In a previous life I worked in and around a generating board's...

In a previous life I worked in and around a generating board's control rooms and would talk to the operators. I got a feel for the way things worked.

Peak power was no big deal, their charter said they had to supply it and they did, routinely. They managed their coal fired assets and water in their hydro dams for their most efficient use. What we have now with separate owners of different assets introduces conflicts and jealousies with each owner dissing the others as having unfair advantage. Smart meters only make the here and now too important and no way are they for the betterment of consumers.

It will never work well.