For the techs on the board - network powerline...

[silverdoctor]

For those that don't know what powerline is, there's a quick writeup here:
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/power-network.htm

It's great technology, turning your home AC wiring into a network. Concerns being leakage across other phases and traffic being picked up by your neighbors. Yes it is possible for your neighbor to tap into your network if you're using powerline. I've yet to try it where I live, but curiosity will prevail some night

I can't find much information on these new smart meters - I know they use a powerline system but one can only assume they can pick up and sniff out data from a basic powerline networking system in a persons home or business.

I've used powerline, but never really felt great about it just for those reasons...

[insurgus]

Neat stuff, however current category 5/6 wiring is still the standard for many reasons. I wouldn't much worry about "signal leakage" though.

They're trying to push an un-suited technology though. Where it may make sense (provided they can fix the latency problems) is long run transmission over their high tension lines. Those cables can support a tremendous amount of bandwidth if they get the technology figured out.

[rhuntley12]

They've been doing this for years across the ocean. My brother has it in his house in the states and works wonderfully for him