[arin-ppml] Straw poll on special policy for electric energy industry

[michael.dillon at bt.com]

> I realize someone could probably make a case for putting your 
> refrigerator on the Internet.  But, just because you can do 
> something, doesn't mean you should do something.

"On the Internet" doesn't necessarily mean what you think. When
100% of homes and businesses have fixed-line Internet connectivity
by fiber or copper, does it make sense to run more wires just for
the meter? Of course not!

"One the Internet" might mean addressable on the IPv6 Internet
so that they can access it via Tinc <http://tinc-vpn.org/>
or some similar VPN system. 

Yes, I know that we do not have 100% connectivity today, but that
is the way that things are headed. Give it another 20 years, and
the only buildings with no fixed-line Internet connectivity in 
North America will be the ones that are not on the electric 
grid.

> If you can come up with an actual in-production scheme that 
> in in service in a utility in the United States that has the 
> meters on the public Internet, with each meter running it's 
> own IP address, then I'll agree you have a point, otherwise I 
> think the supposition is as ridiculous as putting your 
> refrigerator on the Internet.

I never said that Smart Grid was more than a plan today. It is 
a dangerous plan that could end up being accelerated at great 
detriment to us in the next couple of years. On the other hand
if we act now, we can prevent the damage and help the Smart Grid
folks to put their effort and resources in the right technology,
namely IPv6.

I make no secret about this banning policy being a premptive 
strike to prevent a POTENTIAL future problem, not an actual
present day problem.

--Michael Dillon