home state. I'll always cherish the orchards, countryside and memories of North County that were so dear at one time in my life.
Rube Nelson, Johnny Downs and Chet Love are turning over in their graves.

Alf wrote on Jan 8, 2008 5:31 AM:Although not a requirement, those who currently want a rate break already volunteer to have their A/Cs take a rolling stoppage to prevent black-outs. The key word is "voluntary". To have big brother control your thermostat WITHOUT your permission is pure tyranny. There are those who would spew the garbage that you "voluntarily" agreed when you bought the house, they miss the point entirely. This is just one more example of the insidious nature of tyranny, it happens incrementally, not all at once. They slide the knife in so slowly that you don't notice until it's too late. Regards, Alf.

Easy Solution wrote on Jan 8, 2008 6:03 AM:Get off the Grid and go Solar. Cut the crooks off at the knees.

Avg Joe wrote on Jan 8, 2008 6:39 AM:Over my dead body they will!

LKF wrote on Jan 8, 2008 6:43 AM:Sieg Heil Kalifornia! Democrat leadership (an oxymoron) has ruined this State.

Mike wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:19 AM:“Thanks to efficiency standards, California's demand for electricity has remained flat since the late 1970s even as its population has doubled, Gottlieb said.”

Another lie from our trusted government bureaucrats. They really do believe their own propaganda.

Think about it - why would the state need control of people’s thermostats if the above statement were true? Me thinks there's a contradiction here. Should we trust anything they say when they are constantly trying to take away our liberties?

State is insane wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:25 AM:For the State to even consider this idea is insane. Whether private utility corporations or state agencies, they have no right to control us inside our homes.

Wow wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:26 AM:But what's to stop a homeowner from replacing one of these of thermostats once they move in? Is the state going to come by every so often and make "spot inspections" inside our houses? This is the definition of "slippery slope."

Unbelievable wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:30 AM:This proposal is truly unbelievable. Allowing a state agency to control the thermostats in our houses? The state is forcing the cities to build new houses now, against the free will of the cities, and now, because the need for energy is so high, they want to take control of those very same homes. How about stop building things we can't support! How about allowing new plants to be built that would actually fulfill our energy needs? How about finaly getting serious about solar which reduces energy needs by over 50% for each house that has it. Where's the real leadership on this? Where's the ACLU on this one (they pop up on every other little thing)? No, none of these are realistic to those idiots in Sacramento, but investing in a system that allows the state to CONTROL your house makes perfect sense to them. This is the most troubling and ridiculous thing I've read in years!

John E wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:38 AM:"Easy Solution" has the right idea. Solar-powered heating and air conditioning make more sense every year.

and yet... wrote on Jan 8, 2008 7:39 AM:they keep building .. and building.. and building.. and building.. and building.. and building..
Its really hard to take any of this mandated conservatin seriously when our politicians do nothing to stop the never ending development. As long as a single new building is being put up I will NEVER conserve. I'll water my grass at noon, throw my recyclables in the trash and drive my gas hungry SUV. because until the city goverments take some responsibility and stop putting ALL of it on the taxpayers/ratepayers.. its nothing but a huge lie.

Karl wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:00 AM:Wow this has been a fast year. I can't believe it's April 1 already.

To LKF wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:10 AM:When did Arnold change his party?

True wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:13 AM:LKF has the right idea. All the Democratic Leaders (Schwartenegger, Hunter, Bilbray, Issa) have really sold us down the river. Let's give the Republicans a chance for a change?

Becky wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:29 AM:How do we stop this? I hear lots of people talking about how terrible it is but what do we DO? I'm tired of talking... I want ACTION somehow. Any ideas anybody??

1984 wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:31 AM:Then the Mex Ds will regulate what you are watching on TV; a Chip in you rear end so they will know where you have been; sensors in your throat to monitor tobacco and fatty food consumption; crush you SUV and mandate bicycles; etc, etc.

Jaque wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:56 AM:First to "UNBELIEVABLE." Can you elaborate on how local muni's are being forced to the build out stage but the state?

Second to "AND YET." I second your notion that until govt (corporate america) makes a true move toward the big picture, I won't do anything but laugh at the whining that continues to go on.

Patriot wrote on Jan 8, 2008 9:06 AM:You can blame George W. Bush for the current "fascist" environment in our State and country; it comes from the top down, starting with the Patriot Act, which took away all our civil liberties, signed and sealed by Dubya himself.

It's not just happening in California, comrades, it's originating from the Oval Office. The late Ronald Reagan is turning over in his grave.

A better solution wrote on Jan 8, 2008 9:23 AM:Rather than attempting to control how you use your thermostat, why not kick the rolling blackouts up to the next level? The state can indeed control exactly where power is applied, so those homes or blocks that are consuming the most should get shut down when supplies are tight. Fools like "and yet..." at 7:39 AM think they can consume with impunity simply because someone else does. It is that kind of backward Bush-league logic keeps the US from making any meaningful energy consumption changes..."well India and China aren't changing, why should we?" I'm against government interference as much as the next guy, but the public has proven itself totally unable and unwilling to consume energy intelligently, so something has to be done. What's your BETTER idea?

Carl wrote on Jan 8, 2008 9:30 AM:Now if SANDAG was involved with this proposal, they'd call it "smart energy".

To Becky wrote on Jan 8, 2008 9:41 AM:Two Words: Solar Panels. You're welcome.

What? wrote on Jan 8, 2008 10:14 AM:I am speachless.

Greg wrote on Jan 8, 2008 10:28 AM:I am so thankful I live in the "Republic of Texas"

Paul wrote on Jan 8, 2008 10:36 AM:Sure do wish I had a radio controlled device installed in our Sacramento government. I would dial down that hot air.

Bradley J. Fikes wrote on Jan 8, 2008 10:49 AM:Becky,

I wrote the story. The Jan. 30 meeting in Sacramento (info here: http://tinyurl.com/2tz2vh) is one place you can speak out. If you're not able to travel there, you can contact your local Assembly or State Senate representative, or Gov. Schwarzenegger.

Let the market handle it wrote on Jan 8, 2008 12:21 PM:Typical of the Socialists/Communists who call themselves "Democrats" in this state. They're as "Democratic" as their buddy Hugo Chavez. They should focus on meters that can handle variable pricing, and let the market decide, but only after they let us run the meters backwards if we generate MORE than we consume, and pay us at some % of what the market rate is at that time. Then all the homes can leave their AC OFF all day, and make money powering the AC at the office buildings.

Concerned-1 wrote on Jan 8, 2008 12:48 PM:Just when you thought you'd heard it all. I love California, but the buffoons we have in Sacramento are just unbelievable. I don't want to spend my sunset years elsewhere, but I may not have a choice. I will not live in a Third World Country, nor will I live in a socialist state. California, under current leadership, is morphing toward both.

Concerned-1 wrote on Jan 8, 2008 12:51 PM:People such as "An Yet" are a big part of the problem. If I see you watering your lawn in the middle of the day in my neighborhood, I'll tell you to turn it off! ...

shockcorridor wrote on Jan 8, 2008 2:24 PM:Same here, Greg. Unfortunately I see more and more escapees from California arriving here. Just leave your damn politics back in Cali, hippies.

Otto wrote on Jan 8, 2008 2:35 PM:Having dealt with the state's 'building energy efficiency standards' since their inception in the early 80's to date, I implore all of you to NOT BE deceived by the absolute absudity and ridiculousness of it. In fact, you MUST believe and expect that, unless something is otherwise done about it, this stupid and completely unrighteous proposal will BECOME LAW if we allow it (by indifference mostly). The IDIOTS that are 'California's Governance' have no qualms about making your life as MISERABLE as possible, just as long as it perpetuates their own agenda, which is often (sadly) just the simple justification and perpetuation of their own job(s). The truth is, this isn't anything to do with 'energy efficiency' and EVERYTHING to do with special interest 'business' - AT ANY COST. Be afraid, be very afraid.

JSten wrote on Jan 8, 2008 3:25 PM:This state has a long way to go before moving into our houses. Why havent there been enforced building efficiency standards? I went to a development under construction a time ago and asked if the buildings were insulated-oh, thats available for an added cost. HMMM...

Also, we could do a lot to increase the genenrating efficiency and recovery of waste heat at our power plants, but they would need to be sited better and more closely to the larger target loads. California is one place that seems to be designed to resist central heating and cooling, just like mass transit. HMMMM....

And have you ever wondered about how much energy is used keeping those large flat roofed buildings cool out there in the desert? Maybe, just maybe ther ecoudl be some work done to increase the energy efficiency of those facilites, and maybe add some shading, or put up solar collectors. HMMMMM

So, California, you can have control of my thermostat after you take care of the "to-do" list above.

surfer dave wrote on Jan 8, 2008 3:41 PM:I've never used my heater -- don't have an air conditioner either. Looks like I'll side-step this potential boondoggle. I guess if it gets really cold, an extra layer of blankets should do the trick.

Derek wrote on Jan 8, 2008 6:24 PM:Instead of automatically shutting off our A/C during peak periods, broadcast a price change and let us program into our thermostats how much we can afford to pay for electricity. When the price rises above that level, our A/C units will shut themselves off, because we've told them to, not because someone else did.

geoloser wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:23 PM:My goodness. I heard about this on the radio and couldn't believe it was true. I'm not in Cali, but this still scares the bejezuz out of me. As they say, as goes California, so goes the rest of the nation. I'm for conservation as much as the next guy--it just makes sense, but the Enviro-wackos will soon want to do everything (including powering down those power-hungry computers and internet servers) as soon as they think they can get away with it. I hope this gets the national attention that it deserves.

Thomas Jefferson wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:49 PM:Can you say REVOLUTION?

To Surfer Dave wrote on Jan 8, 2008 8:52 PM:This could effect high pressure indoor grow lights too!

Senior wrote on Jan 8, 2008 9:24 PM:Better insulation in buildings is a good idea. Not having enough electricity when we need it the most is a bad idea. Some people are wasteful. Educate them. We would have more power plants already if the tree hugger's puppets in Sacramento and the convervatives there who bought into the deregulation myth had left things alone. We are now about 15 power plants behind the curve. Each costing $600 million to one million $ each.

Senior wrote on Jan 8, 2008 9:39 PM:That is an obvious admission the electrical generation capacity and power lines in California are not adequate. What is worse the legislature passed a law a year or two ago that utilities are FORBIDEN from entering all new long term contracts with out of state electricity producers who OPERATE OR would build coal fired plants. Although the Federal Government has spends tens of millions in researching cleaner burning coal methods for the past few years.

Observer_1 wrote on Jan 8, 2008 9:51 PM:They should be building more power plants and power lines. We will need more electricity if global warming occurs. It may be occurring but I do not think it is caused by man-made CO2 to any extent. However as others have mentioned the wider use of solar panels in this region to make more electricity during the heat of the day seems to be a good goal. Also there are large central commercial solar powered electrical generating plants already designed which should be built and tested which do not use solar panels. In this region they need to be assured additional transmission lines will be built too before the investment in the plants can be made.

Billy wrote on Jan 8, 2008 10:01 PM: The problem is not so much a lack of energy. Nobody is going to freeze in the low lands of CA. Now in the mountains there would be a problem. And the people who cut off a frozen persons heating energy would have trouble on their hands in court, even to perhaps answering for manslaughter. So we can put that aside for the time being and go back to the problem in the low lands of our state. If they are going to do it they had better do it by remote control, because I don't think to many people would stand still for it. Furthermore, consider a single person living in a four bed room house with 2 baths. Would he be able to use more heat energy than a man and his family living in a three bedroom house with one bath? And on and on I could go. Don't worry about it folks - they ain't going to do what they say. However, brace yourself - those people called civil servants and politicians have found another area in which they hope to dictate to use. With the above article they are testing to find out how the people will respond. I think they are finding out. But, you can bet your bottom dollar they will take another slant at it not to long from now. Reminds me of rationing back during workd War II. Hush my mouth - don't give them any ideas - the energy rationing board is a good job for some of thier brother-in-laws or what have you.

Futurama wrote on Jan 9, 2008 9:56 AM:The future is here:

http://comfortcontrols.lbl.gov/

Big Brother wrote on Jan 9, 2008 10:09 AM:Daffynition: Real-time pricing (for energy use)

Our prices will discriminate so we won't have to!

My Name is Nobody wrote on Jan 9, 2008 11:42 AM:Reminds me of the times I worked in China. The Chinese government controls the heating and air conditioning systems in China. It can be 100+ degrees on October 1 and the PRC turns off the AC and turns on the heating. Come March 1, they turn on the A/C and turn off the heat even if it's below freezing...Seen it happen many times. (my dates are not exact but you get the idea).

Go nuclear!!! It's safe and clean and there are tens of thousands of highly trained and experienced nuclear operators in the US. At one time San Diego had over 40 operational nuclear reactors within the City limits with bot a single fatal injury. Currently Bremerton Washington has over a 20 and Pearl Harbor Hawaii has over 30 operation reactors stationed there at this moment.

Adam wrote on Jan 9, 2008 12:19 PM:I have a better idea. Let the market determine all prices be they natural gas, electricity or transmission services. Stop messing with supply and demand and let the market be. Is it too much to ask?

mike os wrote on Jan 9, 2008 12:20 PM:welcome to "the land of the free"?

In Thre MIddle wrote on Jan 9, 2008 12:47 PM:Have fun California trying to 'conserve' your way to economic development and liberty. Maybe you should... oh, I don't know, build a freaking power plant or two (hundred)!

CindyP wrote on Jan 9, 2008 12:51 PM:Well, isn't that special.
Thank you democrats for your vision of freedom and personal responsibility.
Elect Hillary or Barry and expect this at a national level and people think Republicans want to interfere with your personal lives.

Gary wrote on Jan 9, 2008 1:00 PM:Mr. Gottlieb is a wee bit off when he claims CA electricity demand has been flat since the late seventies. See http://www.energy.ca.gov/electricity/historic_peak_demand.html

Gary wrote on Jan 9, 2008 1:02 PM:Mr. Gottlieb is a wee bit off when he claims CA electricity demand has been flat since the late seventies:

http://www.energy.ca.gov/electricity/historic_peak_demand.html

JDH wrote on Jan 9, 2008 1:32 PM:One could simply place a hot water bottle on the thermostat in the summer and a bag of ice in the winter. Not everybody was educated in the California public school system.

JDH wrote on Jan 9, 2008 1:33 PM:One could simply place a hot water bottle on the thermostat in the summer and a bag of ice in the winter. Not everybody was educated in the California public school system.

JDH wrote on Jan 9, 2008 1:35 PM:One could simply place a hot water bottle on the thermostat in the summer and a bag of ice in the winter. Not everybody was educated in the California public school system.

REF wrote on Jan 9, 2008 2:20 PM:And these systems which control the exempt will doubtless be the best in the world, in the best of all possible worlds. Have no fear; no grandmothers will suffocate in the heat.

Aussie Bob wrote on Jan 9, 2008 2:33 PM:The issue with this idea, apart from state based intrusion, is compliance. The high-minded ecocrats forget the practicals needed to properly implement such a concept (crazy as it is). I say, let them try and do it so they can learn first hand how stupid they really are.

Subversive wrote on Jan 9, 2008 2:39 PM:I can see it all now. Californians sneaking "unregulated thermostats" across the borders to illegally install them in their homes. I wonder what the penalty will be for use of an illegal thermostat. Will it be a felony or a misdemeanor? Probably all thermostats sold in CA will be the regulated kind. I'll bet they will install them in space heaters too. The people who dreamed this up need to volunteer to be in the first "test group" after implementation. Crazy.

jim wrote on Jan 9, 2008 3:01 PM:Want to cool off more than nanny allows - put a 100w light bulb near the thermostst

Want heat in the winter? use an ice qube.

Better, yet get a generator.

Thanks

Charles wrote on Jan 9, 2008 3:15 PM:When they went after smokers, you said nothng because you weren't a smoker. Now they're coming after you - lol!

Sacramento Native wrote on Jan 9, 2008 3:21 PM:Wouldn't it be nice if just once our tax dollars would be used as they should. As much money as this country has they still want to control what we do because "THEY" don't know how. See how much smarter the people who run California are than we the people.

To hell with you wanting to control our lives. I am sick and tired of the mess our Government has us in.

Neil wrote on Jan 9, 2008 3:37 PM:The issue here should be just why we Big Bro is even considering involuntary control of thermostats. If the enviro-nazis had their way, we would all have to walk everywhere and live in tents. Why on earth should we be put into such an electricity bind, when the obvious answer is clean energy via nuclear plants, such as in France, where 805 of their electric needs are nuclear-supplied. But, O-o-o No! We couldn't do that! the Greenie nuts, who now hold our politicians by the short ones, would cry and scream like a bunch of kids instead of trying to realistically solve an energy problem that will only worsen.

Why PG& E even stays in California is beyond me. Put the problem into the hands of the government? Oh, please! They can't even balance the state budget, much less make energy decisions.

knuckles wrote on Jan 9, 2008 3:38 PM:just put in a couple of window shakers that plug in the wall. to offset the temp. short fall install them where they can be consealed from the air police

Mad wrote on Jan 9, 2008 3:39 PM:If you American's who are actually sheeple continue to elect the likes of the Bush's and Clinton's of our country....this is what us American non-sheeple are having to put up with.

I am mad as HE11 about you bone heads continuing to give up our freedoms because you are too lazy to do anything yourself! And this is just another thing you refuse to do on your own!!!!

What is next??? The state picking out what clothes for you to wear tomorrow??? Or woul you prefer them to burp you after they feed you???

...

Kasheasti wrote on Jan 9, 2008 4:05 PM:Hey Mad? The tinfoil is showing from under your ballcap.

Make your voices heard! Contact your Assembly Member: www.assembly.ca.gov

Contact your State Senate Member: www.sen.ca.gov

Contact Arnie: http://gov.ca.gov/interact#email

Don't let this go down without a fight!

Ric wrote on Jan 9, 2008 4:15 PM:This should work as well as those “Low-Flow” toilets. Both are full of CRAP.

CharlesP wrote on Jan 9, 2008 4:37 PM:You do not have to remove the thermostat. Just go to the furnace/air conditioner (air handler) and place a second set of wires to the same terminals as the radio thermostat. Have a manual switch or a second (regular) type thermostat hooked up at the exact same time, to over-ride the radio controlled thermostat.

The law states up cannot remove or tamper with the radio controlled one. You can do what I said, and it does not alter the radio contol thermostat at all!

GregC wrote on Jan 9, 2008 5:51 PM:If you think Cali has budget problems now, wait until the lawsuits start coming in...from rape cases associated with the liberal sexual deviant school policies and the deaths from heat waves or cold snaps. The fascists socialists are pushing hard to control our kid's minds and now our energy use. When are they going to add a device to our cars...to shut them down (or charge us) when we surpass our carbon quota?!

Alexandra wrote on Jan 9, 2008 6:12 PM:I believe that the "law makers" have to much time on their hands. Now, instead of working to get us more reliable energy at reasonable prices [and not pie in the sky from wind and solar]they want to control our thermostats.
I suggest that anyone wanting to get into politics first take a psycological and common sense examination. The ones in Government now have gone off the cliff! They are having a hard time discerning fact from hype and junk science. We elected these people to make decisions for us, now they want to control every aspect of our lives.

George wrote on Jan 9, 2008 6:59 PM:Well folks, you're the ones who voted these clowns into office. Next time you vote, elect people who understand the words "budget", "planning", "saving", "restraint", and who are unlikely to succumb to the influence of the environmentalist BS that has prevented us from building hydro-power facilities (they'll always damn the idea of a dam) for more years than I can remember. Electrical power can't be saved. You use it as it's produced or it doesn't get used. And if you don't produce it, it isn't there when you need it. It ain't rocket science.

WhoCaresFU wrote on Jan 9, 2008 7:18 PM:America is wonderful. Vote Hillary, and all your socialist dreams will come true! Woman love it.

Russ wrote on Jan 9, 2008 7:24 PM:Not only is this idea stupid but it would not work. Like a lot of people, I would just get a plug in room AC and run that in addition to the central AC. So whatever energy savings would be wiped out with the all the room AC running.

Wow wrote on Jan 9, 2008 7:47 PM:This is one small step away from communism. Pretty soon, they'll be telling us what we can and can't eat, how to raise our children, what we can and can't do in public. Oh wait a minute...

As a good man once said, "Government exists to protect us from each other. Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves."

Scott wrote on Jan 9, 2008 7:52 PM:Reminds me of the Dead Kennedys song...

"California Uber Alless..."

Chris wrote on Jan 9, 2008 8:08 PM:I think about this in the context of the primary election. This is the type of government that candidate Ron Paul warns us about. Amazing arrogance of government to try to manage every aspect of our lives. Perhaps government should try to be more efficient themselves, then they might have more money and use it for useful things like more nuclear power plants.

Albert wrote on Jan 9, 2008 8:08 PM:Time to get out of California, the state is going down the tubes, Illegals,liberals, and people who think movie stara are Gods. Good weather,high taxes,utilties out of control,high hospital and insurance,crowed roads, and a political machine out of control. To Bad California, you have become the melting pot of fools.

JEFF wrote on Jan 9, 2008 8:17 PM:DOES COMMUNISM RING A BELL? I AM A HVAC CONTRACTOR, THE STATE JUST RAISED THE MIN EFF OF A/C UNITS TO 13 SEER WHICH IS GREATLY REDUCING ENERGY DEMANDS. MAYBE THE STATE SHOULD GET OFF THEIR DEAD ASS AND START IMPROVING THE INFASTRUCTURE OF OUR STATE OR QUIT BUILDING HOUSES.

Hobart wrote on Jan 9, 2008 10:48 PM:Welcome to Socialist America, folks, that's what you've all been voting for this past decade. Craven, power-hungry socialist candidates who have taken control of your lives to the point of SETTING YOUR THERMOSTAT for you! HA!
And everyone still clamors for Universal Health Care! So when there's a government-dictated "crisis" (aka the budget is busted) they'll be able to automatically cancel your doctor's appointment or discontinue your proscription!
Keep it up. That's how life will be soon in California.

Eric wrote on Jan 9, 2008 10:50 PM:Build more clean NUCLEAR power plants.

Hobart wrote on Jan 9, 2008 10:51 PM:Right on, Wrote-On!

Only be sure to use an ELECTRIC heater to heat the thermostat in the summer and use a portable ELECTRIC ice box to cool the thermostat in the winter!

thermoSTATE! wrote on Jan 10, 2008 12:28 AM:Let's see: remote heat control, remote cold control, remote water control..... How about just remote BIRTH control!

Joe wrote on Jan 10, 2008 6:53 AM:In the 1990s, the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI)of Palo Alto CA defined the term “Demand Side Management.” This was a concept that EPRI expected its members, both investor-owned and public utilities, to sell to their customers.

The bold EPRI efforts to sell consumers and industry on conservation ended with the California black-outs. The policy makers in Sacramento forced all electric utilities in the state to sell their coal fired power plants. With no plants of their own, these utilities were forced to purchase power from companies like Enron. Without leverage, electricity prices soared, black-outs were frequent. The public paid through the nose and businesses left California in droves. They took with them jobs, tax revenues and their economic future…never to return. Ignorant public policy makers can and will make a mess of things regarding energy if they get the chance. We will see it again in the next year thanks to Governor Arnold’s belief in the “manmade global warming” hoax. By the way, Colorado's Bill Ritter believes in it too.

It seems to me that California's policy makers just refuse to learn from their past mistakes. It is time to Californians to clean house.

Bill wrote on Jan 10, 2008 7:50 AM:All I can Say IS un...nbelievable!!!
google this word- zeitgeist.
Very relevant movie coming out, I watched it on the web. Goes into dreat detail about how the military industrial complex and the mass media conglomorates (sp?) are aiming to take control of us. It was a very disturbing film, I would recommend everyone watch this film. It had some things to say regarding Christ I didnt agree with, however the film is laid out very well and goes into great detail about how we a re being brainwashed by the mass media and how the Central Banks (federal reserve) are pulling the strings in every major war we have had since world war 1. ... Go there and there is a link to the film, that is the trailer link.
Wow,
First it was the light bulbs now its the thermostats

Just the Facts Lady wrote on Jan 10, 2008 7:58 AM:Here's an idea. Let the bueracrats try it out first on all government owned, run and sponsored buildings and on all homes of all government workers, starting at the top with the elected ranks and working down. If it goes well demand that they stipulate theirs always gets turned off first! If you can't beat them push them into it ahead of you!!

Sleeve wrote on Jan 10, 2008 8:36 AM:I'll shoot the damm thing off the wall with my shotgun, ... If I'm willing to pay for it then it's mine to waste if I want to. It should be mandated in government and commercial buildings not in my home!

m.a. wrote on Jan 10, 2008 9:03 AM:The is no government in the world that will not "take care" of it's citizens if they keep asking it to. Remember- it's easy to give freedom away; getting it back is the hard part.

Reggie4875 wrote on Jan 10, 2008 9:57 AM:Watch the Movie "Zeitgeist". You will see this is just early steps. This has been planned for over a hundred years, soon we will have no control over anyhting we do.

Bradley J. Fikes wrote on Jan 10, 2008 10:09 AM:I wrote the story, and the comments are fascinating.

Anyone with more information, especially those with technical knowledge or insights into the program from personal knowledge, please post comments here or email me at bfikes@nctimes.com

Rushonloan wrote on Jan 10, 2008 10:12 AM:How about a device that will stop the legislation coming from Sacramento! Fine these clowns every time they show up for work.

Dan wrote on Jan 10, 2008 10:23 AM:We know that when comfort and safety come into play, we will bypass the regulations. Why not force builders in California to build with Solar water, solar space heating, stored cold air systems, swamp coolers (inland) instead of stupid harassing regulations.
I signed up for the voluntary AC program because they give me a lot of money off my bill each month..it works, I guess my house is well insulated cause if you sit downstairs with windows closed it takes about 3 days at 100+ for downstairs to get hot.
Swamp Cooler (100watts hr (pennies)) keeps the super heated master bedroom cool.
Heater, well us with chimineys will just have fires in the fireplace and create polution and sinus problems.
We have to deal with dorks in Sacramento who make it illegal to hold the cell phone to your ear and to smoke with a 17 year old in the car as of Jan1.

Tannim wrote on Jan 10, 2008 10:54 AM:HAHAHAHA! This is a joke, right? This is so easy to defeat it's not even funny:

A) Jam the radio signal.
B) disconnect the signal receiver in the thermostat.
C) Portable heaters and A/C units.
D) Multiple thermostats, in parallel to bypass.
E) Already mentioned, spoofing the thermometer.
F) Already mentioned, go solar.

This idea is impossible to implement and enforce.

Coop wrote on Jan 10, 2008 11:00 AM:It is so sad to see California turn Communist. Just sad.

SCSOCAL wrote on Jan 10, 2008 11:10 AM:Get us the California Energy Commissions phone number so we can give
them hell for even thinking of this!!

Lawmakers these past few years are
making a lot of social legislation and
not concentrating on important issues in our state!! We didn't vote for them
to do this, we want resolution to high taxes, illegal immigration and out of control spending in Scramento among other things!

Steven wrote on Jan 10, 2008 12:03 PM:You all Fell for it! The reporter snooker you all with an excellent example of irresponsible reporting.

The ability for the power company to control the thermostat is VOLUNTARY.

The proposal is only to make the installation of themostat manditory. The homeowner would have the VOLUNTEER to participate in the program in order to have the power company automatically adjust the thermostat. In return, the homeowner gets a reduce electricity rate every day.

Shadow wrote on Jan 10, 2008 12:23 PM:How frightening even the thought of this is! - This should only happen to every member of the Congress of these United States and the wealthy elite, because you can rest assured, if this stupidity were to be mandated, THEY would be circumventing any control over THEIR thermostats . .
Wake up America! We have already lost and/or compromised too many of our rights . . Beginning with the right to say who shall and who shall not be accepted into our U.S. - If ALL ILLEGALS were denied jobs, social welfare, free hospital/medical care, etc. - that alone would force attrition and they would start returning to their countries of origin on their own, thus lessening by MILLIONS the drain on our economy, electric usage, etc.
Where is the one good presidential candidate who has guts enough to say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH when it comes to ILLEGAL ALIENS and ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION? ? ? ? Let's start with the number one problem!
.

dbw wrote on Jan 10, 2008 8:50 PM:Big Brother is not only watching But CONTROLING you.
This is scary

RobertM wrote on Jan 11, 2008 4:24 PM:I welcome the help. I never know what temperature to set my thermostat. Maybe the state will help me choose what to watch on television. There are just too many choices these days. And I think I ate something that wasn't healthy last week. Perhaps the state could tell me what to eat as well. All this thinking for myself hurts my head.

David wrote on Jan 11, 2008 6:46 PM:DON'T LET ANYONE TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR THERMOSTAT.....

I had a friend who made the mistake of volunteering for Southern California Edison's A/C control program.

They shut off his A/C one weekend when the temperatures were over 100 degrees.

He called to complain and they told him the A/C would be turned back on after 12 hours.

It remained off the entire weekend.

The discount he received from SCE was wiped out by him having to spend the weekend in a hotel so his family could have a cool place to sleep at night.

havUwokenUP wrote on Jan 11, 2008 10:34 PM:Look up "open and closed circuit" , the lead wires are low voltage where they connect to the air conditioner or heater unit. ANYONE CAN BYPASS the thermostat
by unscrewing the two wires and installing a 3 inch jumper wire, which will close the circuit to allow the air conditioner to run constantly until you remove the jumper wire. ...

CALIFORNIA STATE BORDER POLICE wrote on Jan 12, 2008 10:45 AM:If the state really wanted to take control of policing our natural resources then they would have formed the CALIFORNIA STATE BORDER POLICE when they had the chance. Our state population has increased significantly since this initiative was first introduced. More people here will use more natural resources. According to the U.S. Bureau of the Census, the resident population of the United States, projected to 01/12/08 at 18:43 GMT (EST+5) is 303,221,335. One international migrant (net) every............ 30 seconds. http://www.census.gov/population/www/popclockus.html

jsc wrote on Jan 12, 2008 6:39 PM:Whether it's energy, open space, water, etc., the reason we need to conserve is overpopulation. If every family had zero, one or two kids we wouldn't need to build new housing tracts, water canals or mandate fluorescent bulbs. Anyone who espouses or gripes about recycling or siting dumps or conservation sure as **** better have fewer than 3 kids or he's part of the problem.

redbrass wrote on Jan 13, 2008 11:45 PM:Poor darling regulators. They don't realize that the more restrictive their policies become the better the "black market" thrives. They want control but criminals are, by definition, beyond their control. Pretty soon, the police refuse to enforce the BS. Many will suffer, but some of us form tribes to protect ourselves. Tribes don't pay taxes. Poor darling legislators.

PattiO wrote on Jan 14, 2008 4:41 PM:What is wrong with you people? How have you elected people who would even dream of suggesting this outrageous Orwellian scheme? Did anyone ever consider building a nuclear power plant? I'm sure the hippies are going apoplectic right now, but it is proven to be clean and safe. Look at France, I thought you guys loved everything about them. I understand the concept of willing secession, but can we kick a state out of the Union?

Mary wrote on Jan 15, 2008 11:50 AM:We are becoming sheep in the Nanny State that believes they have the right to tell us how to live our lives and whats best for us and our families. SCARY.

Jim wrote on Jan 15, 2008 10:09 PM:Sounds like a form of corporate fascism. They're giving control of peoples' lives to companies/corporations, which are plundering us under their fat little thumbs. A better way, would be to allow individual autonomy. Give the customer a toggle switch to take control of their own indoor climate whenever they want and just educate everyone to take some responsibility. Don't treat us like bums who don't care!

Jim wrote on Jan 17, 2008 3:33 AM:What a great idea! At the same time the government should also install video cameras and heat sensors in every room of every new building constructed that can be monitored from afar - it could be turned on by the police "just in case of emergency" - say to see if anyone was alive after an earthquake or to check to see if anyone was secretly helping an alien invasion or doing a criminal act like not recycling or eating too much.