Fear is building among privacy advocates as Patricia Poppe, CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), revealed plans to automate energy-use decisions for millions of California households. Speaking last month at the World Economic Forum, Poppe lauded the potential of AI-driven “smart grid” technology to remotely disable air conditioners, adjust thermostats and siphon battery power from electric vehicles (EVs) during peak demand. Her remarks—ushered by a 2021 precedent where emergency text messages to Californians reduced demand by 2,500 megawatts—spark outrage over the erosion of personal liberty in the name of grid stability.
The proposal, framed as a solution to winter weather-induced power shortages, has stoked anxieties about the convergence of utility monopolies, smart-grid technology and government oversight. Critics argue it undermines constitutional protections against unwarranted intrusion into private property.
How smart grids could redefine home energy freedom
The concept of a “smart grid” is not new, but its militarized implementation is gaining momentum. Smart grids, which utilize two-way communication between utilities and customer devices, promise to stabilize energy distribution through real-time adjustments. But as Poppe clarified, this includes “automated” control of appliances and EVs—without requiring explicit homeowner consent during emergencies.
