These smart meters were the result of a $4.5 billion stimulus plan by the Obama administration to update electrical grids across the country to make them smarter and more efficient. This could allow meter values to be sent directly to the company rather than requiring a meter reader to stop off at each user’s house.

In order to receive larger chunks of the stimulus money, companies raced each other to create a smart meter that worked. Perhaps in the rush, the amount of testing needed was reduced and security issues may have been compromised.

Wonderful.