> the grid to become inadvertently dependent on the cell network, which is, in turn, dependent on the grid
The grid wouldn't be dependent on the cell network. Billing would.
The grid wouldn't be dependent on the cell network. Billing would.
As an aside, there are distressing reports of meter-associated fires. These seem to come in two categories: installation issues (poor contact between meter and socket) and issues with the relay itself. The former is not specific to smart meters per se, but the latter is. A device that can safely switch 100-320A at 240V is not that cheap and not that small, and I suspect that some smart meter manufacturers try to cut costs.
Also, around here (Portugal) you're billed for the maximum power in your contract - it starts at 3.45 kVA, I think, with 6.9 and 10.35 levels commonly available (at 230 volts, that's 15, 30 or 45 amps). Used to be that a hardware circuit breaker enforced that limit, nowadays it's the meter cutting off supply in case of excess power draw.
(No reports of fires that I've heard of.)
The last two places I lived, it was.
In the more recent one, residential customers who didn't opt in to the smart thermostat, which allows the power company to override your temperature settings in an emergency, could be automatically cut off from the grid in a crisis.
In the older one, a factory I worked for was part of a program where they volunteered to be cut off from the grid remotely in the event of a power emergency. The factory got some kind of discount or rebate for being part of the program.
Except for the first year where there was a bug that turned it off for an hour at a time, it's never been noticeable.
I think most utilities would act in the same way.
“ The company halted operations because its billing system was compromised, three people briefed on the matter told CNN, and they were concerned they wouldn't be able to figure out how much to bill customers for fuel they received. One person familiar with the response said the billing system is central to the unfettered operation of the pipeline. That is part of the reason getting it back up and running has taken time, this person said. Asked about whether the shutdown was prompted by concerns about payment, the company spokesperson said, "In response to the cybersecurity attack on our system, we proactively took certain systems offline to contain the threat, which temporarily halted all pipeline operations, and affected some of our IT systems." At this time, there is no evidence that the company's operational technology systems were compromised by the attackers, the spokesperson added”
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/05/12/politics/colonial-pipelin...
Sorry, in what relevant scenario does the power company never get paid?
OP pointed out a potential feedback loop between the cell network going down and the grid failing. Are you suggesting everyone will crank up their AC when the network fails because the power company will have some difficulty collecting metering data that day?